Have any of you had any "hands on" type of trigger point therapy ?
manual therapy vs injections?
If you had manual TrP tx was it helpful or not?

or do the injections come about when the "hands on" doesn't last for very long?

I've been wondering about that for quite awhile and thought I'd finally ask.

I suppose the inj are a one time thing - until they wear off
Where as the manual tx would have to be done in a certain number sessions to be sure you got them all released, as well as the latent ones.

Then after the TrPs are released you probably need to have some myofascial
release and stretching.

I suppose cost wise it's a toss up, and travel/ appt wise the inj would save time & driving.

I had triggerpoint injections in my right hand about 3 years ago before I finally had surgery to release the nerve.

They hurt. I almost passed out. They had to bring Bill back to get me.

They do last if it isn't really bad. Mine lasted for over a year. Then I went back and he did it again and it lasted about a year but it just go so bad he decided to go in and do release the nerve as I said.

I didn't have to have any therapy either. The shot really did help the pain.

Ada

I can't answer the question the way you put it cos I have not done the TP injections. I have had hands on work but it was only one session. I also have had Needle EMG (Electromyography) where they tested me with a small, thin needle into several muscles to see if there are any problems.
* My hands on session hurt at the time but it was tolerable and I felt marginally better the next day.
* The needle EMG hurt terribly in one particular location and I got nauseous immediatley. It also was fine the next day.

I'm just sharing my limited experiences with needles and massage. I am waiting for WC $ to come thru so I can do more massage therapy. I have a feeling the physical manipulation is a more of a long term solution, more gentle & natural too. I may be wrong...
Let us know what you try!!

My therapist has worked on my trigger points for years, along with myofascial release and massage therapy. I've had a few TP shots. THey did not help, from what I can remember. I think I was too far for TP shots when they tried them. I asked for a numbing agent before the TP shot.

Therapy helped and kept me going. My latest device is the LED and infrared light therapy. I'm a believer in them. It has put me over the edge, to better health. I'm in wellness now because of the pads. PM me if you want more info.

Later
(Broken Wings)

I just had that question in my mind and decided to ask about it.

I don't have too many problems with TrPs anymore. I think the chiro & the really good PTs got me beyond most of those.
I did do a lot of home trigger point myself for a long time.. my life was heating pads, triggerpoint and stretching for ages it seemed at the time. The chiro appts & PT too.

For me it seems the big turn around was after we finally got rid of the worst of the TrPs, spasms and got the top ribs dropped down.

I went for 10 months not knowing why I could only recover to a certain point, and as soon as I did much of anything I was in a flare again.. but when the PT experimented on me with rib drop treatment... it was instant heaven..

I think the top ribs stayed down for the most part because the chiro was working on all the tight muscles and alignment, so the spams were gone by then. i think the spams were the cause of those ribs getting pulled up and they happened to lock or just stay raised.
Part of the hypermobile connection for me.

I'd have to look at a diagram of the top rib and clavicle again to refresh my brain - but I think the top ribs were raised up and really closing the space between them and the clavicle.
That was what caused the increases with my symptoms when I used my arms.
The blood flow was compromised more as well as some increased nerve irritation.

How do you like that I kind of hijacked my own thread...LOL


I do think it is important to know - just in case something like this might help someone else.
Hopefully they will see it and ask their Drs or PTs about it before too much damage is done.

Yes, you make a good point Jo*mar.

If it can spare anyone some pain and expense we should share it.

Hi Jo, just my experience,
I do trigger points quarterly. I do massage trigger points nightly at least. I get a tennis ball and dig it into the tight areas.
This is maintance to the trigger points.

Getting something in the nerve where it inserts into the muscle gives you something to work with. Then the best thing is massages, and daily working the tightness. I have biofreeze, a sock of rice across the wings, and small blue ice on the neck and skull.

Taking care of a tos body is learning what manages your symptoms. I have copay on the trigger points. I told the doctor when I come in plan to give them I am not coming back and paying another copay as a PA was there.

Why the PA can't give them I don't understad? they do my sons at the office he goes to.

Another thing I could not live without was proffessionall biofeedback techniques. Where you watch the monitor and learn your body.
I had to teach my ds that it is not about bulling your way through the day ignoring your tos body...It is about knowing limits, managing to do things in an alternative way, getting someone else to help or do lifting, He lives each day trying o be normal, and paying for it making ER trips from pain, suffering, and not sleeping.

I think he will do bette r now with a plan. Trigger points on Friday, everyday one of us are going to work on the traps, have him do gently stretching and pool therapy for the summer.

He goes through the roof with procedure, yet I do not take anything for Epidurals, or trigger points. a pick is all I feel. for him, it is like a hot poker went into a most sensitive area in the world. His pain receptors just carry hyper signals.
good luck
di