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Back Pain Treatment: Using Trigger Point Injections to Alleviate Your Symptoms

Written By ChiroConcepts of Plano West on January 10, 2018

Has your lower back pain been attributed to your back muscles? 

Then trigger point injections may be recommended as an effective back pain treatment. 

But what are these, what do they involve, and who are they suitable for?  

What Are Trigger Points? 

Trigger points can be incredibly painful, and may even prevent you from carrying out day-to-day tasks. They often manifest themselves in the back or neck, and feel like your muscles have knotted under your skin. However, even though you may be able to feel a tight, knotted sensation, your muscles haven’t actually knotted. 

Instead, a trigger point is created when the small piece of tissue that covers your muscle (the fascia) contracts tightly and sticks to itself. This prevents the muscle underneath from working correctly and cuts off the blood supply. 

These trigger points can be caused by a whole host of things, including disuse of muscle, stress to the muscle, injury, overuse, poor posture, and joint disorders. 

Whatever the cause, though, it’s crucial you seek effective treatment from your chiropractor in Plano.

What Does This Back Pain Treatment Involve? 

A trigger point injection helps alleviate the pain you’re experiencing from your knotted muscles. Pain that can often cause referred pain or irritation to the surrounding nerves. 

The injection is inserted directly into your trigger point and contains a mixture of saline or local anesthetic and may also feature a corticosteroid (a painkiller that helps reduce inflammation). Once administered, the pain will ease and the trigger point will be inactivated. 

However, if you are allergic to certain drugs, your chiropractor may use a technique that’s known as “dry needling.” A needle is still injected into your trigger point but none of the aforementioned medications are released. This should also help reduce inflammation and ease muscle contraction. 

Often, it only takes a brief course of these trigger point injections to provide you with ongoing relief from your symptoms.

Are You a Suitable Candidate for Trigger Point Injections? 

Trigger point injections are often recommended if other treatments aren’t proving effective enough and you’re experiencing chronic pain in your back (which may be caused by myofascial pain syndrome). 

As well as this excruciating pain, you may also be suffering from muscle tenderness, headaches, fatigue, muscles stiffness, numbness, and decreased range of motion. 

If these symptoms sound familiar to you, it’s crucial you seek medical advice as soon as possible. Leaving trigger points without treatment can cause the onset of further trigger points as they place more stress on your surrounding muscles. 

Don’t let back pain take over your life and seek the expertise of our friendly team in Plano today. Simply call 972-781-1878 to book your appointment.


Posted In: Physical Rehab Back Pain Treatment Trigger Point Injections