Trigger point injections compared with nerve blocks for long-lasting headache from the neck
Compares trigger point injections with C2 nerve blocks in adults with chronic cervicogenic headache.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Clinical Study of Myofascial Trigger Points(MTrPs) Injection in the Treatment of Chronic Cervicogenic Headache
Key facts
- Where
- Beijing, ChinaSee the site
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 18 and 65 years old?
Source: NCT07347730, who can take part
Where in China
- Beijing Tiantan HospitalBeijing, ChinaTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Beijing Tiantan Hospital
- Trial code
- NCT07347730
- Record updated
- 16 January 2026
- Original description
Chronic cervicogenic headache is a common disease in China, with a high incidence among the elderly, and has a significant impact on patients' quality of life. Currently, both domestic and international studies have confirmed that glucocorticoid injection at myofascial trigger points(MTrPs) can alleviate patients' pain symptoms. MTrPs injection is safe and easy to operate, and can improve the clinical management efficiency of patients with chronic cervicogenic headache. Therefore, we designed a prospective, randomized controlled, blinded outcome, non-inferiority study to compare the long-term clinical efficacy of glucocorticoid injection at myofascial trigger points and greater occipital nerve block injection in treating chronic cervicogenic headache. Patients will be randomly divided into two groups and receive either glucocorticoid injection at MTrPs or dorsal rami blocks of C2 spinal nerves. After treatment, patients will be followed up for 2 years. Their NRS scores, attack frequency, attack duration, HIT-6 scores, Patient Global Impression of Change(PGIC) scale, and adverse reactions will be recorded at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks. If the results indicate that the clinical efficacy of myofascial trigger point injection for chronic cervicogenic headache is not inferior to that of injection at intra-articular injection, it will provide a safe and simple treatment option that is easy to promote for patients who do not respond to conservative treatment.Read full original descriptionShow less
Clinical Study of Myofascial Trigger Points(MTrPs) Injection in the Treatment of Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain(CMP), Chronic Migraine and Cervicogenic Headache
Chronic cervicogenic headache is a common disease in China, with a high incidence among the elderly, and has a significant impact on patients' quality of life. Currently, both domestic and international studies have confirmed that glucocorticoid injection at myofascial trigger points(MTrPs) can alleviate patients' pain symptoms. MTrPs injection is safe and easy to operate, and can improve the clinical management efficiency of patients with chronic cervicogenic headache. Therefore, we designed a prospective, randomized controlled, blinded outcome, non-inferiority study to compare the long-term clinical efficacy of glucocorticoid injection at myofascial trigger points and greater occipital nerve block injection in treating chronic cervicogenic headache. Patients will be randomly divided into two groups and receive either glucocorticoid injection at MTrPs or dorsal rami blocks of C2 spinal nerves. After treatment, patients will be followed up for 2 years. Their NRS scores, attack frequency, attack duration, HIT-6 scores, Patient Global Impression of Change(PGIC) scale, and adverse reactions will be recorded at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks. If the results indicate that the clinical efficacy of myofascial trigger point injection for chronic cervicogenic headache is not inferior to that of injection at intra-articular injection, it will provide a safe and simple treatment option that is easy to promote for patients who do not respond to conservative treatment.
Inclusion: Diagnosed with cervicogenic headache by at least two pain specialists or neurologists; Disease duration of at least 3 months; Age between 18 and 65 years; Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) score ≥ 3 despite conservative pharmacological treatment; Signed informed consent form.
Exclusion: Alcohol abuse; long-term use of opioids (exceeding 2 weeks or more than 3 days per week for over 1 month); suspected use of sedative or analgesic medications; patients on long-term steroid therapy; History of allergy to trial medications such as corticosteroids; Severe neurological disorders, significant hepatic or renal dysfunction, heart failure, coagulation abnormalities, gastric ulcer, diabetes, inflammatory rheumatic diseases, etc; Presence of local or systemic infection; Inability to use pain assessment scales; Pregnant or lactating patients.