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Trigger Point Injections
Question: An employee trips and falls over his own feet while walking down a hallway. He is concerned he injured himself and goes to a clinic for an evaluation. The doctor provides trigger point injections for diagnostic purposes only. Is it recordable?
Answer: YES. Even though medication administered solely for diagnostic purposes would not normally trigger recordability, trigger point injections serve a dual purpose: diagnosis AND pain relief. Prescription medicine provided for pain relief is considered medical treatment beyond first aid and is therefore recordable.
Letter of Interpretation: OSHA's physicians in the Office of Occupational Medicine [stated] that although "trigger point" injections may be used diagnostically, ultimately they also provide medical treatment (pain relief). Because the medication serves these dual purposes, it does not meet the criterion of being solely used for diagnostic procedure. Therefore, when "trigger point" injections are administered, the work-related injury or illness is recordable.