Carrie Fontaine, PA-C, performs trigger point injections at Infinite Healing Center.
You're mid-lane-change on the 202, and the same knot at the base of your neck locks up again — the one that's been “almost gone” for three weeks. Stretching helps for an hour. Heat helps for an hour. Then it's back. That's usually a sign the muscle itself needs a direct, physical reset — not just more rest.
At Infinite Healing Center, trigger point injections (TPI) are performed by Carrie Fontaine, PA-C, and they're one of the few treatments that can deactivate a chronic knot in a single visit rather than just calming it down temporarily. This guide walks through what a trigger point actually is, how the injection works, what a visit looks like, and how it fits with the chiropractic care many of our neck pain patients are already receiving.
A trigger point feels like a hard, pea-sized lump or a taut band buried in the muscle — press on it and you'll often get an involuntary twitch. Physiologically, it's a localized muscle spasm that restricts local blood flow. That traps metabolic waste and starves the tissue of fresh oxygen, which is why the knot doesn't just untie itself over time.
These points don't always hurt only where they sit. A knot in the upper trapezius commonly sends “referred pain” up toward the base of the skull or temple — which is why a lot of tension headaches actually start in the neck, not the head.
The needle is inserted directly into the center of the knot. That physical disruption forces the tight muscle fibers to release and elongate, which restores circulation and flushes out the trapped metabolic byproducts keeping the muscle in a state of alarm. Some patients feel a distinct “release” sensation during the injection itself.
The injectate typically combines a local anesthetic with saline; a corticosteroid is sometimes added for higher-inflammation cases, at Carrie's clinical discretion.
3–6 sessions — is the typical course for chronic neck tension. In our experience, patients usually notice real relief by session 3, with lasting tissue change by session 5.
Massage is genuinely useful for general relaxation, but manual pressure often can't reach a knot anchored deep in the cervical muscle. Without a mechanical intervention, a long-standing knot tends to re-form within days of a massage session.
Dry needling uses a needle alone to stimulate the muscle. TPI adds a local anesthetic (and sometimes saline) to the same mechanical approach, which for many patients means less post-procedure soreness.
When neck muscles are locked in spasm, they act like tight cables pulling vertebrae out of position — which makes adjustments harder to perform and less likely to hold. Relaxing that muscle tissue first often means:
Most patients drive themselves home the same day — there's no sedation involved. We recommend avoiding strenuous activity for 24 hours and staying well hydrated, especially during Arizona's hotter months.
Carrie Fontaine, PA-C, brings 14 years of physical medicine experience to Infinite Healing Center, with specialized training in muscle and joint injections, including trigger point injections.
If a knot in your neck has outlasted heat packs, ibuprofen, and a few massage appointments, it's worth having it physically evaluated rather than waiting it out. Request an appointment to get started.
In our experience treating chronic neck tension, most patients need 3 to 6 sessions. Relief is typically noticeable by the third session, with more lasting tissue change showing up around session five.
Most patients describe a quick pinch or brief pressure. A topical numbing agent is available if you're sensitive to needles, and any mild soreness at the injection site usually fades within 24–48 hours.
Yes. The procedure doesn't involve sedation, so there's no impairment to your motor skills — you can return to your normal routine right away.
Dry needling uses only a needle to stimulate the muscle. TPI adds a local anesthetic (and sometimes saline) to calm the tissue, which for many patients means a more comfortable experience with less soreness afterward.
Medicare and most insurance plans cover trigger point injections when they're documented as medically necessary. Coverage details (copays, session limits) vary by plan, so we recommend verifying your specific benefits with our office before your first visit.
Often, yes. When a trigger point in the cervical muscles refers pain to the base of the skull or temples — a common source of tension headaches — deactivating that point can reduce or eliminate the referred pain.
