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Dry needling is an increasingly popular treatment option that can be performed by physical therapists to improve a patient’s pain and range of motion. A needle without medication (i.e “dry” needling) is inserted into a trigger point, or “knot” in the muscle. There are several techniques that can be used with dry needling but the overall goal is to reduce pain. Research shows that “deep” needling reduces pain better than “superficial” needling, but both techniques will reduce pain. There are a few things to consider if you are thinking about trying this treatment.
People who should not receive dry needling
- Those in their first trimester of pregnancy
- Those with active infection
- Those with genetic bleeding disorders
- Those with a phobia of needles
Let your therapist know if you have cancer, are on blood thinners, or have a disease that can be transmitted through blood. While these factors may not necessarily preclude someone from receiving dry needling, they should always be communicated to your physical therapist for further discussion.
What to expect
With dry needling, you can expect to have some discomfort during and after the session. During the session, you may feel a deep aching or cramping sensation. Sometimes you may have replication of your pain complaint, as is commonly the case in those receiving dry needling for headaches. After the needling session, you will typically have mild to moderate muscle soreness, as if you just had a hard workout for the first time in several months. The soreness typically goes away within the first 24-48 hours. You can help alleviate this soreness by using ice packs, performing gentle movements, and drinking plenty of water.
Despite the aching sensation experienced during dry needling, patients love this treatment option because they can typically get fast results. Most patients will notice an immediate improvement in movement and pain. While patients may have some soreness, the soreness is different than their daily pain, and in a weird way, that brings relief. I typically tell patients that once the soreness goes away (typically within 24 hours), they can truly feel the benefits from needling. If you have a long standing problem, it may take 3-5 sessions to know if dry needling is working for you. If you can’t tell a difference, then it’s either the wrong treatment for you or the muscles being needled are not part of your problem.
Next steps
If you are interested in exploring dry needling, you need to find a physical therapist who is qualified to perform dry needling as this is a specialty skill set. The requirements differ from state to state on what is required to get dry needling. In the state of Virginia, you need to contact your physician so they can write a prescription for dry needling. You can bring the prescription in with you or have it faxed to your physical therapist’s clinic.
Dry Needling is not tolerated by everyone, but it can be a valuable and game changing adjunct treatment for many!
The Headache Therapist 