Understanding Trigger Points and How They Help Neck and Back Pain

If you’re living with persistent back and neck pain, you know how much of an impact they have on your quality of life. Physical therapy, massage, and chiropractic care have the potential to improve the frequency or intensity of your symptoms. These are often the first steps taken when seeking relief from these kinds of pain. When these approaches prove ineffective, there are other approaches available. One such approach is the application of trigger-point injections, which aim to ease the overactive muscles responsible and provide needed relief.

Understanding Trigger Points and How They Help Neck and Back Pain
The term trigger-point refers to those areas where muscles are knotted and tight due, often due to overactivity. These areas typically develop due to injury, stress, inactivity, and poor ergonomics. The injections are often used as part of a complete treatment plan and are rarely applied on their own. The greatest results are seen when combined with other conservative approaches such as those mentioned above. Trigger points are an approach to managing chronic pain with numerous benefits. These benefits include:

Immediate Pain Relief – Pain relief is the greatest benefit of this treatment approach. By easing the activity of the muscles, it provides the opportunity for them to relax and unknot. This can make other approaches, such as physical therapy, even more effective.
Reduced Risk of Side-Effects – Every form of treatment comes with its own potential side effects. Trigger points are no exception. However, the potential risks from this treatment are minor. The most common is numbness or soreness, which typically passes quickly.
Fast Recovery – There is typically no downtime with trigger points. The administration of this treatment involves receiving numerous injections at trigger-point sites across your back. There is little to no recovery time, but the benefits you receive from these injections generally appear immediately.
Versatile Treatments – Numerous conditions can benefit from the use of trigger point injections. Sciatica, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and neck and back pain are all conditions treated using this approach.

One important trait of trigger point injections is their ability to work alongside other treatments. Massage therapy, physical therapy, and chiropractic treatment can all be used alongside trigger point injections. The injections are often used to provide nearly immediate relief from the pain. This provides relief while the other treatments aim to address the underlying concerns that are actually causing the trigger points to appear.

Speak To Your Pain Specialist For More Information
Learning more about trigger point injections is as simple as reaching out to your pain specialist. They’ll cover your medical history with you and determine if this form of treatment is appropriate for your case. You may find that they suggest other forms of treatment that have not been tried, such as massage and physical therapy. However, they may also suggest that trigger point injections be used alongside them as a more permanent solution is sought. You don’t have to endure the pain of trigger points; contact your pain specialist for relief today!