Dry Needling

Merrida we have had a couple of different members that have done this but I cannot remember who they were. If you will type in dry needling in the search above you should be able to find the posts on this......

Do you understand what it is and the theory of how it works or if it does?

That's pretty close! I always explained it like this. Our nervous system sends 3 types of impulses,a,b,c let's say c is the pain impulse following? To reach our brain from wherever the hurt origionates it must pass thru a "gate " so to speak, that leads to the brain. This gate opens and closes after it allows a predetermined number of impulses thru, to prevent a "short circuit or overload right? There's the simplest anatomy of a " nerve impulse "

Needling is like a rancher shoving cattle down the shute into the holding pen. It creates lots of impulses by stimulating that twitch like that rancher using a cattle prod therefore sending a rush of cattle or impulses at that gate? Remember though only so many at a time can pass thru the gate like only so many cattle can.

The outcome hopefully is that the flood will shove more a and b impulses thru in the flood therefore diluting the number of Cs which are pain impulses. Well that's how they hope it works!

Does it? Some say yes definitely, others say its malarkey just as they do accupuncture?

It's basis in theory is like the emg testing, muscle is stimulated with a needle jab of current and the muscle reacts by twitching.

The drawbacks I've seen are just as a Emg causes sore, achy muscles so does needling so the first few days won't generally produce much relief.

Anytime your using an invasive procedure there's risk of infection, and the bigger risk is needling causing a pneumothorax or punctured lung, sorry,! This risk obviously is only a risk if they're needling in the chest or thoracic spine area's.

That's what I know!

Vickie, thank you for that very clear and visual description! That definitely helps a lot in terms of me understanding what they're attempting.

Roc, I appreciate you sharing your experience with me, knowing you get it done and that it's helpful.

Thanks guys. More info for me to assimilate. Much appreciated!




M.

I've had it done, but it was targeted at tight muscles from poor athletic practices. I found it helped a little, but for me stretching exercises and massage helped more.

It can be very painful, or it can be something you don't even feel - I think it depends on the location & the experience of the practitioner.

However, I can't imagine trying it for chronic pain. On the other hand, I think you'll know rather quickly if its helping or not, so why not try it? (Do make sure whoever does it is properly educated & licensed & has been doing it for a while!)

Best wishes

You can get some pretty intense "twitches". I was told to go 2x weekly to get good results. Like I said, I can feel how much it helps since I've been inpatient and not able to go to the appointments.