Myofascial Pain Treatment

Pain from muscle trigger points that is felt in other parts of the body, evaluated and treated at five clinics across North Georgia & East Tennessee.

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Medically reviewed by Joshua L. Hare, DO, Founder & Medical Director

Myofascial pain and the trigger points behind it

Myofascial pain syndrome is a chronic pain condition caused by trigger points — tight, hypersensitive knots within muscle fibers[1] that can cause local pain and referred pain to other areas of the body. Unlike general muscle soreness, myofascial trigger points persist and can cause a predictable pattern of referred pain. For example, trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle can cause headaches, while trigger points in the gluteal muscles can mimic sciatica. At IPC, we diagnose myofascial pain through careful palpation and clinical assessment, then treat it with targeted trigger point injections that deliver local anesthetic and sometimes corticosteroid directly into the trigger point to release the muscle contraction and break the pain cycle.

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Conceptual illustration: Upper-back muscle fibers with focal trigger-point highlights

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Symptoms of myofascial pain

Myofascial pain comes from muscle and the connective tissue surrounding it, and its defining feature is the trigger point — a discrete tender spot within a tight band of muscle that refers pain elsewhere when pressed.

A deep, aching pain in a region of muscle rather than a joint, commonly across the neck, shoulders, upper back or low back
A specific tender knot that, when pressed, reproduces pain in a different location — a shoulder trigger point causing headache, for instance
A palpable taut band running through the muscle
Persistent muscle tightness that stretching relieves only briefly
Reduced flexibility, and pain that worsens with sustained posture, stress, poor sleep or cold

The referral pattern is the most useful clue, and it is the reason myofascial pain is often treated in the wrong place: the spot that hurts is frequently not the spot generating it.

When to see a pain specialist about myofascial pain

Consider an evaluation when muscle pain has persisted beyond several weeks despite stretching, heat, massage and over-the-counter medication, when it keeps returning to the same region, or when it is disturbing sleep.

Trigger point injections treat the taut band directly and are usually a brief office procedure. Where the pain is regional rather than focal, other targeted blocks may be more appropriate, and your physician will determine which fits your pattern. Persistent myofascial pain is also worth assessing because it commonly sits on top of another problem — an arthritic joint, a disc, or an old injury that changed how you move — and treating the muscle alone tends to give temporary relief in that situation.

Treatment options for myofascial pain

Of the options below, trigger point injections and dry needling work on the trigger points themselves. Trigger point injections are usually paired with stretching and physical therapy. Dry needling is usually paired with stretching, and most people notice a change after two to four sessions. Botulinum toxin relaxes a muscle that stays overactive, and a piriformis injection goes into the piriformis muscle, deep in the buttock.

Trigger Points & Soft Tissue

References

Clinical sources for this page.

Myofascial Pain Syndrome. StatPearls [Internet], National Library of Medicine; updated April 13, 2025. Back to first citation ↑

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