From the Research
Trigger Point Injections
- The steroid used in trigger point injections is triamcinolone acetonide 1, 2
- The dose of triamcinolone acetonide used in trigger point injections can vary, with studies comparing doses of 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg 1, 2
- A study found that a dose of 20 mg had a significantly higher success rate compared to 5 mg and 10 mg at 3 and 6 months after injection 1
- Another study found that a 20-mg dose had a significantly higher rate of clinical effectiveness at 6-month follow-up compared to 5-mg and 10-mg doses 2
- However, a guideline from the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine and other societies states that there is minimal benefit for the use of corticosteroids in trigger point injections 3
Corticosteroid Injections
- Corticosteroid injections can be used to treat trigger finger and other conditions, but the optimal dosing is not well established 3, 2
- The use of corticosteroids in trigger point injections may have potential adverse events, including increase in blood glucose, decrease in bone mineral density, and suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis 3
- A review of clinical research progress in treating myofascial pain syndrome with trigger point injections notes that steroid preparations are one of the injectable drugs used in this treatment 4