trigger point injections

Male pelvic pain, prostatitis, IC
kpbos
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trigger point injections

Post by kpbos »

I'm going for trigger point injections for the first time later this week. It seems that this topic has not been discussed recently, and I'm wondering if anybody out there is exploring this route and having any success.

I also read some of the previous posts regarding the injections, and for me it seems like a necessary addition to doing the SP. I began doing the SP in late 2003, then I got lazy and stopped and started again over the course of the next year. But I have been practicing it steadily and daily for about 1.5 years now (going to PT once a week), and while I've noticed brief periods of feeling a little better, I have still not had a day without some level of pain. Despite practicing some form of relaxation everyday, I concede that I'm still an anxious person with a fair amount of phobias and this has undoubtedly slowed my progress, and I began tensing my pelvis very tightly at a very young age, so it seems logical that I will need to continue the SP for longer than most people. I am hoping that the injections will provide some relief which will help to deepen the healing provided by the SP. Any thoughts, comments, suggestions welcome
Age:33 | Onset Age: 21 | Symptoms: Penile/rectal/testicular pain, urgency/frequency, constipation | Helped By: Relaxation, PT, eating healthy, just started some acupuncture-seems to be helping | Worsened By: stress/anxiety, poor diet
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MB
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Post by MB »

I have quite a bit of experience with those. I had them with or without Botox.
They do work great to release the muscles that are being injected. The problem is that the other muscles in the pelvic floor take the slack and start spasming too to compensate.
For example my adductors were injected so the hamstring started spasming. The levator was injected so the perineal body (that was fine before) started spasming also.
Age:46 | Onset Age: 43 | Symptoms: Burning | Helped By: Sleep/Ultram | Worsened By: As the day goes by
kpbos
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Post by kpbos »

Thanks, MB, I did read some of your posts from last year regarding the injections. Are you still doing them, and have they provided some lasting relief in conjunction with relaxation or other treatments?
Age:33 | Onset Age: 21 | Symptoms: Penile/rectal/testicular pain, urgency/frequency, constipation | Helped By: Relaxation, PT, eating healthy, just started some acupuncture-seems to be helping | Worsened By: stress/anxiety, poor diet
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MB
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Post by MB »

The overall effect was pretty negative despite initial success. As I said, I ended up with other muscles spasming and no change in pain level. I tend to agree with Dr.Wise that a softer approach with PT only is better.
Age:46 | Onset Age: 43 | Symptoms: Burning | Helped By: Sleep/Ultram | Worsened By: As the day goes by
texas2006
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Stretches

Post by texas2006 »

MB,

Do you ever/did you ever do stretches in conjunction with your trigger point treatments/Botox?

Thanks,
Ryan
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MB
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Post by MB »

Texas,
yes, I had not only stretches by PT immediately after.
Age:46 | Onset Age: 43 | Symptoms: Burning | Helped By: Sleep/Ultram | Worsened By: As the day goes by
kpbos
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Post by kpbos »

So I had an injection today, in the piriformis on the right side only. I'm a little freaked out about it, the injection consisted of novacaine and cortisone, and was really quick. I guess I was under the impression that the injections wouldn't involve cortisone and would be more like acupuncture where they left the needles in for a few minutes to break up the trigger points. I've been at a real low point lately and I don't need anything else to make me feel worse.
Age:33 | Onset Age: 21 | Symptoms: Penile/rectal/testicular pain, urgency/frequency, constipation | Helped By: Relaxation, PT, eating healthy, just started some acupuncture-seems to be helping | Worsened By: stress/anxiety, poor diet
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Post by scoobysnacks »

can you be more specific as to where they injected you.

And let us know how you progress....
Age:29 | Onset Age: 25.5 | Symptoms: Initially burning in prostate/perineum, burning in urethra, uncontrollable muscle contraction before urinating, dual ache in groin, left testicle pain, feeling of golf ball in rectum, soarness in rectum, and muscle spasms, now mainly very mild urinary tract inflammation, burning mildly after ejaculation, some days after physical activity involuntary mild muscle contraction before urinating | Helped By: .5 mg of Ativan, Aleve (naproxen), quercetin, alcohol in large quantities (vodka and soda), stretching, walking, internal massage the perineum area and levators. | Worsened By: sitting, weightraining, jogging, coffee, caffeine in general, alcohol bothered me at first, overdoing sex
kpbos
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Post by kpbos »

It was 4 injections in the right buttock, 2 were upper, other 2 were mid-way.
Age:33 | Onset Age: 21 | Symptoms: Penile/rectal/testicular pain, urgency/frequency, constipation | Helped By: Relaxation, PT, eating healthy, just started some acupuncture-seems to be helping | Worsened By: stress/anxiety, poor diet
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MB
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Post by MB »

Why the steroid? Did they give you a rationale for that? I thought that TrP injections with steroids were not performed anymore.
Age:46 | Onset Age: 43 | Symptoms: Burning | Helped By: Sleep/Ultram | Worsened By: As the day goes by
kpbos
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Post by kpbos »

That's what I was wondering, I asked what if the injection was just novacaine without the cortisone, doc said that once the novacaine wore off I'd feel exactly the same tomorrow. The cortisone could provide a couple weeks relief, and if so, they'd do injections to the other side. The novacaine is really annoying, it feels like my right buttock is pulled.
Age:33 | Onset Age: 21 | Symptoms: Penile/rectal/testicular pain, urgency/frequency, constipation | Helped By: Relaxation, PT, eating healthy, just started some acupuncture-seems to be helping | Worsened By: stress/anxiety, poor diet
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Post by robertpagen »

cortisone's side effects should not be taken for granted
Age: 43 | Onset Age: 17 | Symptoms: previously: constant urgency, premature ejaculation, burning at tip of penis, pelvic ache current: semi annual flares. | Helped By: PT, yoga, stretch, keeping warm(long johns) boxer briefs, regular sleep routine | Worsened By: cystoscopy, antibiotics (fluoroquinolones) alcohol, coffee, stress, masturbation, cold
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joehansen12
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Post by joehansen12 »

Hi kpbos,

How do you feel today? Did the buttock pull from novacaine go away?

I have a few questions for you,

Were the injections worth it? Did they relieve you of the spams/pain? How much did this procedure cost you? Will your insurance cover it? And who did this procedure (Urologist, Plastic Surgeon, a GP, or a PT)?

Joe.
  • Age: 26yrs.
  • Onset: Nov 2005.
  • Initially: Lots of penal pain, , urinary frequency, urgency, painful erections.
  • Now: Intermittent Penal pain, constant buttock pain while sitting, painful arousals, pain after ejaculation.
  • Medication used till Apr 2006: Cipro, Ceftum, Doxycycline, Gatafloxacin, Lamifloxacin, Prosta-Q
  • Current Medication: nil;
  • Things that make me feel better: stretching, walking, therapy, hot showers
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kpbos
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Post by kpbos »

Yeah the novacaine wore off gradually and I felt better the next day without that numb feeling. Overall the cortisone didn't do anything really, and I haven't experienced any side effects. I think these injections were a bit too external. While these certainly were spastic muscles, my pain is much more internal where I can really feel the tightness.

A physician at a pain institute performed the injections, luckily my insurance is covering it. I guess they really weren't worth it, and I probably wouldn't recommend it. I was hoping for the 'dry needling' injections where they just stick the needles right into the trigger points, but I guess this place doesn't perform them that way. These were simply injections into the piriformis muscle.
Age:33 | Onset Age: 21 | Symptoms: Penile/rectal/testicular pain, urgency/frequency, constipation | Helped By: Relaxation, PT, eating healthy, just started some acupuncture-seems to be helping | Worsened By: stress/anxiety, poor diet