Trigger points are tight, tender knots that form within muscle fibers and can cause both local pain and pain that radiates elsewhere in the body, such as a neck trigger point contributing to headaches. Trigger point injections deliver a small amount of local anesthetic directly into these knots to relax the muscle and interrupt the cycle of tension and pain. They are commonly used for myofascial pain syndrome, muscle spasms, and tension-related neck, back, and jaw pain.

The physician palpates the muscle to locate a tender area that reproduces the patient’s familiar pain, then inserts a thin needle into the trigger point; a brief involuntary muscle twitch is a good sign the correct spot was found. Local anesthetic is then injected, and multiple trigger points can be treated in one visit. The full session usually takes 15-30 minutes depending on how many areas are treated.

Muscle Spasms & Myofascial Pain • Neck Pain • Back Pain • TMJ / Jaw Pain

Mild soreness at the injection sites for a day or two is common, similar to a routine intramuscular shot, and there is generally no significant downtime. Many patients notice relief within hours to days, with continued improvement over 2-3 weeks; combining injections with stretching or physical therapy tends to extend the benefit, and some patients need a short series spaced a few weeks apart.