Retrospective Study of Trigger Point Injections for Myofascial Pain Syndrome in Cancer Patients: Impact on Pain Relief and Opioid Tapering

Although the pathogenesis and management of Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS) have been discussed in the literature, only a few studies have examined the effects of trigger point injection (TPI) on MPS or opioid dosage in patients with cancer. We evaluated changes in numeric rating scale (NRS) scores and opioid dosage, along with the duration of opioid use, nutritional status, and the types of cancer and metastases in patients with cancer and MPS who received TPI, to evaluate its clinical significance. Data were collected retrospectively from 20 inpatients with cancer and MPS who received TPI for pain management from the palliative care team between April 2018 and January 2020. TPI improved NRS scores in several cases and reduced opioid dosage. Notably, long-term opioid users (up to 336 days) also experienced improvements in NRS scores and discontinued opioids. TPI is an effective intervention for managing MPS in patients with cancer and may help prevent unnecessary escalation of opioid therapy, reducing the associated risks of side effects and dependency.