What is a myofascial trigger point?
A myofascial trigger point is a firm knot in a muscle that is painful on light to firm pressure. It causes pain, stiffness, and tightness in the muscle and surrounding area.
Dr. Nitish Mandal
Myofascial trigger point injection with minimal dose steroid
What a myofascial trigger point is, how it is diagnosed, and the injection approach.
This article is from Dr. Nitish Mandal, Consultant Pain Physician in Bangalore, with clinics in Koramangala and J.P. Nagar.
Which muscles are commonly involved?
They are common in muscles that maintain posture: back and neck, then hips, hamstrings, and calf muscles. The most common is the trapezius. Repeated or prolonged stress, bad posture, injury, and trauma are listed as causes. IT professionals are mentioned for neck pain from looking down and back pain from prolonged sitting.
How it is diagnosed
A painful knot may be found by pressing the muscle. A thin needle twitch can confirm a trigger point. The article describes a diagnostic block with a very low dose of local anaesthetic as the most useful method: if the pain goes away completely, it is coming from that point.
Treatment options listed
Early options include massage, stretching, and manual release. Dry needling is described as slightly more effective in early to later stages. The article describes a low-dose depot steroid injection into the trigger point as the most effective option in later stages, designed to stay where it is injected.
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Dr. Nitish Mandal
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I have tried tablets and physiotherapy. What is different here?
Find the source of the pain, then treat that source with a clinic injection, block, or infusion. You are typically able to go home the same day.
Where are the clinics, and do I need an appointment?
Koramangala and J.P. Nagar. Prior appointment is preferred. You can book from this website.