Understanding If Dry Needling Causes Pain

Hinge Health report, cited by the Healthcare Drive, shows that nearly 40% of American adults experience musculoskeletal pain. With such widespread discomfort, innovative treatments like dry needling therapy offer hope for lasting pain relief.

The idea of tiny needles piercing your skin can sound intimidating. But if you’ve ever struggled with chronic MSK pain, you know how desperately one seeks relief. So, it’s high time you embrace dry needling as a modern therapeutic technique.

But does dry needling hurt? Discover the truth about this therapy and whether it causes pain to help you decide if it’s the right step toward your wellness goals. Get informed before your session!

What Is Dry Needling?

Dry needling is a physical therapy technique that targets muscle knots. These trigger points within the muscles or connective tissues cause tension and pain.

During this therapy, a specialist inserts monofilament, sharp needles through the skin, targeting the muscle knots. The needles then stimulate the local twitch response – an involuntary muscle contraction.

This contraction disrupts the pain cycle and spasms within the muscles. The tight muscle fibers then relax, releasing tension and myofascial trigger points.

Dry needling doesn’t involve the injection of any fluid into the body. That’s why it’s a “dry” technique, unique from other injections. Consider visiting a professional physical therapist or acupuncturist for safe and effective dry needling therapy.

Dry Needling Benefits

Undergoing this physical therapy helps relax the affected muscles. As a result, more blood flows to the muscles, alleviating inflammation or swelling. This speeds up recovery and improves the muscle’s range of motion.

Dry needling is among the most efficient and precise solutions for relieving chronic muscle pain. By inserting monofilament needles directly into the trigger points, the pain reduces immediately.

Unlike massage therapy, dry needling helps desensitize overactive nerves. This helps disrupt pain signals, minimizing the sensitivity of nerve pathways. Undergoing dry needling also helps facilitate neuromuscular reset, enhancing overall muscle flexibility.

How Dry Needling Therapy Works

Dry needling works in three ways, which include:

• Targeting myofascial trigger points
• Stimulating the nervous system
• Increasing blood flow

Inserted needles trigger the brain and the spinal cord to release endorphins – pain-relieving chemicals. During the therapy, the body gets prompted to supply more blood to the affected muscles or connective tissues. This aids healing and improves overall muscle health.

Factors That Influence Dry Needling Effects

You may experience some discomfort or pain during dry needling therapy. Several elements can determine your experience, and these include:

• Your body’s pain tolerance
• Sensitivity of the targeted muscles
• Location of the trigger points
• Needle insertion depth
• Your physical therapist’s skills and experience
• Twitch response
• Musculoskeletal condition being treated

The threshold of pain varies from one person to another. You’ll likely experience more pain if your body isn’t tolerant to pain.

Myofascial trigger points located in the back may be more sensitive than those located in other areas like the legs and arms. Also, needles inserted deeper into the muscles cause more sensation than superficial ones.

A professional physical therapist performs dry needling accurately without making errors that cause extreme pain. Stimulation of the twitch response comes with little sensation or discomfort. However, sensation from involuntary muscle contraction signifies muscle release and relaxation.

Common Sensations During Dry Needling

Muscle twitch responses during this treatment can cause varying sensations, from mild and dull to aching sensations. A pinprick sensation is the first effect you’ll feel during dry needling therapy. It feels like a light poke or pressure when your therapist starts to insert the needles.

As the needle gets into the myofascial trigger points, you’ll feel some muscle twitching. This is usually a normal pain that triggers a local twitch response.

Muscle twitches may feel like spasms or cramps that only last for a few minutes. After the session, you’ll experience some muscle aching, which declines gradually.

Pain Management Techniques

Discomfort or sensation during this procedure is normal, but you can prevent it from escalating. Before starting the session, inform your therapist about your body’s tolerance for pain. By doing this, you help them adjust the technique to your needs.

Don’t forget to practice deep breathing during the session. This practice helps relax the muscles, preventing the discomfort from worsening.

Adequate hydration is also essential both before and after dry needling. Having enough water in the body speeds up the recovery of the treated muscles. It also helps minimize the risk of extreme post-treatment soreness.

Heat therapy after the procedure can help alleviate pain by:

• Relaxing the treated muscles
• Increasing blood flow to the healing part
• Soothing post-treatment soreness

Topical relief like soothing gels and creams also play a crucial role in relieving dry needling pain. They have anti-inflammatory properties that prevent further muscle or joint swelling.

Signs You Need Dry Needling Therapy

You’re an ideal candidate for dry needling if you have musculoskeletal conditions like :

• Joint problems
• Pelvic pain
• Muscle weakness
• Spinal problems
• Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TJD)
• Phantom limb pain
• Migraines

These conditions cause persistent muscle pain, which traditional therapies like massage can’t quickly relieve. A limited range of motion may result from issues like spinal injuries or leg joint inflammations.

Consider visiting a physical therapist or dry needling if you experience recurring sports injuries. Timely dry needling prevents more complications like:

• Radiculopathy
• Scar tissue buildup
• Kyphosis (rounded shoulders)
• Joint adhesions
• Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis)

Preparing for Dry Needling Therapy

An initial consultation with a physical therapist will prepare you psychologically for the procedure. You’ll be able to discuss your fears or concerns before undergoing needling.

Other preparation ideas include:

• Understanding the procedure
• Wearing loose-fitting clothes for comfort
• Avoiding strenuous exercises
• Eating a light meal
• Avoiding alcohol
• Avoiding blood thinning medications

Does Dry Needling Hurt? A Patient’s Perspective on Relief

Does dry needling hurt? How you experience this therapy can greatly depend on your body’s pain tolerance. Finding the right physical therapist helps ensure a comfortable procedure.

MPOWER Physical Therapy in Nashville, TN, is your ideal solution if you have chronic musculoskeletal pain. Our holistic approach addresses issues like migraines, joint problems, back, neck, and knee pain. We also use the latest clinical technology to enhance your therapy experience.

Contact us today to schedule an appointment.