Pain Treatments
Piriformis Trigger Point Injection
The piriformis muscle originates in the middle buttock and ends on the outer hip. A trigger point injection is an injection performed to help reduce small areas of involuntary muscle spasm in the piriformis that produce pain and/or limitations in movement and activities.
How is a trigger point injection performed?
The doctor will numb the skin above the muscle spasm. Then, guided by feel or ultrasound, he will:
Insert a thin needle into the muscle using a technique called “peppering”, which is where the needle is moved rapidly and around the inside of the area of muscle spasm.
Inject a mixture of anesthetic (for temporary pain relief)
The medicines help to block the pain signal, like turning off a light switch. Usually, the procedure takes less than five minutes and you can go home the same day.