Treating Craniofacial Pain

Treatment Options

A comprehensive treatment plan will be put together by Dr. Bonnie Foster and her team of dental professionals and might include the following options:

• Physical therapy: Contraction of the muscle due to a taut band and muscle trigger point may be relieved with physical manipulation by a trained professional. Massage movements in long strokes along affected muscles and stretching exercises may help to relieve muscle tension. If poor posture is contributing to muscle fatigue and tension, a physical therapist may conduct and recommend exercises aimed at improving posture over the long term.
• Trigger Point Pressure Release: This treatment option involves the application of gradually increased pressure at a muscle trigger point—it is meant to soften the knotty muscle tissue of the trigger point and taut band.
• Spray and Stretch: With the use of a very cold spray, the muscle is temporarily distracted, which allows a doctor or therapist to stretch the muscle to the point of release. Once a trigger point is released, the muscle is moved throughout its full range of motion. A patient must continue to perform limbering, stretching and strengthening motions outside of physical therapy sessions to retrain the affected muscle.
• Trigger point injections: In this treatment, a local anesthetic, such as lidocaine or corticosteriod medication, is injected into the tender knotty tissue of the muscle trigger point. The injection works to relax the tension of the trigger point and relieve associated pain, allowing the trigger point to be released and more effectively addressed with physical therapy.
• Medications: Temporary pain relief is a critical part of the treatment strategy, as it helps a myofascial pain sufferer cope with the ongoing pain of the condition. Over-the-counter NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen and naproxen can help a patient manage the pain. Tricyclic antidepressants have also been found to help relieve pain.