It has been noted by multiple researchers that there is Spontaneous Electrical Activity (SEA) at painful trigger points. This author has studied chronic muscle spasm and found that SEA is always present and appears to be the cause for the chronic nature of muscle spasm. Chronic muscle spasm can last for years and cases where the spasm lasted for decades were not only found but successfully treated with the CMECD® procedure. This procedure consists of EMG guidance searching for the SEA and using a combination of phenoxybenzamine, Lidocaine and dexamethasone to extinguish the SEA. Large areas of muscle often need to be treated. Thanks to lidocaine acting as an antiarrhythmic, the SEA is extinguished within seconds and the phenoxybenzamine then takes over after about one hour. With the resolution of the SEA, the muscle can immediately relax. The phenoxybenzamine forms a covalent bond on the alpha motoneuron receptor and the result is a duration of action of 2-3 months. This is enough time for the muscle to recover the prolonged effect of ischemia resulting from the prolonged spasm. Muscles treated in this fashion need only a single injection. Recurrences are rare and only occur if there is a repeat overuse or traumatic injury. The CMECD® procedure is available for use by any medical caregiver that is licensed to give injections. The ability to permanently relieve chronic pain without the use of opioid drugs should prompt interest in this procedure. 

Dr. Coletti received a BA from Georgetown University College of Arts and Sciences. He received a Master of Arts from Hofstra University. He received his MD from State University of New York at Downstate.  His medical internship and residency was performed at Nassau County Medical Center in East Meadow, NY. He did two years of cardiology fellowship at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York and then transferred to Westchester County Medical Center where he completed one year of Interventional Cardiology fellowship. He was awarded FACC, FASNC, and FSCAI fellowship status. Current interest is chronic muscle spasm and pain.