See how it is done
Trigger points are taut, tender bands of muscle that can refer pain to other areas — for example, neck-and-shoulder trigger points causing headaches, or lower-back trigger points causing buttock pain.
A trigger point injection places a small amount of local anaesthetic directly into the muscle knot. The needle itself helps release the tension; the anaesthetic provides immediate pain relief.
This is a quick, well-tolerated procedure, often done at the same visit as your initial assessment.
What this treats
- myofascial pain syndrome
- tension-type headache
- post-postural muscle spasm
- fibromyalgia trigger points
Conditions this treats
Common diagnoses we use this procedure for. Tap one to read more.
Before, during, and after — what to do
Before your appointment
Eat a normal meal before your appointment — there is no fasting required for most injections. Take your usual medications unless we have specifically asked you not to. If you take a blood thinner (aspirin, warfarin, clopidogrel, apixaban, rivaroxaban, etc.), tell us in advance — we may need to adjust the timing. Bring your OHIP card and any imaging reports we asked for.
On the day
Wear loose, comfortable clothing — easy to roll up sleeves or pant legs, easy to lie face-down on the table. Plan to be at the clinic about 45 minutes total. You can drive yourself unless we told you otherwise. If you are anxious about the procedure, tell us — we will walk you through every step.
After the procedure
You may feel some soreness at the injection site for 1–3 days. Ice helps; so does Tylenol or ibuprofen if you can take it. Avoid heavy lifting or vigorous exercise for 24 hours, then resume normal activity as comfort allows. The therapeutic effect of the injection usually starts within a few days and reaches full strength by 2 weeks.
When to call us: Call us right away — or go to the nearest emergency department — if you develop a high fever, severe new pain, redness or swelling at the injection site, weakness in a limb, or loss of bladder or bowel control. These are rare but worth knowing.
What happens on the day
The procedure itself takes about 10 minutes, plus a little time to get you positioned and a short rest afterwards. Most people feel relief lasting 2 to 4 weeks per session, repeatable.