A trigger point injection is injecting a small amount of local anesthetic and sometimes a steroid medication into the area of a muscle where you have pain or tenderness.

How do I prepare for the procedure?

• You MUST have someone with you to drive home.
• You may have clear liquids after midnight until 2 hours before your appointment and the nothing to eat or drink.  Clear liquids include Jell-O, broth, 7-Up, tea, coffee and apple juice.  No milk or milk products.  You may take all your normal medications, including pain medication with a sip of water.
• If you are diabetic or have a bleeding disorder or take medications such as Coumadin, Lovenox, or Plavix that affect your bleeding, please call us at 570-271-6621.
• Bring a list of your medications including dose and how often you take them.
• Please bring with you any x-rays or MRI films and reports not done at Geisinger Medical Center.
• You should plan on being here 2 to 4 hours.
• Your exam and/or treatment will be done in the interventional Pain Center at Geisinger - Woodbine.

What happens during the procedure?

• You will be positioned sitting or lying down so that the site of your pain can be examined.
• The area to be injected will be cleaned with an antiseptic solution.
• The doctor will apply pressure with his finger to locate the exact area you have pain.
• The doctor will inject the painful or tender area with a small amount of local anesthetic and steroid.

How long does the procedure take?

It takes about 5-10 minutes.

What are the complications?

• Fever

Fever

• Infection at injection site
• Bleeding

What happens after the procedure?

A nurse will take your blood pressure and offer you liquids.  She will ask if you have any change in your pain. Discharge instructions will be reviewed and you will receive a copy of them when your check out.

Steroids take 24 to 48 hours to start to absorb and work so it may be a few days before you feel any relief and up to a week to 10 days before you have significant relief.

Discharge instructions

• Do not drive or operate machinery until the next day.
• Take your usual pain medications or prescriptions as written.
• You may eat your normal diet.

Temporary side effects

• Numbness and tingling in extremities

Numbness and tingling in extremities

• No strenuous activity for 24 hours after the injection
• Increased blood sugar in diabetic patients
• Increased pain the first 48 hours

Warnings: Call Pain Medicine, 570-271-6621

• Fever greater then 101 degrees
• Redness, swelling or pus-like drainage at injection site

Return your follow-up questionnaire in the envelope provided in 7-10 days.

Your return appointment will be scheduled when you check out.

If you have any problems or concerns, please call us at 570-271-6621 Monday through Friday 7:30 to 4:30.  If it is after hours, call 570-271-6211 and ask for the Chronic Pain physician on call.