When one of your muscles has a small, painful knot that refers pain to another area, this is called a trigger point. These muscular knots can be as small as a pea or as big as a walnut. If you press on the knot, pain radiates to another part of the body, and the affected muscle will twitch or go into spasm. This type of pain can be relieved with simple trigger point injections.
A trigger point injection consists of placing very precise injections of sarapin right into the trigger points. Sarapin is an extract of the pitcher plant, a plant growing in many parts of the United States and Canada. The plant has many other medical applications, such as treating constipation and urinary tract disorders. In this application, sarapin acts as an anti-inflammatory agent.
The injection causes the trigger point to relax, which restores blood flow and other fluids to the area. And of course, the pain caused by the trigger point is then gone. This relief can last for weeks, during which time we can assist you by implementing other medical treatment options to bring about long-term recovery.
Causes and Symptoms of Trigger Points
Trigger points can result from overuse, repetitive motion, disease, chronic stress, a blow to the area, or an impact injury such as a car accident.
- Tension headaches
- Neck or shoulder pain
- Arm or leg pain
- Low back pain
- Fibromyalgia
Drug-Free Trigger Point Treatment Options
Many doctors use drugs to treat trigger points, often recommending pain relievers, sleep aids, muscle relaxants, or botox injections. Many of these drugs can create dependence or unpleasant side effects. When you can get true relief without drugs, that’s a healthier and safer path.
At the Campbell Health Center of Houston, every doctor and support staff's entire purpose is to help you recover. We find the best and healthiest solutions to all types of problems with pain, weakness, or loss of functionality through constant research. We offer these solutions in a friendly and welcoming atmosphere in our Houston clinic.
Please contact us if you are suffering from any kind of pain. We are a multidisciplinary clinic, which means we have many options available to help you, our patient, return to pain-free enjoyment of life with our trigger point injections in Houston.