Abstract
We retrospectively analyzed effects of trigger point injections performed at bed-side on somatic pain in seven patients (M/F, n=2/7; mean age, 69.1 years) with advanced cancer in our palliative care unit. The pain was located in the neck in three patients, lower back in 4, shoulder in 2, and buttock in 1. The painful areas were tender on palpation. The cause of pain was degenerative spondylosis in six patients, brachial plexus invasion of cancer in 1, and decubitus ulcer in 1. A total of 18 trigger point injections were done. Mean pain score decreased significantly from 3.3 preinjection to 0.9 postinjection on a face scale of 0 to 5. Trigger point injections decreased the pain of myofascial origin; however, they were not effective against neuropathic pain caused by cancer invasion, pain of decubitus ulcer, and pain of chronic pericapsulitis of the shoulder joint. There were no serious adverse events related to the trigger point injections. We conclude that trigger point injection is safe and effective for the treatment of myofascial pain in patients with advanced cancer.
