Most people associate therapeutic needle insertion with acupuncture, but thanks to FHN Physical Therapist Shawn Gorsline, PT, DPT, Cert. DN, you may now think of something new: Dry needling.
Dry needling is a technique that involves inserting solid filament needles into the skin and muscles to improve pain control, reduce muscle tension, and treat musculoskeletal dysfunction. Shawn has treated patients with dry needling for 10 years, and has found it to be beneficial.
“I received my certification in Arizona a decade ago, and dry needling has been a successful tool for me, especially in concert with exercise and other forms of PT,” says Shawn. “The practice has been around since the 1940s, but it has been gaining popularity the past few years and is now a mainstream therapy. Some patients swear by it, and I am excited to provide it at FHN.”
Common conditions that may benefit from dry needling include lower back pain, neck pain and tightness, headaches, elbow tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, Bell’s Palsy, temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ), shoulder pain, and kneecap pain, among others. Hard-toreach muscles in the lower back are especially receptive to the procedure, according to Shawn, and FHN Podiatrist Sherjeel Hassan, DPM, finds it valuable for certain foot injuries.
So just what is done during the dry needling process? Shawn says it is fairly simple and goes quickly. “I insert the dry needles into the troublesome area, which normally takes five or 10 minutes. Then the patient rests for a while, and occasionally a TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) unit will be added to provide low-voltage electrical currents to the area, for additional pain relief. The whole process takes just 30-40 minutes, and most patients have only mild discomfort and soreness.”
The needles are called “dry” because there is no medication or solution in them. There are different-size needles depending on the area being treated. Shawn emphasizes that they are thinner than people imagine.
“Most patients are very game to try the procedure, and are surprised at how little pain they experience. I hear, ‘Oh is that it?!’ quite often. The majority of people find it helpful and want more treatments, because they are so happy it helped eliminate or reduce pain in their muscles or trigger points. It can even help with old scars that cause chronic inflammation.”
If you are interested in finding out more about this leading-edge form of therapy, talk to your primary care provider about a referral. “Discuss it with your doctor and give it a try,” suggests Shawn. “It can really be a game-changer.”