Hi! I was wondering if any of you have tired trigger point injections with local or anesthetic or without (dry needling)? I am thinking of giving this a try but it's kind of expensive...was wondering if you had any experiences - good or bad?
I have been doing trigger point injections for years without being sedated. I had it done with lidocane, marcaine and many others. I get local anesthesia then they prob for my trigger points in specific areas and once they find them, the medicine chosen will be put in.
Its not a bad procedure an you get used to it. Compared to other protocols, it is fairly inexpensive since you can only get done once a month.
Does it help with your pain? Do the effects last a month?
Had them done several times not bad. More discomfort than painful. They helped a little but no longer helped me so I quit getting them. Like all other treatments I have tried they helped at first then no longer effective. I had reactions to Cymbalta and Savella so there isnt much I can take. Good luck I would definitely try injections if it helps it’ll be worth it.
I have tpi’s with some kind of analgesic in the med. I used to get about 20 shots, but now I’ve narrowed it down to down to around 8 of the worst places with more meds in each. I am getting better results now. My out of pocket is around $50.00. I have no pain, but my dr and nurses tell me that I’m the only person whose facial expressions or BP does not increase. I have had a lot of shots in my life and I neither fear them nor feel them.
I’m with you Tricky – I hardly feel the needle go in and when I’m done and the pain is reduced my blood pressure goes down significantly because the lidocaine reduces the pain and the spasming lessens. I have never had them done without any lidocaine in the needle or topical spray to numb the skin. Don’t think I want someone sticking needles in random places to find the spot. A good doctor should know where to put the needle!
My experience with TRIGGER POINT INJECTIONS was short-term-good, long-term-bad. In 1992, I was in my first year of FM. It wreaked havoc in my life and I went from doctor to doctor looking for solutions. Somehow I got hooked up with a Pain Management doctor who really only did Trigger Point Injections.
In the moment, the doctor might inject nerve bundles with marcaine (an analgesic that lasts for about eight hours). He'll use that freeze spray and stretch/loosen that muscle. For me, after eighteen shots, I felt great. It was a short-term break from the pain that I desperately needed. However, eight hours later, the marcaine wore off and thus, the pain returned just like before the appointment. Add to that the fact that I was sore as hell from eighteen injection sites (I now know what a pin cushion feels like). So, nine hours after the treatment, I was in far worse shape than I was before the injections.
Like a junkie, I was desperate for my next "hit" and if I could have gone back that night I would have - ANYTHING TO STOP THE PAIN!!! (right?). However, he was a solo-practitioner and this was not something that many doctors did in 1992. As a result, he was constantly booked and it took two-three weeks before I could see this doctor again for my next "hit".
After six-months on this eight-hours-good, 328-hours-bad cycle, I quit and moved on to the next attempted treatment. I would never do TPI again. Why, you ask. Because it puts control of YOUR condition into someone else's hands and IMHO that is the wrong way to effectively deal with FM.
I wish you peace and release. I know where you are and ask only that you have faith in yourself. You will get through these dark times.
I have my boyfriend mark the most painful places. The dr really appreciates that. Then he feels for the exact spot.
Hi, I have several disc problems in my neck, so for years I would get the trigger point injections in the muscles that would ball up into spasm, sometimes just having the needle put through the spasm it would break it up and help, but the lidocaine also helped, biggest prob. It wears off ( for me about 12 hr ) and then I would be sore from the injection site. I had to limit how many sites were being done, as fibro came on board the pain from the injection site hurt more after it wore off and eventually the cons out weighted the benefit of 10-12 mod relief. So I stopped getting them, I found that massage therapy on those trigger points was just as effective for me.
Everyone is different, you can always try one and see how it helps,
Hugs & blessings
dee
YES I HAVE HAD THEM IN MY HEAD. NO JOKE!!!!!IT HELP FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. I HAD A NUEROLIGIST DO IT ALL OVER MY BODY. ARE YOU SERIOUS ABOUT THIS. BECAUSE THEIR IS ALWAYS A SIDE EFFECT FROM THE TRIGGER POINT SHOTS. WHAT IS IN THE SHOT, AND WHAT IS THE SIDE EFFECT.
EVEYONE HAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT FOR THEIR PROBLEM.
WISHING WELL
MICHELE AND SERVICE DOG RUSH
I tried. I would say don't waste your money.
HI niteowl - I am a night owl too! LOL I have had trigger point injections for quite a while now. It works wonders, I just wish I could do it all the time, but my insurance wouldn't allow it. I had a local anesthetic but it doesn't take away the pain completely, You have to remember that the injections are going right into the area where you already hurt. But it is absolutely wonderful for a few weeks not to have any pain. Although I have trigger points all over my body, it's my hips that really need the treatments. Go for it Tiff - really, it will be worth the little pain that you might have from the injections. Laurie
Can I just say something here ? I had a pain management dr try to do this to me. And also try cortorize nerve endings. Okay y’all are stupid by any means. Nerves take longer to regenerate (heal) than any other part of the human body. This is a scam, that keeps doing more nerve damn guys !
This is just a pain management dr playing Frankenstein on you, and making money while doing further damage. Last time I checked about 4 years ago, there’s AMA or FDA protocol on this. Good luck