Trigger point pain is pain that is concentrated in muscles and the underlying layers of skin called the fascia. When a trigger point is present, there might be a palpable band-like spasm in the muscle. Trigger points cause pain that is often characterized by radiation of the pain from one of these bands to the rest of the muscle or to another part of the body. These areas might also be warmer than surrounding tissue.
Referred pain is a tenderness of the rest of the muscle caused by pressing on a trigger point. The muscle might also twitch, though it will not contract. Some health care professionals believe that there are certain patterns of referred pain, which can help in treatment.
Trigger point pain might be constant, or it might only occur when the trigger point is pressed or palpated. When the pain is constant, the area is called an active trigger point. Pain produced with palpation or pressing of the trigger point is considered latent.
Treatment of trigger point pain includes massage, electrical stimulation, or vibration. Ultrasound, stretching techniques, and even laser therapy might also be used. A practitioner who is knowledgeable in trigger point therapy should know how to apply the right amount of pressure or stretching. Too much might bruise muscles and cause more pain, while too little could actually irritate the trigger point further and also cause more pain. It is also thought that acupuncture could help trigger point pain because it has been shown that trigger points and acupuncture points often correspond.
Injection is a common treatment for trigger point pain. A combination of a short-acting anesthetic and a steroid works to provide immediate pain relief and to reduce any associated inflammation. Results vary between patients, but most patients report noticeable relief that lasts as long as a few months. Some physicians might combine a long-acting pain reliever with the short-acting one to minimize the use of the long-acting medication. The medication is injected directly into the trigger point.
Sometimes trigger point pain is mistaken for some other form of pain such as arthritis or sciatica. The pain might be similar, but a misdiagnosis leads to incorrect or inadequate treatments. Some doctors doubt the existence of trigger points, and most do not learn much about them in medical school. Osteopaths, myofascial therapists, and chiropractors are well versed in treating trigger point pain.
