Comparison of Therapeutic Effects of Trigger Point Injection and Twin Nerve Block in Chronic Myofascial Pain Patients

Rutgers University48 enrolled

Overview

To see if there is there any difference in the treatment outcomes/results such as changes in pain intensity in patients with myofascial pain who have been treated with trigger point injections or twin block?

Most treatment approaches for chronic myofascial pain are not evidence-based. Studies are usually controversial. Most are short-term, non-randomized. An essential limitation has been the lack of standardization of diagnosis. Some studies do not differentiate between joint pain and muscle pain, which can significantly affect the outcome of the treatment provided. Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) was recently published and validated. Their protocol allows standardization of the assessment and diagnosis of patients with temporomandibular disorder, including myofascial pain. To the investigator's knowledge, no previous prospective, randomized study has been conducted demonstrating the treatment outcomes of either trigger point injections or twin block in patients with chronic myofascial pain.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Myofascial Pain - Dysfunction Syndrome of TMJ Trigger Point Pain, Myofascial Nerve Block

Interventions

Injection of either twin block or trigger point injection.OTHER

Study participants will be randomized into either group and will receive the intervention.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 89 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients diagnosed with Myofascial pain with referral based on the DC/TMD criteria * Pain on the masseter and or temporalis muscles * Pain present for at least 3 months Exclusion Criteria: * Generalized muscle disorder such as fibromyalgia * Subjects on chronic pain medication * Subjects who are known to have hypersensitivity to the local anesthetics. * Pregnant women. A pregnancy test will not be given before subject enrollment. Women of childbearing ages will be asked verbally if they are pregnant. If they are unsure, then they will be excluded from the study. * Subjects with cognitive problems e.g. Alzheimer's disease.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Pain relief: numerical pain scale

The pain relief received from each injection will be measured using the numerical pain scale. This scale is between 0-10 with 0 meaning no pain and 10 is the most pain.Higher values represent worse pain.

Time frame: 6 months

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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