Trigger Point Injections
Trigger point injections are one of the most effective in-office treatments for myofascial pain - the chronic muscle pain caused by tight, hypersensitive spots that refer discomfort to other parts of the body, including the neck, shoulders, upper back, and head.
At Sports Pain Management NYC (SPIN), Dr. Febin Melepura performs trigger point injections using fluoroscopic guidance to deliver precise, targeted relief. The procedure takes under 10 minutes, requires no recovery time, and most patients return to normal activity the same day. If you have been living with persistent muscle pain that has not responded to physical therapy, massage, or over-the-counter medications, a trigger point injection may be the most direct path to relief.
Ready to get relief from muscle pain?
Same-day appointments available for trigger point injection evaluation and treatment.
What Causes Trigger Points
Trigger points can develop in any muscle. While there are many factors involved, it's believed they appear due to the following:
- A muscle injury from exercise or sports
- Trauma, such as a blow to the muscle
- Inflammation that damages the muscle
- A muscle that's been stressed repeatedly
If you already suffer from a headache-related condition such as migraines or tension headaches, trigger point pain can worsen your headaches while prolonging your current condition. In that case, you'll welcome a myofascial trigger point injection.
Its Symptoms Lead to Its Diagnosis
In addition to headaches, you can experience referred pain in other parts of your body, most commonly as:
Neck pain
Shoulder pain
Upper back pain
Middle back pain
Lower back pain
Your doctor asks you when your pain started and whether you suffered any injuries. After the medical history is completed, the next step toward a diagnosis is a physical exam. If no other symptoms are found, a trigger point is a likely cause.
A trigger point on a muscle feels like a knot, much harder than the surrounding tissue. When your physician presses on the spot, it should hurt not only on the muscle but also in the area where the referred pain has been an issue. If you're getting headaches, a trigger point injection for migraines is a possible solution.
When You Need a Trigger Point Injection
Our pain management doctor may initially prescribe rest, over-the-counter pain relievers, and physical therapy to treat your condition. But if those treatments don't have an immediate effect, especially if you're suffering from severe or debilitating headaches, trigger point injections may be the next option. It puts pain medicine and anti-inflammatory drugs right at your trigger point.
A myofascial trigger point injection, delivered by the experienced hand of your physician, can neutralize your headache. If your referred pain has presented in your neck or back, a trigger point injection works just as well. Your pain after trigger point injections is significantly reduced. Please don't wait to see our doctor when you're in pain; get the pain relief you need.
Getting a Myofascial Trigger Point Injection
Trigger-point injections for migraines or other referred pain are done in our doctor's office. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, and your trigger point has been identified:
You're asked to lie on an x-ray table, face-up or face-down, depending on your trigger point. A fluoroscope provides real-time x-ray images for your doctor.
The site of the injection is cleaned and disinfected. You may get a local anesthetic, too.
Your doctor uses fluoroscopic images to guide the needle where your trigger point injection has the greatest effect.
Once the needle is in position, the doctor releases the medication into the area. Multiple injection sites may be needed to cover the trigger point.
The medication injected is a mix of saline, anti-inflammatory steroids, and an anesthetic. The steroid works to reduce inflammation. The anesthetic blocks the pain signals from the trigger point, so you should immediately feel a decrease in pain. The steroids often take a couple of days to begin working, but pain relief from the myofascial trigger point injection should stop your headaches and the trigger point pain.
Locate an injury clinic offering trigger point injections near you to effectively break the cycle of escalating persistent pain caused by sensitive trigger points and manage accompanying muscle spasms and inflammation. Dr. Febin Melepura, MD, of the Sports Injury and Pain Institute in New York City, can treat you with trigger point injections right away in the office and get you back to your favorite activities in no time.
Ready to find relief from muscle pain?
Dr. Melepura's Midtown Manhattan clinic offers same-day appointments for trigger point injection evaluation and treatment.
Moving Past Pain
There's no downtime for this procedure. After the injection, you relax until the doctor clears you to leave. Your pain after trigger point injections is diminished. The injection site may feel temporarily numb or sore, but infection and bleeding are rare.
The effects of your trigger point injections last for several months. By that time, your trigger point should have relaxed and won't bother you anymore. You can repeat the procedure if needed, but only once or twice, as steroid medication becomes detrimental if taken too often. One myofascial trigger point injection is completely safe and causes no significant side effects.
Trigger Point Injections in NYC - Sports Pain Management
At SPIN, trigger point injections are performed by Dr. Febin Melepura - a board-certified, nationally recognized pain management specialist named among America's Top Doctors™. Our NYC office is equipped with fluoroscopic imaging to ensure every injection is placed precisely within the target muscle, not simply guided by touch alone.
We evaluate each patient before proceeding. If your pain pattern suggests active trigger points, we identify the specific muscles involved through physical examination and, where appropriate, imaging. We do not perform injections speculatively - the injection is part of a structured treatment plan.
Most patients at our Midtown Manhattan office are seen within the same week. We serve patients from all five boroughs - Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island - as well as New Jersey and Connecticut. Same-day consultations are available for urgent cases.
If you have been told your pain has no clear structural cause, or if you are experiencing recurring headaches, neck stiffness, or shoulder pain that does not resolve with rest, trigger point injections may be the answer you have been looking for.
Real Stories from our Patients
Dr. Febin Melepura, MD
Double Board-Certified Pain Specialist
Meet Dr. Febin Melepura — Your Trigger Point Injection Specialist in NYC
Dr. Febin Melepura, MD is a double board-certified interventional pain management specialist and the founder of the Sports Pain Institute of New York. He completed his residency and fellowship training at New York Presbyterian Hospital / Columbia University Medical Center, one of the nation's leading academic medical centers.
He holds dual board certifications from the American Board of Anesthesiology and the American Board of Pain Medicine, and has treated more than 7,500 patients and performed over 5,250 procedures throughout his career. He has been named a Top Pain Management Doctor in New York and one of America's Top Doctors™ by Castle Connolly.
Dr. Melepura's approach to trigger point pain is rooted in precision: identify the exact source, treat it with a targeted injection, and get you back to your daily life as quickly as possible.
Ready to Book an Appointment?
Same-day appointments available. Call (212) 621-7746 or book online.
What Our Patients Say About Trigger Point Injections
"Able to make an appointment to see Dr. Melepura on short notice… attentive to my concerns… Jazmin was also very kind and helpful."
"Excellent hospitality, listener and explainer… highly recommend the doctor and the place."
"Dr. Melepura is the best! He worked with me to find the optimal solution to my shoulder pain while I was preparing for a fight!"
"Lovely, bright and modern… doctor and staff were kind… felt my concerns were heard."
"Helpful and friendly staff who gladly follows up with you if and when needed. Dr Melepura was very helpful and professional as well as provided me with excellent information and feedback."
"Dr Febin is fantastic! Highly recommend him and his practice the Spin clinic. The doctor is a good listener, kind, attentive and gave me great advice. "
"Dr.Melepura was very efficient and interpersonal, felt like he was understanding the problems I was having and explained the processes to take to rehabilitate. I would recommend."
"I felt listened to and truly understood by Dr. Melepura. Started PT the very next day. They were very friendly and I didn't feel rushed at all. Already recommended them to my friends who have or continue to play through pain."
Frequently Asked Questions About Trigger Point Injections
Most patients feel a brief, sharp pressure at the injection site lasting only a few seconds. Dr. Melepura uses a fine gauge needle and may apply a topical numbing agent beforehand. Many patients report that the discomfort of the injection is far less than the pain of their trigger point itself.