topic Re: Dry Needling in Wellness

Dry Needling

Mom2Dogs — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 15:37:13 GMT

I am on a fact finding mission....has anyone had this procedure done...DRY NEEDLING?

I am wondering if it would help my husband with his hip pain.

Currently he is on steroids for a short time...waiting for another hip injection.

I am just really curious about dry needling and will not mention it to him if it is something that will not offer relief. Is this procedure something that needs to be done often?

I have read a bit about it on the internet but looking for someone that has exprienced it and the results.

Thanks

Re: Dry Needling

Lisa now in AZ — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 16:12:01 GMT

I have had chronic back pain for over 20 years and no dr could find a reason. At least they beleived me, but just prescribed pain pills. My last PA was determined to find the cause and he studied an x-ray and found something no dr., not even the pain specialists, saw. He recommended dry needling, which can only be done by a specialist - mine is the owner of a local PT and Pain clinic. The results were incredible. His goal was to have me pain-free and completely off the pain meds in 3 months. It has been longer than that, but I am down to 2 pills a day for my back, as well as other pains, and I only see him every 3 weeks now. Last week, as I mentioned some other areas where arthritis was hurting, he added some needles in my lower back and upper neck. I will never stop going!

I hope that helps, and good luck to your husband.

Re: Dry Needling

Lisa now in AZ — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 16:18:46 GMT

I can't edit my respopnse, so here is more info. I WAS taking pain pills every 4 hours, around the clock, which means 6 a day. That's a LOT! So, 1-2 to me is wonderful! My PT said that if the pain level is at 10% or less, I should just manage it without meds. I feel like Elaine on Seinfeld when she evaluated whether a guy was "sponge worthy." I think about every pain to determine if it is pill worthy. And, when it gets this low, it is easy to just refocus on something else.

Re: Dry Needling

frenchie — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 16:26:25 GMT

Is this the new term for accupuncture? New to me.

Re: Dry Needling

Mom2Dogs — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 16:28:26 GMT

@Lisa now in AZ Thank you so much for the reply..I am glad you are getting pain relief. I always tend to think outside the box, my husband does not.

DH is 84 rarely sick or have any health issues...he does have A Fib but that is it...his weight is in check and takes no meds except for the blood thinner for the Afib..so being laid up with pain is new to him.

Did the procedure hurt, tingle, etc?

Was it covered under insurance...My husband is on medicare, so I guess I would need to check.

His ortho doctor said he is not a hip replacement candidate at this time, although currently his quality of life is not good...can barely walk.

There is a PT clinic in our small town that does the procedure, I guess I should give them a call and have a conersation with them.

Sorry for the 20 questions but I am really intersted in looking into this for him. If he is in such pain I don't know why the ortho doctor is against talking about hip replacement.

Re: Dry Needling

Effie54 — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 16:43:49 GMT

@Mom2Dogs I've had it. I fell on the ice a few years ago and injured my shoulder. After a lot of physical therapy and no relief, I had dry needling. Yeow! It was very painful. I was able to go through it three times before I gave up. It helped a little though.

Re: Dry Needling

Mom2Dogs — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 16:47:16 GMT

@Effie54 Sorry it was painful...not sure I will mention that to my husband, if willing he can speak with the therapist...thanks.

Re: Dry Needling

bmorechick — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 16:58:38 GMT

@Mom2Dogs About two years ago, I had pain and numbness in both hands and wrists. Diagnosed with carpel tunnel, which I already pretty much figured. Went to PT sessions few times a week (hand specialist). They recommended an electromyography (EMG) for a more accurate diagnosis and severity. It involved inserting needles attached to an electrode that would deliver like a stun to the area. Was it painful...not really but sure it was kinda uncomfortable. The therapist and I yakked during the whole thing, so not too bad. I had no intentions of initiating surgery for many reasons, unless I couldn't use my hands.

The end result - the EMG apparently acted like dry needling and that one session, coupled with hand PT put those issues to rest. Took about 3 weeks when I noticed that all disappeared. The therapist did tell me sometimes it does act like dry needling. Today, no pain, weakness or numbness and I lift 10 pound free weights for bicep curls, etc. with no issues. No young chick here - I'm 69.

Re: Dry Needling

Mom2Dogs — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 16:59:48 GMT

@frenchie Similar, I read about it but cannot post a link

Re: Dry Needling

jlkz — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 17:00:16 GMT

@Mom2Dogs

Your husband needs to find out exactly why the ortho doctor is against hip replacement: there may be a very good reason for his opinion. Then, get a second opinion.

It may be a good time to start accompanying spouse to these doctor appointments.....missing key information could lead to life-altering decisions, be it medications or treatments.

The patient usually has a lot of questions, thoughts, ideas, misinformation in mind that they can miss something important. That is why having one person takes notes and / or go over a checklist of questions or clarifications is important....esp. with today's medications and side effects or contraindications.

Re: Dry Needling

shoesnbags — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 17:01:51 GMT

@Mom2Dogs wrote:
I am on a fact finding mission....has anyone had this procedure done...DRY NEEDLING?

I am wondering if it would help my husband with his hip pain.
Currently he is on steroids for a short time...waiting for another hip injection.

I am just really curious about dry needling and will not mention it to him if it is something that will not offer relief. Is this procedure something that needs to be done often?

I have read a bit about it on the internet but looking for someone that has exprienced it and the results.

Thanks

@Mom2Dogs

A few weeks ago I started physical therapy for neck stiffness and pain. Dry needling is part of each therapy session, along with stretching, exercises, etc. I'm definitely improving so something is helping, can't say for sure if it's the dry needling but I kind of feel as if it is.

My PT has a PhD in physical therapy and was my next door neighbor for years, so I trusted him when he said it would help. No pain involved, at the most a tiny bit of discomfort. I don't even feel when he inserts some of the needles. There's a part where he attaches something electrical and I feel the vibration, but again, not pain. I do think it depends on the skill of the PT, because I had a different PT last week and it was way more uncomfortable.

I asked about insurance covering it and was told that it's just part of the therapy session, and the therapy is already covered by Medicare. (So no extra charge)

Re: Dry Needling

shoesnbags — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 17:09:24 GMT

@frenchie wrote:
Is this the new term for accupuncture? New to me.

@frenchieThey both use needles but otherwise totally different.

Dry needling treats muscle pain by targeting trigger points in the muscles, administered by physical therapists.

Accupuncture inserts needles at specific "meridian points" on the body to balance "energy flow."

Re: Dry Needling

Kachina624 — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 17:22:51 GMT

@shoesnbags. I wonder if it's the same thing as what they refer to as "trigger point injections"? I had a conversation with an orthopedist last week and he mentioned them.

Re: Dry Needling

shoesnbags — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 17:25:57 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
@shoesnbags. I wonder if it's the same thing as what they refer to as "trigger point injections"? I had a conversation with an orthopedist last week and he mentioned them.

@Kachina624I don't know, but this is definitely not an injection. Multiple tiny needles and nothing is being injected into you. Just the needles themselves and some electrical stimulation.

(Edited to enlarge font)

Re: Dry Needling

on the bay — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 18:59:57 GMT

Hi @Mom2Dogs,

I posted about this before.

I've not had dry needling but something from a pt that I'd never heard of called cold laser.

It's not red light therapy but similar but penetrates more and heals the inflammation and pain. It involves something that looks ike a remote held about a half inch away from whatever part it is treating for maybe 15 minutes.

After that she did a warm heating pad with tens unit, then a warm or cool gel ultrasound. I had had ultrasounds before but it was the cold laser for about 4 sessions which really got me out of pain.

This was for my fractured shoulder which was still very painful a year later and after I"d been to about 2 other pt's, one which made it worse.

This was the only thing that relieved being in pain 24/7. I was so happy I cried.

I know there are not many pt's that might have this but it's worth looking into. You don't really feel anything. I think anything that doesn't cause more pain, including a risky surgery for someone with afib and 84 is worth it.

It too was part of the pt which was covered under medicare and my secondary insurance.

Re: Dry Needling

Mom2Dogs — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 18:33:26 GMT

@jlkz I totally agree and so far he has gone alone, although I have mentioned going with him.

In another week or so (as the shots are only given on 2 different days) he will get another injection, if there is little to no relief....we are going to have a discussion...you know those famous words...WE NEED TO TALK.

Re: Dry Needling

Mom2Dogs — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 18:44:08 GMT

I appreciate all the stories and advice....So if this procedure works, or other methods that have been mentioned, wouldn't doctors try a procedure before a hip replacement?

Probably a dumb question as the doctor does not make money on a procedure he does not do...doctors are not evil, wouldn't they try something else first?

Re: Dry Needling

on the bay — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:09:09 GMT

@Mom2Dogs,

I've found from my experience that many specialists just deal with the

methods that are currently used and that they are familiar with.

And ortho drs typically offer surgery, injections, pt etc.

Many are not familiar with more conservative or alternate methods even if they are fda approved or have been used successfully for awhile.

Some are only interested in their specific specialty within the specialty. My Ortho dr for my shoulder was not interested in anything but offering surgery if not better and if I mentioned any other symptoms that I had from the fracture, like my whole arm was black for months, he would just refer me to another specialist, like a dermatologist.

I've had wonderful surgeons for other things that did try every method possible; more conservative treatments before recommending surgery.

Re: Dry Needling

Mom2Dogs — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 20:46:30 GMT

@on the bay Figures..lets do a needless surgery before exhausting other possibilities.

Re: Dry Needling

Lisa now in AZ — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 20:58:58 GMT

I have also had trigger point shots. The only time they work is when they can use steroids, but they can only do that once every three treatments, so that didn't help me.

As far as pain goes, when he gets it in the right spot, you feel it, but just for a minute. The needles going in don't hurt. When they are in place, they connect them to a TENS machine, which sends stimulation down to the nerves. You lay like that for about 15 minutes, then they detach them and off you go.

This past week he also put them in other areas where i was having pain, and that also helped. I know that it is still considered an outlying treatment, but I think that is because there have been many doctors who are not trained in it and that has done damage. My PT is the only one at his practice who can do it. It sure is worth a try to eleviate pain. Good luck!