Dry Needling Experiences

I only just heard of this technique for shoulder pain a couple days ago via another thread. Since then I've been reading up more on it, and it sounds very intriguing. Anyone want to relate your experiences with this?

Don't do it. I found it to cause more issues than it helped, and it really hurt. Just stick to a good massage therapist, and see them regularly. Granted a good MT will hurt also, but in a good way. Dry needling will hurt in a bad way. Causing muscles to spasm and cramp in an attempt to relax them is bass ackwards thinking...

It is definitely worth a try, as long as you go to the right therapist. Over a 6 week clinical rotation for physical therapy, I have seen dramatic results in short time periods with needling. The first time I ever saw it used, a guy's traps were visibly taut and completely relaxed immediately after withdrawing the needle. For some people, though, the results weren't as dramatic or quick. Also, some people find it painful and some actually enjoy the experience. I had much of one side of my body needled to see what it was like. For me, a few of the muscles were painful to have needled but most were very tolerable. It also probably won't be a quick permanent fix. It is often used as a way to work on the real problem a little easier.

I would suggest calling KinetaCare, though they are all the way up in Brighton. Edo actually teaches other PTs how to needle, has been doing it for 10 years or so, and is considered by many to be one of the best in the country. At the very least, he could recommend someone good in your part of town. Again, don't go to just anyone who needles.

If you want any more info, PM me.

Its definitely worth a try. I caught a baseball to the inside of my knee due to a bad bounce ad couldnt walk for a while. After 3 sessions of dry needling and electric stimulation I was 100%. Swelling went down, no stiffness and no pain. Was it a placebo effect? I dont know but it worked regardless. (I was a huge skeptic before hand so I doubt it was a placebo effect)

I've had very good luck with it. A PT friend in Boulder has done four different sessions on my elbo tendonitis (climbing over-use injury) with very good results. I had done months of formal rehab with only marginal results and hadn't been able to climb much at all. I tried the dry needling because I was willing to try anything and she was a friend. I didn't expect it to work. It hurts like hell during a treatment (I think PTs actually enjoy that part of their jobs).

There has not been a lot of real research done on dry needling as yet, although many people have reported benefits from it. Several clinical studies are currently under way to address this knowledge gap.

The thing to keep in mind is that it should be used as an adjunct to other therapies - it may help with relief of muscle spasm, pain, inflammation, etc... but it won't correct the issues that led to the above. As Erik said, it is often used to calm things down in order to allow the therapist to address the other issues/problems. If there is a mechanical derangement (tendon/ligament tear, arthritic changes, stress fracture etc...), muscle imbalance, poor work environment set-up, or faulty movement pattern that is causing your symptoms the dry-needling will only be a very temporary 'fix'.

I would put it in the category of 'won't hurt, might help' - and also recommend going to someone who has certification and experience with the technique, and who will also perform a thorough evaluation to determine causative factors.

I've been an outpatient orthopedic Physical Therapist for 21 years and I think the Dry Needling is a great, great tool. But it is just a tool. You must have a thorough examination and complete treatment, not just needling by itself. To have it done you have to go to a certified clinician. MD's, Chiropractors, Acupuncturists, and PT's can all get certified to do it.

You guys rock. Even Phoenix' comment, b/c there's always a flip side. My next obstacle is dealing with Kaiser, which basically means I'm going out of network and out of pocket.