title: Effect of trigger point injection on lumbosacral radiculopathy source.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Active muscular trigger points (aMTPs) presenting with radiating pain can interfere in diagnosis and treatment of patients suffering from lumbosacral radiculopathy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to diagnose and evaluate the trigger point therapy on the outcome of pain in patients with lumbosacral radiculopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 98 patients were enrolled suffered with chronic pain andlumbosacral radiculopathy at L4-L5 and L5-S1 who were candidates of non-surgical management. All patients received conservative modalities, including bed rest, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAID), and physiotherapy. These treatments continued for a week. Patients were examined for the presence of trigger points in their lower extremities. Those who had trigger points were divided into 2 groups (TP and N). Patients in TP group underwent trigger point injection therapy. No further therapy was done for the N group. Pain scores and straight leg raise (SLR) test in both groups were collected and analyzed on the seventh and 10th days of the therapy. Results were analyzed by paired t test and chi-square test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 98 patients, 64 had trigger points. Thirty-two patients were assigned to each group. Pain scores (Mean ± SD) in TP group was 7.12 ± 1.13 and in N group was 6.7 ± 1.16, P = 0.196. Following the treatment, pain scores were 2.4 ± 1.5 in TP group and 4.06 ± 1.76 in N group P = 0.008. SLR test became negative in all patients in TP group but only in 6 (19%) patients in N group, P = 0.001.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results show that trigger point injection therapy in patients suffering from chronic lumbosacral radiculopathy with trigger points can significantly improve their recovery, and conservative therapy may not be adequate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahwaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Reza
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Saeidian
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahwaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Pipelzadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Golestan Hospital, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahwaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Saleh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rasras
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Golestan Hospital, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahwaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Masud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zeinali
keywords: Low Back Pain; Radiculopathy; Trigger Point