Use of sympathetic blockade for treatment of chronic muscle pain
OwnerDavid R. Hubbardinventor
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Abstract
Methods are provided for intramuscular needle diagnosis and treatment of muscle pain that is believed to be the result of sympathetically mediated spindle spasm. Two simultaneous needle EMG needle recordings are used to establish the presence of and magnitude of the "trigger points" in painful muscle. The abnormal muscle activity so identified can then be treated by blocking the sympathetic activation muscle blocker or other agent that would have the same effect of inhibiting the abnormal muscle activity.
Claims10
A method for reducing chronic pain, said method comprising:
- locating at least one myofascial trigger point in a muscle;
- and
- contacting the myofascial trigger point with a sufficient amount of an alpha adrenergic antagonist to inhibit spontaneous EMG spike activity in said myofascial trigger point, whereby said chronic pain is reduced.
A method for identifying a source of chronic pain, said method comprising:
- locating at least one muscle causing said chronic pain;
- and
- identifying spontaneous EMG spike activity in a myofascial trigger point in said muscle, whereby said trigger point is said source of chronic pain.
A method for identifying patients with chronic pain susceptible to treatment with alpha adrenergic antagonists, said method comprising:
- locating at least one myofascial trigger point, having spontaneous EMG activity, within a muscle causing said chronic pain;
- and
- contacting said myofascial trigger point with an alpha adrenergic antagonist, whereby said patients with chronic pain susceptible to treatment are identified by a reduction in said spontaneous EMG spike activity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.