Trigger point injections

Category: Minor Procedures, Injections & Pain Relief · All minor procedures, injections & pain relief

What it is

A trigger point injection places a small amount of local anaesthetic (sometimes with corticosteroid) into a tight, tender knot in a muscle — a trigger point — to relax it and relieve local and referred muscle pain.

Why it is done

It is used for myofascial pain — persistent muscle pain with palpable knots — often in the neck, shoulders, back and jaw muscles, when massage, stretching and medicines have not resolved it.

How to prepare

Tell the clinician about allergies, blood thinners, diabetes and any fever. No fasting or special preparation is needed. Examination maps the painful knots and rules out other causes.

What happens during the procedure

The clinician identifies the knot by touch, cleans the skin, and inserts a fine needle, often feeling for a small twitch as it enters the trigger point. One or several points may be injected in one visit. It takes about 10 minutes and causes brief sharp discomfort.

Afterwards — recovery & results

Soreness at the site for a day or two is common. Your clinician may suggest stretching and movement after treatment and a review of posture and activity that maintains the knots. Benefit is judged over days to a couple of weeks; repeat injections are sometimes offered.

Risks & considerations

Risks include bruising, soreness, a brief flare of pain, infection (rare), and rarely puncturing the lung lining when injecting near the chest (the clinician chooses needle depth accordingly). The evidence base is moderate — benefit varies between individuals.

Watch: Trigger point injections videos

Real procedure videos from the MedicalVideos.com library. Some clinical footage is graphic — that is the nature of a medical video library.

▶ WatchHow to find and treat temporalis muscle trigger pointsWatch on MedicalVideos.com

Frequently asked questions

How is this different from acupuncture/dry needling?

Trigger point injections add medicine; dry needling uses no medicine. Evidence for both is modest; injections suit people who want a pharmacological effect at the point.

Will one injection cure it?

Often it gives temporary relief. Lasting improvement usually needs the underlying cause — posture, overuse, sleep and stress — addressed alongside.

Related procedures — Minor Procedures, Injections & Pain Relief

Acupuncture and dry needling (clinical context)Botox for chronic migraine Casting and splinting for fractures Cryotherapy for skin lesions (seborrheic keratoses, actinic keratoses)Ear grommet insertion (myringotomy with tubes)Ear wax removal (microsuction / irrigation)

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Please note: This page is educational information about a medical procedure or test. It does not replace the instructions of your own care team, who know your situation and whose preparation, fasting and medication advice you should follow if it differs from anything here. If you have symptoms that worry you, or an appointment you do not understand, contact your clinical team.