Trigger point injection is used to treat extremely painful areas of muscle. Normal muscle contracts and relaxes when it is active. A trigger point is a knot or tight, ropy band of muscle that form when muscle fails to relax. The knot often can be felt under the skin.

How it's performed
Injections are given in the physician's office and takes approximately 10 minutes. A small needle is inserted into the trigger point and a local anesthetic (i.e. lidocaine, marcaine) with or without a corticosteroid is injected. Injection medication inactivates the trigger point and thus alleviates pain.