If you’ve ever had stubborn muscle tightness in your neck or shoulders that won’t ease up no matter how much you stretch or get a massage, trigger points might be to blame.
Trigger points are tiny, tender spots that develop in your muscles when they’re overworked or irritated. These tense areas can cause you to feel pain right where they form or send aching sensations to nearby areas in your body, often resulting in stiffness, headaches, or reduced range of motion.
When home remedies like heat, rest, or over-the-counter (OTC) medications don’t bring enough relief, turn to Ronak D. Patel, MD, and our medical team at Regenerative Spine and Pain Institute for expert care. We offer trigger point injections (TPIs) that provide a simple and effective solution, giving you the relief you need.
A trigger point injection is a simple, in-office procedure designed to help your muscles finally relax. During the treatment, Dr. Patel carefully inserts a thin needle into the tense area and injects a small amount of medication — usually a numbing medicine like lidocaine, sometimes combined with a corticosteroid — to reduce pain and inflammation.
This process helps release the tight knot within the muscle, allowing it to relax and move freely again, so you can feel more comfortable and get back to your normal activities.
Most patients find trigger point injections to be very tolerable. You may feel a quick pinch or brief pressure as Dr. Patel inserts the needle. After the injection, you may experience mild soreness that fades within a day or two.
Here’s a simple breakdown of what typically happens:
Dr. Patel locates the trigger points that are causing your neck pain by gently pressing on the muscles.
After cleaning the area, he inserts a fine needle directly into the knot and delivers the medication.
You should notice immediate or gradual relief over the next few days as your muscle relaxes and circulation improves.
Dr. Patel may advise you to stretch lightly, apply heat, and avoid strenuous activity for 24 hours after treatment.
Trigger point injections can:
If you’re dealing with tension-related neck pain, TPIs can make a big difference in your daily comfort and function.
If chronic neck tension is affecting your life, don’t wait to seek treatment. Dr. Patel can evaluate your symptoms and determine if trigger point injections are right for you.
Schedule a consultation today by calling 609-269-4451 or booking online to learn how trigger point injections can help ease your pain and get you moving comfortably again. We have offices in Plainsboro Township, Manalapan, and Freehold, New Jersey.
