TPI involves a needle inserted through the skin into the contracted or dense soft tissues. The needle stimulates soft tissues, which can restore its function to reduce pain and improve mobility.  

At changepain, we use a tiny amount of 0.9% saline solution (salt water) or a local anaesthetic in our trigger point injections. It is the accuracy of the injection location that makes the treatment effective and not the medication used.

The assessment will involve a review of your medical history and pain history with a focus on injuries that you have experienced in your lifetime. Following this, we look at your mobility, which can direct our attention to potential areas to treat.

Each treatment involves multiple needle insertions. Typically, areas which are contributing to your pain will be more painful to treat than areas that are not. Interestingly, where we treat is often not where you feel the pain. It is all connected! A trial series of treatment is typically 5 sessions booked roughly 2 weeks apart.  

Pain relief can be short term or long term and depends on the areas treated in each session, the severity of the pain problem, and appropriate aftercare. 

With Trigger Point Injections, many patients find reduction in pain and an improvement in daily function and movement.

Chronic pain is a difficult problem to resolve completely. You may need additional TPI treatments or a combination of other therapies to make the results the best they can be. Usually, attention to a healthy lifestyle, stress reduction and any other contributors to chronic pain will help to maximize the ability for success with TPI.    

Risks mainly depend on the injected areas. For example, pneumothorax in the chest, significant bleeding in the groin or neck.

• small amount of bleeding at the site of needle insertion
• bruising that can be visible for several days
• temporary flare up of pain or general soreness
• fatigue
• nausea
• light-headedness
• infection

Your TPI doctor will discuss these general risks and these possible side effects

Very rare side effects include the needle entering an unintended structure such as a large blood vessel, nerve, or organ. These are very unlikely. Our TPI doctors are trained in anatomy and experienced with accurate needling; they work hard to minimize these risks.

Please contact changepain at reception@changepain.ca or 604-566-9101