About 23 million Americans, or roughly 10% of the United States population, have one or more chronic musculoskeletal disorders. Myofascial pain syndrome is a painful and relatively common muscle disorder that’s caused by myofascial trigger points. Dr. Jason Leavitt and the team at Ultimate Health Medical Clinic in Littleton, Colorado, provide trigger point injections therapy to help patients from communities throughout the Denver region overcome myofascial pain and get back to more important things. To learn more trigger point injections, call the office or request an appointment online today.
What causes trigger points to develop?
Trigger points are tiny knots in the myofascial tissue that covers your muscles. Active trigger points can cause a substantial amount of pain and discomfort. They may be tender and painful to the touch, or they may cause referred pain, a type of pain that’s felt far from the trigger point itself. Trigger point pain is often described as a kind of regional, persistent pain that spreads or radiates. Myofascial trigger points may develop after acute muscle trauma or a series of repeated traumas. They also develop if you don’t get enough exercise or if you’ve been inactive for a long time. Sleep disorders, poor posture, and nutritional deficiencies also lead to the formation of painful trigger points.
How do trigger points affect other areas in the body?
Localized trigger point pain can spread to nearby areas, causing wider discomfort and, ultimately, fading your range of motion in the entire region. Because trigger points can weaken the muscles that they affect, unaffected muscles are forced to work harder to compensate for this weakness.
Trigger points can cause:
- Muscle weakness
- Radiating pain
- Poor posture, which can lead to:
- Back Pain
- Sciatica
- Neck Pain
- Jaw Pain
- Tension Headaches
What is trigger point injection therapy?
Although prescription muscle relaxers are the traditional route for treating myofascial trigger point pain, they provide a temporary solution and come with the risk of side effects. In keeping with their commitment to safe, natural, and effective solutions that address the root of the problem, the physicians at Ultimate Health Medical Clinic offer trigger point injections to help relieve severe trigger point pain safely and long lansting. This quick, in-office procedure starts with a comprehensive examination to determine the locations and magnitude of your trigger points. During the procedure, you can expect the following:
- After locating a specific trigger point, your doctor cleanses your skin at the injection site to prevent infection
- If desired, your doctor administers a small amount of lidocaine to numb the area
- Pulling your skin taut, your doctor injects an anesthetic mixture into the trigger point with a small needle, which causes the trigger point to relax
- Additional injections may be needed if the trigger point doesn’t relax after the first injection
Most patients experience immediate pain relief following trigger point injection therapy. Afterward, it’s important to keep your muscles active by performing the recommended exercises and stretches.
Testimonials
I want to start by saying, THIS PLACE AND STAFF ARE AMAZING! I have a bad case of white coat syndrome and severe back problems, so that hasn’t worked out for me, until I found this place. Dr Dan knew my fears and walked me through every step. He did my ex-rays and talked me through each picture to calm my fears. He suggested these amazing pain shots [trigger point injections] and I’m so thankful he did because I haven’t been pain-free in years and I’m so thankful for them. I’m looking forward to finally being on the road to recovery. They are so much more than just chiropractic care. It’s literally a one stop shop to health, beauty and pain relief.
– Brandy A.
