Dry Needling: Pinpointing Pain Relief With Physical Therapy in Metairie LA

Pain is something we’ll all experience at some point in our lives. It might be a result of injury, muscle overuse, poor posture, or improper technique while exercising – either way, it can impact quality of life.

At a certain point, that pain will become so unbearable that you start looking for relief. 

And when that time comes, you’ll likely find yourself talking to a physical therapist. 

During your consultation, your Metairie, LA physical therapist will ask a series of questions to get a better idea of where that pain is, what’s causing (or worsening) it, how severe it is, and what they can do to fix it. 

They’ll then take that information and develop a comprehensive treatment plan to relieve you of that pain.

While that plan often includes a wide range of treatments – such as exercise, stretching, manual therapy, and electrical stimulation – there’s one therapeutic technique that’ll either have you nervous or interested. 

That technique is a little something we like to call trigger-point dry needling – but what is dry needling, and is it as painful as it sounds? Don’t worry – we’ll teach you everything you need to know about it below!

Dry Needling: Releasing Trigger Points to Relieve Pain

Dry needling is when your physical therapist inserts thin, monofilament needles into the skin and muscle to release or inactivate myofascial trigger points – relieving you of pain and improving range of motion. 

They call it ‘dry needling’ because the needles don’t inject any type of medication into the trigger point. 

But let’s take a step back – what is a myofascial trigger point? 

Myofascial trigger points (MTrPs), also known as muscle knots, are sensitive, hyperirritable spots in the muscle tissue – typically found within a taut band of skeletal muscle – that can cause pain and discomfort. 

There are two primary types of trigger points – active MTrPs and latent MTrPs. 

• Active trigger points cause constant pain (even at rest) both at the site of the trigger point (local pain) and in other areas of the body (referred pain). They limit movement and muscle strength.

• Latent trigger points won’t cause pain unless stimulated with pressure during palpation. They restrict range of motion and alter muscle activation patterns, but usually don’t cause referred pain.

Dry needling targets these trigger points, eliciting a ‘local twitch response’ that helps release tight bands of muscle, reduce tension and spasms, improve blood flow, interrupt pain signals, and promote healing. 

What to Expect: Does Trigger-Point Dry Needling Hurt?

When most people hear the term ‘dry needling,’ they immediately think negative thoughts – especially if they don’t do well with needles and can’t stand the idea of needles being inserted into the skin or muscle.

But don’t worry – the needles we use are nothing like the needles used when drawing blood. 

Since no medication or injection is involved in dry needling, the needles used are extremely thin and patients generally don’t feel any pain or discomfort from the actual insertion of the needle into the skin. 

So, does dry needling hurt? Well, yes and no. 

While the needle itself won’t cause any pain, patients usually experience a recreation of their initial pain – similar to an ache – as the needle makes contact with the trigger point. This is where patients experience some discomfort, but it’s what the physical therapist wants to see, and it means treatment is working. 

With that said, muscle soreness is common during and after treatment – similar to a workout – but will eventually wear off in the coming days. When that happens, you’ll feel like an entirely new person. 

Dry Needling vs. Acupuncture: What’s the Difference? 

On the surface, trigger-point dry needling and acupuncture might sound (and look) like the same thing, but it’s important to understand that these are two entirely different procedures with different principles. 

So, what is acupuncture? 

Acupuncture is a key component of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body to promote healing, alleviate pain, and improve overall health. 

The practice is based on the concept of balancing the body's vital energy, known as "Qi,”, which flows through pathways called meridians. The Chinese believe illness and pain stem from Qi imbalance. 

How does this differ from dry needling? 

Where acupuncture aims to restore the flow of Qi and support the natural healing process, dry needling releases muscle knots, improves blood flow, reduces inflammation, and alleviates pain from trigger points.

FunXional PT: Finding a Treatment Plan That Works for You

Is pain and discomfort starting to affect your ability to live a happy, healthy, and normal life? Do you find yourself struggling to get through the day because of pain? Is your pain only getting worse over time? 

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of those questions above, then don’t worry – you’ve come to the right place!

Welcome to FunXional Physical Therapy – the Metairie, LA community’s one-stop shop for pain relief. 

Our experienced team of physical therapists is dedicated to finding a treatment plan that works for you – Whether that involves dry needling, manual therapy, exercise, stretching, or a combination of treatments. 

We take the time to understand each individual patient to ensure their unique needs are met. Contact us at (504) 517-4594 or book your free consultation online and learn how we can help you live a life free of pain.