Healthy Living Made Easy

Muscle pain is often dismissed as something that will simply improve with time, massage or rest. However, when muscles remain tight for prolonged periods they can develop small, highly sensitive areas known as trigger points. These tight bands within the muscle can become a source of ongoing pain, restricting movement and even causing pain to spread into other parts of the body. Many patients are surprised to discover that the pain they feel is often referred from these trigger points rather than arising from the area where they experience discomfort.

Trigger points commonly develop following injury, poor posture, repetitive activities, prolonged desk work, sporting injuries or as a consequence of other painful conditions that alter the way we move. They are frequently associated with chronic neck pain, shoulder pain, back pain, jaw pain, headaches and fibromyalgia, although they can occur almost anywhere in the body.

Following a detailed assessment, I will identify the muscles responsible for your symptoms before discussing whether a trigger point injection is appropriate. The procedure involves placing a very fine needle directly into the affected muscle. Depending on the muscle being treated, I may use ultrasound guidance to improve accuracy and ensure the treatment is delivered precisely where it is needed. A small amount of local anaesthetic is usually injected into the trigger point, allowing the tight muscle fibres to relax while reducing pain and improving movement. Many patients notice an immediate improvement in muscle tension, although the full benefit often develops over the following days as normal movement returns.

For patients with more persistent muscle spasm or conditions where muscles repeatedly become overactive,

 Botox® (Botulinum Toxin) may offer a longer-lasting solution. Rather than simply relieving pain temporarily, Botox® works by reducing excessive muscle contraction, allowing the affected muscles to relax gradually over the following one to two weeks. This can be particularly beneficial for carefully selected patients with chronic migraine, cervical dystonia, myofascial pain syndrome, jaw pain, spasticity and certain chronic muscle pain conditions.

Whether using trigger point injections or Botox®, the objective is never simply to inject a painful area. The real goal is to restore normal muscle function, reduce pain and create an opportunity for rehabilitation. As muscles become less painful and more relaxed, physiotherapy, stretching and strengthening exercises become considerably more effective, helping to achieve longer-lasting improvements.

Every patient is different, and not every painful muscle requires an injection. My role is to identify why the muscle has become painful in the first place and recommend the treatment most likely to provide meaningful benefit. By combining careful assessment, precise injection techniques and a personalised rehabilitation programme, we aim not only to relieve pain but to improve movement, restore confidence and help you return to the activities you enjoy.

My approach is always to treat the underlying cause of pain rather than simply masking the symptoms. Every procedure is performed only when it is likely to contribute to your overall recovery and forms part of a comprehensive, individualised treatment plan designed around your specific needs and goals.