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Are you dealing with severe neck pain? A trigger point could be to blame — and trigger point injections could offer the relief you’re seeking. Find out how trigger point injections work and what to expect if you get one.
A trigger point is a hyperirritable spot in your muscle. It feels like a tight, raised knot under your skin, and it can be a source of severe, radiating pain.
About 85% of people experience trigger point pain in their lifetimes — and one of the most common locations is your neck. Trigger points in your shoulder, upper back, and neck can all cause pain that disrupts daily life and doesn’t respond to conventional treatments like rest, physical therapy, or over-the-counter pain medications.
Dr. Maher Ibrahim and our team at Interventional Pain Management Associates can help. We offer trigger point injections to alleviate severe neck pain, and here's what you can expect with treatment.
Trigger point injections for neck pain
Trigger points are tight knots or bands of muscle fibers that form in your neck, causing significant pain. Trigger point injections are a minimally invasive procedure that targets this localized muscle pain to deliver much-needed relief.
Dr. Ibrahim inserts a thin needle directly into your trigger point and injects medication to relax the muscles and reduce pain and inflammation.
What to expect during trigger point injections
Before recommending trigger point injections, Dr. Ibrahim and our team conduct a thorough evaluation of your neck pain. We review your medical history, do a physical examination, and ask questions about your symptoms.
Trigger points can cause referred pain, so we may use ultrasound to help identify your trigger points and develop a treatment plan that fits your needs. Once we identify your trigger point, we clean your skin and mark the exact location of each trigger point to ensure precision during the injection.
The actual injection process takes just a few seconds. You may feel a slight pinch or pressure, and we administer the medication quickly.
Many people experience immediate relief from neck pain following trigger point injections. The level of relief can vary from person to person, so it’s important to tell us what you feel so we can make sure we’re targeting the right trigger points.
Depending on your needs, we may recommend a series of trigger point injections for maximum pain relief. We keep a close eye on your symptoms so we can adjust your treatment plan to help you feel your best.
The benefits of trigger point injections
If you’re dealing with severe neck pain from a trigger point, injections can offer several benefits. They deliver pain medication directly at the source, providing rapid, effective pain relief — especially compared to oral medications.
Trigger point injections are a minimally invasive treatment that we perform in an outpatient setting. That means there’s no downtime required, and you can resume your usual activities right away.
Plus, many trigger point injections contain anti-inflammatory medications that reduce inflammation in the affected muscles. The pain relief you achieve with trigger point injections can enhance your ability to engage in physical therapy and other rehabilitative exercises, promoting better neck function and less pain over time.
Struggling with severe neck pain that hasn't responded to conventional treatments? It’s time to find out if trigger point injections are a viable option for you. Call Interventional Pain Management Associates in Hamilton, New Jersey, at 609-838-2900 or send us a message online today.