What is Dry Needling? Does it Hurt? Is it Acupuncture?

Jeff took a few minutes this week to explain dry needling: just what is it? Questions answered include: does dry needling hurt? How is dry needling different from acupuncture? What are some of the pros and cons or dry needling?

[@evy684]

I had dry needling done on my heel for plantar fasciitis. Terrible pain . I had it done a couple of times. It didn’t do anything. But, the last time he did it, he hit right on the main spot that was hurting. Told my podiatrist ,and she found that spot and gave me a steroid shot right in that spot. And yes, it really hurt. But it was worth it. That’s what took my pain away finally.

[@deborahhayes825]

I have multiple TP on upper and lower back because of lumbar fusion and OA in whole spine (muscles are constantly under stress). I find Dry Needling much more effective than Lidocaine injection needling. I go in from 3-6 months for last 15 yrs. It's amazing how I can feel immediate pain relief from just inserting a needle. I consider it a miracle!

[@PetersenPhysicalTherapy]

Good to know, glad you're getting something out of it!

[@TheIdeabaker]

What a wonderful lesson in dry needling. Your soothing voice and economy of words along with physical models to help explain makes everything so easy to remember. Have been searching high and low for a book outlining intramuscular manual therapy. Any suggestions? Thank you, and you have a new subscriber!

[@karenmiddleton995]

I'm fixing to have it done. I hurt so bad. Have had PT before and saw a chiropractor. Back doing PT with dry needles, ultrasound and other deep muscle tissue things. Been going on since 2022 and now 2024. I got to get better. February and I still have some Christmas up. Doing little things is painful in my neck, shoulders and back. My goal pain free if possible.

[@pastda3]

Thank you so much for this very informative video. A few years ago, I had acupuncture several times. I did not care for it and it really didn't provide any relief for my pain. I had a posterior hip replacement in February and I am still having difficulty with pain in my glutes, groin, and thigh. PT has recommended dry needling. While I am somewhat hesitant, I'm desperate. I just want to be able to walk without difficulty. Fingers crossed that it helps.

[@mechelleanderson3399]

It works. I needle my glutes and the crest of my hip bone.

[@heeebeeegeeebeee]

Tried dry needling on my ankle a few years ago. Ankle felt great after a few sessions and some normal PT.

[@gheorghefalcaru]

BRAVO! THANK YOU!

[@pammiedoodle8693]

I just finished 6 weeks of PT for my Achilles tendinitis. I have to say I saw the biggest benefit from my dry-needling sessions. This was, of course, in addition to other stretches, etc. I had somewhere around 8 procedures over that 6 week period. I actually looked forward to them! In fact, even though I’m glad my PT is over, I’m really going to miss the needling!

[@PetersenPhysicalTherapy]

So glad to hear that it worked out for you! We hear the same thing from our patients all the time.

[@catherinebonanno6545]

That’s really something For me, it’s very painful

[@kyanac428]

Oh no 😱 im supposed to be starting soon. Now I'm scared​@@catherinebonanno6545

[@MelB868]

They put you to sleep and put it to the muscle in hip I'm not looking forward to that and won't miss it all the massage on physical therapy looked like the best thing on there I was just prescribed physical therapy Friday yesterday so have not started anything yet

[@evelyndeguzman1879]

My PT just tried it today on my sciatica it felt so much relieved … I want to try it again next session…

[@PetersenPhysicalTherapy]

Great to hear!

[@flowers3036]

For the sciatica pain where did they place the,needles and how many how long does a session take

[@lornakal5300]

@@flowers3036I fear needles not sure if I will allow this on my next physio session 😢😢

[@Zelchacha]

I was attacked by a boerboel (African Mastiff) and he fractured my right collarbone with his bite force, will be attempting some Dry Needle therapy in the following days hope this helps with some of the nerve damage and healing process, its been 10 months, on and off pain and discomfort, but it feels like i'm getting closer to some form of everyday living without the thought of rubbing it for relief.

[@user-wo9rc3vw8i]

actually dry needling is part of acupuncture. it is called 阿是穴。tender point or sore point.

[@I_Kan]

I have more movement after trying this technique but huge bruises and unable to tolerate the shoulder strap resting on that area because it's very sore after the treatment

[@judee.baland6526]

I had dry needling on my knee for a meniscus tear. The PT that did it promised me it would remove the pain and begin healing but it hurt so bad after a few days that I couldn't walk or even stand without excruciating pain!

[@TheAxe4Ever]

If a doctor or physical therapist suggested dry needling for a tear in the meniscus, they need to give their credentials back to the Cracker Jack box they obviously got it from. Dry needling is not not meant for a tear in cartilage. At best, it can relieve trigger points. That’s it. There are some things only surgery from a good and reputable surgeon can fix.

[@debgaudin8862]

Report her license

[@MelB868]

@@TheAxe4EverI have tow disk degenerating in my hip they described physical therapy and this dry needling thing where they put you to sleep and put the needle to my muscle did they prescribe things right about my condition

[@dawoodkhan4226]

Love You Sir , very informative ❤

[@PetersenPhysicalTherapy]

We appreciate it!

[@paulanuss6716]

Ive had it done. Several times for rhomboid pain after i had neck surgery...inserting the needle is the easy part..but when they move that needle around to get that tp to release its hell.

[@JyotiAudible]

Thank you for this useful video Regard from India Physio

[@PetersenPhysicalTherapy]

Thanks!

[@1699stu]

I got dry needling on my perennial Longus and I got a neuropathic shooting sensation all way down to my two little toes. Very painful for a few seconds.

[@Dandelion_flight]

Yikes

[@MelB868]

They are supposed to put you to sleep for it they are me to treat my discs in my hip that is degenerating

[@feiwong70]

Can Dry Needling remove stubborn muscle knots?

[@luciansupa]

How long does the pain disappear?

[@jenny-DD]

Dry needling (renamed) is one of about 18x different acupuncture techniques used for over 3,000 yrs. If you want to do acupuncture, go to acupuncture school for 3,000 hrs and get a doctorate or at least a Masters degree (with clinic training) instead of renaming a portion of acupuncture then doing a weekend class 😂

[@user-vu3mj8pq7l]

Omg I LOVE dry needling, it’s the only thing that gets my back knots out.

[@PetersenPhysicalTherapy]

It works!

[@Mr_Sarat_KH]

❤❤

[@TraceyMariexx]

It does hurt but for a second or 2.. Intense pain.. But as its seconds it's over before you finish saying ow. You wouldn't handle it if it went on a long time.. I got relief though.. Had it done today..

[@catherinebonanno6545]

My Dr. goes in for longer and really hurts

[@TraceyMariexx]

@@catherinebonanno6545 jeez.. I'd pass out

[@MelB868]

Actually they put you to sleep to do it they are going to put me to sleep and put the needle all the way to my muscle in my hip

[@MelB868]

@@catherinebonanno6545they said they were going to have to put me to sleep to do mine

[@MelB868]

@@TraceyMariexxthey put you to sleep

[@johnmerrick3429]

Don’t forget chiropractors performing dry needling

[@TheTruth2505]

Possible to get dry needling course online?

[@PetersenPhysicalTherapy]

Have any of you ever tried dry needling before? Let us know about it!

[@mechelleanderson3399]

Yes, I love it. I don’t think it hurts and I find it to be quite pleasurable. I do my neck, shoulder and pec. Then my flutes; IT and crest of my hip. It’s the best feeling. 😊

[@MelB868]

@@mechelleanderson3399they put you to sleep to do it they are going to put me to sleep and put the needle all the way down to the muscle in hip

[@rebeccanne20]

Yes… it hurts! Id never have it done again.

[@brothab5900]

It probably wouldn't have hurt if these guys had more training other than a weekend course. These guys are just stealing acupuncture techniques

[@laschell59]

Where did you get needles put that would hurt that bad?

[@Iron-and-strings]

Lol, done it many times and it was not really painful but helped tons

[@MelB868]

They supposed to put you to sleep to do it

[@MelB868]

@@Iron-and-stringslooks painful to me they put you to sleep to do it and put the needle through your skin through blood through fat all the way to your muscles

[@heidilee5809]

In order to practice acupuncture, one should go to acupuncture school and get licensed in it. Dry needling is acupuncture.

[@wfpl9375]

I'm uneducated in this area and that is why I watched this. My other research added to this tells me that you apparently uneducated also or you just get yuor joy by hurting people by denying them a valuable therapy. Which Accupuncture is also, but they are clearly not the same.

[@dmacupuncture]

@@wfpl9375 What about @Heidi Lee's statement even remotely suggest she is denying anyone valuable therapy, simply by making the factual statement "Dry needling is acupuncture"? Sure there is more to explain but DN is a specialized form of acupuncture. And exactly what research have you done, because you're still drawing the wrong conclusion - or you have not done the research. It's ok to admit to being ignorant about a topic, but to pretend otherwise is hurting both you and anyone you regurgitate that nonsense to. www.asacu.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Dry-Needling-is-Acupuncture-McIntyre-A.pdf

[@MelB868]

It is not they are going to put me to sleep to do this and but a needle through my hip all the way to the muscle

[@emmagiambazi6264]

I'm a qualified acupuncturist they are definitely not the same. It wasn't physicians by accident either- it is needling ashi points and has been used on for thousands of years. These ashi points are not acupuncture points on channels they are knots and thus are used locally for pain. Bleeding is improper insertion unless it's to release heat on a point.. Can be useful but not acupuncture which has much more wide-reaching applications and effects.

[@emmagiambazi6264]

Not acupuncture

[@shawnjenkins7469]

Does a bear shit in the woods?

[@PetersenPhysicalTherapy]

🤔

[@geffro1754]

Dead 🤣

[@MelB868]

Yes