Trigger Point & Therapeutic Muscle and Skin Homeopathic Injections
Information for Patients
Trigger Point Injections are indicated for relief of acute and chronic pain in muscles that have been strained or injured, are in spasm, or have chronic tension. Often, pressing on specific areas of the muscle triggers a pain sensation, hence the term “Trigger Point.” Injecting into those points helps reduce or eliminate the tension and pain and restores motion. Almost any muscle can be treated using this technique including neck, shoulder, back, hips, and legs. It can also be helpful in controlling symptoms caused by spinal disc problems and nerve tingling or numbness by relieving the muscle tension around the involved area.
This treatment method has been practiced since the 1960s. Over time, the procedure has been more refined and now there are several injection methods. Often a local anesthetic such as Lidocaine is used. Many alternative health care practitioners have adopted more natural methods, including injecting homeopathic products such as Traumeel, because rather than just blocking a pain message, homeopathic products stimulate the body to heal. This often results in greater success than dry needling or just injecting an anesthetic, plus there is often less post-injection discomfort. The homeopathic effect usually creates progressive improvement with each treatment. The number of treatments required varies depending upon the condition.
Homeopathic products act differently than drugs, and this treatment is not the same as steroid or Cortisone injections. Those injections often need to be deep in the muscle and can by very painful. While they can be effective, repeat treatment is often needed as the drug effect wears off over time. There is a limit to how many injections can be given in a particular body area, as this drug can actually cause long term damage to the muscle or bone in the injected area. Another injection option can be a “nerve block” using an anesthetic.
The injections might feel something similar to acupuncture with a slight to moderate sensation of pain. Occasionally you might experience more pain if an area injected has been inflamed for a long time. The pain is very short lived and usually goes right away a minute or so after the injection. The injection only penetrates into the muscle, never as far as a joint or tendon/ligament attachments to the bone, and rarely needs to be deep. Occasionally someone might experience some slight swelling, bruising or inflammation after the injection but this can be decreased with icing or the use of an additional homeopathic product.
Often, the Trigger Point injections allow other treatment modalities such as massage, chiropractic, physical therapy and acupuncture, to have much more benefit. Once significant symptom improvement has occurred from the injections, then these other modalities can provide further support and create long term strengthening and alignment of the body.
Sometimes a join area needs treatment. A different method is used – Therapeutic Subcutaneous injections with homeopathic products. This involves shots just under the skin with a very small needle. The homeopathic medications have a healing effect below where the injections were made. If the area is a “hot spot,” these injections can sting for a very brief period of time. This sensation is useful to the Doctor, as it is then clear that an area needing treatment has received it. Conditions where this technique is useful include joint strains or sprains, plantar fasciitis, elbow tendonitis, wrist and hand pain, finger and toe sprains, etc. It is also helpful in treating arthritis. This method can also be used for non-musculoskeletal conditions including relief of headaches and migraines, sinusitis pain and pressure, abdominal or pelvic cramping, and lymph swelling and edema. Symptom relief can be almost immediate after treatment.
Homeopathic Trigger Point injections and the Therapeutic Subcutaneous injections have absolutely been the most useful method I have found to resolve acute and chronic pain and spasm or cramping symptoms. Most frequently, this approach is the last one patients try, and it is the one that most effectively returns them to the healing path. Patients have been heard to say “I can’t believe I am looking forward to more injections!”
Contact Dr. Sherry today for more information and to make an appointment.