If you’re dealing with chronic neck pain, upper back stiffness, or aching in your lower back, there’s a lesser-known cause that may be at the root of your discomfort: trigger points.

Trigger points are persistent, localized muscle spasms or knots that form in overworked or stressed muscles. While they may seem small, their impact on the body can be substantial. These tight bundles of muscle fibers can refer pain far from their original site—sometimes causing radiating pain that mimics serious spinal or nerve conditions. Despite their common occurrence, trigger points are often misunderstood, misdiagnosed, or entirely overlooked.

Understanding the nature of trigger points and how they affect your body is crucial for finding lasting relief. In this article, we’ll explain what trigger points are, how they differ from nerve-related pain, and why chiropractic care offers one of the most effective solutions available today.

Trigger points are areas of muscle that remain tightly contracted even when the rest of the muscle is relaxed. They often develop due to poor posture, repetitive movements, physical trauma, or prolonged stress. You might feel them as tight, tender spots or knots in your muscles. When pressed, they may be painful or even cause pain to radiate to other parts of the body.

Trigger points are not just sources of localized pain. They can refer pain to other regions in predictable patterns, which is where things get more complex—and more commonly misunderstood.

One of the most confusing aspects of trigger points is their ability to cause radiating pain into the arms, hands, legs, or feet. This type of pain can resemble symptoms typically associated with other conditions, such as:

• Herniated discs

• Sciatica

• Carpal tunnel syndrome

• Thoracic outlet syndrome

Because the pain spreads, patients and even healthcare providers may assume it’s coming from a pinched nerve or spinal issue. For instance, pain in the wrist and hand might be diagnosed as carpal tunnel syndrome, when in fact it’s being caused by a trigger point in the neck or shoulder. Similarly, pain in the gluteal region and down the leg might mimic sciatica, but the real culprit could be a cluster of active trigger points in the hip or low back muscles.

Understanding the distinction between scleratogenous pain and radicular pain is key to identifying the true source of your symptoms.

• Scleratogenous pain, caused by trigger points, is described as diffuse or broad. It doesn’t follow a specific nerve path but rather affects a general region of the body. For example, a person might report aching pain across the shoulder blade and into the arm, or pain that spreads across the buttocks and into the thigh. This type of pain originates from muscles, tendons, or connective tissues.

• Radicular pain, on the other hand, is the result of a compressed or irritated spinal nerve. It follows a precise path, often matching the dermatome (nerve distribution) map of the body. For instance:

  • Pain involving the thumb and index finger may indicate compression of the C6 nerve in the cervical spine.

  • Pain affecting the outside of the foot and the little toe may point to compression of the S1 nerve in the lumbar spine.

This distinction matters because treating radicular pain with methods meant for trigger points—or vice versa—won’t provide lasting relief and may lead to unnecessary imaging, medications, or even surgery.

The challenge with trigger point-related pain is that it doesn’t show up on X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans. As a result, patients with this type of pain may undergo extensive testing, consult multiple specialists, and still not receive a definitive diagnosis. They might be prescribed pain medications, referred for injections, or even undergo surgery—without any significant improvement.

This can be frustrating and exhausting, especially when the root cause is a treatable muscular issue.

The good news is that trigger points respond exceptionally well to conservative care, especially chiropractic treatment. At Arizona Chiropractic & Holistic Health Center, we specialize in identifying and resolving muscular causes of pain, including stubborn trigger points.

Chiropractic care is a drug-free, non-invasive approach that addresses the mechanical imbalances and postural stresses that often lead to chronic trigger point formation. Our treatment protocols may include:

• Targeted spinal adjustments to restore joint function and reduce muscle tension

• Soft tissue therapy and myofascial release to deactivate trigger points

• Stretching and exercise programs to improve flexibility and prevent recurrence

• Postural correction and ergonomic advice to eliminate ongoing stress on the muscles

Patients often report significant relief in both local and radiating pain within a few treatments, with improvements in range of motion, sleep quality, and overall well-being.

If you’ve been struggling with pain that spreads down your arm, leg, or back—and you’ve been told everything looks “normal” on your scans—it’s time to consider whether trigger points could be the missing link in your diagnosis.

At Arizona Chiropractic & Holistic Health Center in Scottsdale, we take a comprehensive, whole-body approach to pain relief. We listen, evaluate thoroughly, and design treatment plans tailored to your individual needs.

Schedule Your Consultation

Don’t let hidden trigger points control your life or limit your activities. Schedule a consultation with our expert chiropractic team today and take the first step toward lasting relief.