According to the Migraine Research Foundation, 18% of women, 6% of men, and 10% of children in the United States experience migraines. Whether you develop these headaches once a week, twice a month, or daily, migraine pain can greatly impact activities and relationships related to work, school, and home.

At Optimal Pain & Regenerative Medicine® in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas, our expert team of pain management physicians is dedicated to helping you overcome the debilitating effects of chronic pain, including migraines.

Widely respected for their advanced medical knowledge, technical expertise, and compassion, this talented group of specialists create personalized treatment strategies designed to relieve your symptoms as they address the source of your pain, including trigger point therapy for migraines.

What are trigger points?

Trigger points are areas of muscle spasm or knots that are painful and often produce a noticeable twitch in the affected muscle when pressed. The pain occurs around the trigger point itself but can also affect more distant locations in the neck or head. This is called referred pain.

These tender areas may be due to:

  • Injury associated with trauma or accident
  • Repetitive overuse of the muscle with sports, work, or home activities
  • Poor posture and resulting muscle strain/stiffness
  • Inflammation
  • Muscle tightness related to stress and anxiety

Trigger points located in the muscles of the head, neck, and shoulders are known to cause and/or worsen a variety of headache disorders, including migraines and tension headaches.

What is trigger point therapy?

There are several different types of trigger point therapies available that can decrease the frequency and intensity of migraine headaches. Your Optimal Pain & Regenerative Medicine® specialist may recommend:

Trigger point massage

During trigger point massage, your provider uses varying levels of pressure and release to massage and loosen the tight muscle knot. The action may cause mild discomfort at the site but should never cause sharp pain or tingling. Symptoms often improve after just one session and ongoing therapy can help relieve muscle tension and keep headaches under control.

Trigger point injections

Your pain management specialist may recommend an injection to reduce the muscle spasm and pain associated with trigger points. The injections typically contain a local anesthetic but may also include a corticosteroid to decrease inflammation. Unlike oral medications or other pain injections that affect your entire system, the anesthetic is delivered directly into the trigger point, thus addressing the source of your pain.

Migraine treatment often requires a combination of therapies to effectively manage your symptoms. You can rely on your Optimal Pain & Regenerative Medicine® provider to work with you in identifying the best treatment solution for your chronic migraine pain.

For a comprehensive and personalized treatment strategy that’s designed to relieve your pain and address the problems causing your symptoms, schedule a visit at Optimal Pain & Regenerative Medicine®. Call the office or book your appointment online.