Need some advice on getting trigger point shots
 

Under a previous post where I said that my new pain dr. is talking about doing trigger point injections under "US", which I presume is ultrasound, Mark brought up the point that he believed they were to be done under fluorosocopy? (sp?) or some type of imaging machine.

Could someone please explain this to me as I'm not sure how to proceed when I see this dr. in a couple of weeks. Should I question his using whatever "US" is? If I do, I feel like I need to be a bit more educated on how to discuss this with him so I'm looking for some advice/suggestions/input here, please.

Don't want to go through what I just did after getting the botox injections and having to wait for another month or so until the ramifications from that wears off.

Thanks again. Don't know what I'd do without my "peeps":D:D

Fiona

Hi Fiona
 

US, if it is ultrasound..... well, you have probably seen those images before, and while they are pretty good, the care my doc gives these approaches because he wants them placed just so under "sterile" conditions is to have patient to go to an outpatient surgical center, where an OR is set up with a machine which produces immediate "x-ray" style images although crystal clear showing on screen so the surgeon knows EXACTLY the placement of the medicine vis-a-vis the patient's spine and the suspected trigger point. Also, such injections are referred, I believe, as facet point injections.

Anyway the fluoroscope is a high powered unit which produces the clear image of which I speak.... and somewhere in my huge medical file, I actually have a copy doc gave me as a souvenir, and I was wowed by the care taken to get the meds to the right spot.

End of story,
Well not quite- this is NOTHING like the Discogram of which I have also written. Sure, you should expect to suffer some localized soreness afterward for about a day, and if the meds work for you they may last for up to a couple of months.
That is what I have experience with in my history,
Yup,
Mark56:hug::grouphug:

Hey, I am NOT the only one here
 

and besides, the football game has come and gone, all to a good entertainment for many.... now, Fiona needs some input here you all!!!

Shaking finger,
Mark56:eek:

Fiona I'm not sure if US is as you say but if it is........I too had my injections done this way

Like what Mark says. I was taken In to a theatre and made to like on my tummy. An X-ray machine, with a Radiographer present, was placed over my spine. Between my Consultant and Radiographer they positioned the X-ray machine over the exact position they needed to inject. Then went ahead with the injections........sore as they were:rolleyes:

I've had that procedure done a few times but never felt any relief from them. I do remember when I would turn over seeing a very clear image of my spine both when I had my fusions done, fascinating to see the work done there plus all the hardware that was present. Mindboggling!!!!!!!

As I say Fiona I think this may be similar to what your Dr is speaking of doing. I did feel pain around that insertion area for a couple of days. But hey you know what pain is like and you will think this is nothing compared to the daily pain you endure ;)

Hope that helps somewhat

Jackie :hug:

thanks "peeps" :D

Gives me a better understanding of how to go in and talk to him. In the meantime, I've set up an appt. with my old ortho. dr. who first helped me with my fractured shoulder/torn rotator cuff to get his input. If this is due to possibly having bilateral shoulder impingement, then I'd like his take on it. The more info. I get the better decision I can make, eh!

Fiona

Fiona
 

I found a pretty informative link on TP injections. They use the term Ultrasonography, which is probably the grandad of 'Ultrasound', but this link explains real well

http://www.aafp.org/afp/2002/0215/p653.html

Hope this helps :hug:

Thanks, Rae. Printed it out and will study it! Maybe when my new pain dr. said he would do them under "US" he didn't mean reg. ultrasound, but Ultrasonography. You come through once again, lady :hug::hug:

Rae:
 

Came across recent article. It talks about using ultrasonogrophy when doing trigger point injections. Thanks for heading me in the right direction!!

http://www.painphysicianjournal.com/...11;885-889.pdf