Age

18–80

Sex

ALL

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

Adults aged 18-80 years
Chronic thoracic myofascial pain lasting at least three months
Pain intensity of ≥4 on 11-point NRS
At least two of three following conditions: Focal thoracic paraspinal pain, palpable taut band, referred pain pattern with palpation

Thoracic radiculopathy
Cervical myelopathy with neurological deficit
Prior cervicothoracic spine surgery
Pregnancy or lactation
Contraindication to local anesthetic
Active malignancy
Fibromyalgia
BMI \>40 kg/m2
Workers' compensation or active litigation related to thoracic pain
Acute herpes zoster or history of postherpetic neuralgia involving thoracic dermatomes
Current opioid use \>50 morphine milligram equivalents daily
Severe psychiatric or cognitive disorders, specifically history of schizophrenia, chronic psychotic disorders, dementia
History of substance use disorder
Inability to provide informed consent

Erector Spinae Plane Block Versus Trigger Point Injection for Chronic Thoracic Myofascial Pain