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Trigger Shots

Trigger Shots services offered in Maricopa, AZ

If you suffer from pain that’s concentrated in specific areas of tissue, you may have a condition called trigger points. Relief is possible with trigger shots, a treatment available from JoAnn Vitiello, FNP-C, of Vitiello Primary Care in Maricopa, Arizona. To learn more about trigger shots and how they can help, schedule a visit online or over the phone at your earliest convenience.


What are trigger points and how do they develop?

A trigger point is defined as a hyperirritable area of knotted tissue on your musculoskeletal fascia, which is the thin layer of connective tissue that holds your muscles and bones in place. Practitioners can often feel these small knots during a hands-on examination of the area. 

 

Trigger points are very small, but they can create a significant pain reaction when pressed or otherwise stimulated. They can also cause pain even without direct stimulation and are linked to a condition called myofascial pain syndrome. 

 

Some of the conditions linked to the development of trigger points include:

 

  • Aging
  • Traumatic injury
  • Vitamin deficiency
  • Poor posture
  • Sleep disruption
  • Muscle overuse
  • Sedentary lifestyle

 

If you begin to notice unexplained pain that seems to be centered in specific areas, come in for an exam to determine if trigger points are the cause. 

What are trigger shots?

Trigger shots, also called trigger point injections, are a great way to treat trigger points and create immediate pain relief. These injections take very little time, no advance preparation, and no recovery time.

 

Trigger point injections contain a mix of saline, a corticosteroid medication, and lidocaine, a local anesthetic. When injected into a trigger point, this solution goes to work reducing inflammation and delivering immediate pain relief. 

 

Trigger point injections can prompt knotted areas of tissue to relax and return to a normal state. This eliminates the pain caused by the trigger point, and more than one trigger point can be treated during the same visit. 

Are trigger point injections painful?

Trigger point injections aren’t painful. In fact, many people report an immediate release of pain as the injection is administered. The pain relief brought on by the lidocaine is temporary, but the effect of relaxing the knotted area of tissue leads to lasting results. 

 

You may feel a slight pinch as the needle enters your skin, but there is no significant pain associated with trigger point injections. There’s no downtime required, and you can return to your normal daily routines immediately after your appointment. 

 

When you’re ready to learn more, call the office to book a visit, or schedule online in just a matter of moments.