Dry Needling
Neuro Advantage Rehabilitation is excited to provide dry needling as an alternative intervention for pain management.
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At this time, dry needling is not a service often covered by insurance. ​
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What is Dry Needling?
Dry needling is almost always used as a part of an overall plan that will likely include some type of exercise, manual therapy, heat therapy, and education. Dry needling may also treat:
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Joint problems
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Disk problems
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Tendinitis
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Migraine and tension-type headaches
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Jaw and mouth problems (such as temporomandibular joint disorders or TMD)
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Whiplash
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Repetitive motion disorders (like carpal tunnel syndrome)
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Spinal problems
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Pelvic pain
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Night cramps
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Phantom pain
Most adverse effects have been minor and include:
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Soreness during or after the treatment
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Bleeding at the place where the needle was pushed in
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Fainting
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Fatigue
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Bruising
A very rare side effect from improper needle insertion could be major organ puncture, such as a pneumothorax (collapsed lung) caused by puncturing the lung through needle insertion in the chest.
At first glance, a patient receiving dry needling treatment and another receiving acupuncture may look exactly the same. Both methods use fine filament needles gently inserted into strategic locations in the body.
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The fundamental difference between these techniques is that dry needling is based on human anatomy and the neurophysiological principles, while traditional acupuncture is based on traditional Chinese medicine.
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Both dry needling and acupuncture uses needles that don’t inject fluid into the body. In fact, dry needling gets its name from this fact. Both therapies use the stimulation resulting from insertion of these fine needles to generate their therapeutic effects.
One of the fundamental parts of traditional Chinese medicine is the theory behind acupuncture, which relates to the flow of energy through your body.
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Frequently, acupuncture targets overall wellness, but it can also help stimulate nerves to address medical conditions ranging from stress to respiratory disorders. Like dry needling, acupuncture seems to stimulate endorphin production, leading to natural pain relief.
Perhaps the most noticeable difference from a patient’s perspective is the time the needles stay inserted. Acupuncture tends to keep needles in place longer, while dry needling has a shorter duration. DINS techniques also use more shallow penetrations.
Dry needling may be a refreshing, drug-free alternative for treating your pain issues.
The best way to learn if it’s right for you is through a consultation with one of our dry needling specialists at Neuro Advantage Rehabilitation.