Korean J Fam Med.  2019 Sep;40(5):344-347. 10.4082/kjfm.18.0065.

The Effect of Trigger Point Injections on Pain in Patients with Advanced Cancer

• Lee CY
• Kim EJ
• Hwang DG
• Jung MY
• Cho HG

• KMID: 2459573
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4082/kjfm.18.0065

Abstract

BACKGROUND
It has been reported that in 62.5% of cases of incurable cancer pain, the complaint is due to myofascial pain syndrome. Trigger point injections using dibucaine hydrochloride help patients with such cancer pain. This study evaluated the efficacy of trigger point injections for alleviating pain in patients with advanced cancer.
METHODS
Twenty patients with advanced cancer who had a life expectancy of 6 months or less and had been diagnosed with myofascial pain syndrome were treated with trigger point injections. Prior to treatment, a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used to measure the resting pain level and discomfort upon application of pressure on the site of pain. These values were compared with last treatment measurements.
RESULTS
The mean pre-treatment VAS scores for pain at rest and upon application of pressure on the pain site were 7.3 and 9.0, respectively. These scores decreased significantly to 1.95 and 3.2, respectively, after the treatment (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION
Trigger point injection is an alternative and effective pain control modality for advanced cancer patients with myofascial pain syndrome.

Keyword

Advanced Cancer; Cancer Pain; Myofascial Pain Syndromes; Trigger Points

MeSH Terms

Dibucaine
Humans
Life Expectancy
Myofascial Pain Syndromes
Trigger Points*
Visual Analog Scale
Dibucaine