Wellness

[shoesnbags]

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@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

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@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)

[shoesnbags]

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@frenchie wrote:

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

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@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."

[Kachina624]

@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.

[shoesnbags]

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@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.

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@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)

[on the bay]

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.

[Mom2Dogs]

@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.

[Mom2Dogs]

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?

[on the bay]

@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.

[Mom2Dogs]

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

[Lisa now in AZ]

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!