Ultrasound-Guided Trigger Point Injections

Trigger points are commonly seen in many of our patients alone or in combination with migraines and other headache syndromes. They are responsible for localized pain in the affected muscles (head, neck, and/or shoulders) as well as distant areas, called referred pain.
A trigger point injection is a procedure where a medication, usually a local anesthetic, is injected into the painful muscle to provide relief in the affected muscle and the area of referred pain. In this office procedure, our providers insert a small needle into the patient’s specific areas of pain (trigger points). The injections usually contain only local anesthetics, but occasionally may contain a steroid medication.
Correct needle placement in a trigger point is vital to prevent complications and improve efficacy of the trigger point injection to help reduce or relieve pain. The Manhattan Center for Headache and Neurology is now offering ultrasound-guided trigger point injections. The use of ultrasound allows us to observe needle placement, reduce risk, and improve results for our patients. Please call to schedule your consultation to see if this treatment is appropriate for you.