Sometimes, regular medical treatment does not suffice in providing pain relief. Even if you consult multiple doctors, pain usually doesn’t just go away without a reason. This can be stressful and nerve-wracking—after all, you’ve gone to all the specialists that you could think of, and nothing seemed to have worked.

Thankfully, there are newer methods of addressing body and muscle pain that could be just the panacea for you. One of these is dry needling—an alternative treatment related to acupuncture.

What Exactly is Dry Needling?

Dry needling is a safe needle treatment for managing pain and improving muscle movement. It’s provided only by extensively trained professionals and uses the same thin filament needles used in acupuncture. While in acupuncture, the needles are inserted along the Qi Meridian according to Traditional Chinese Medicine, dry needling uses a newer method where the needles are inserted directly into muscle knots. These needles penetrate the skin to target muscles, tissues, and myofascial trigger points to stimulate movement and ease muscle pain.

What Is It For?

Although dry needling is primarily for addressing muscular stiffness and tension, it can also be used to safely treat muscular strains, tears, and sprains, cramps, and even migraines. In fact, taking dry needling for TMJ (or temporomandibular joint) pain is becoming a popular form of treatment. Other issues, such as pelvic pain, jaw problems, tension headaches, and spinal and disc problems are also commonly treated with dry needling. The treatment has also been used to reduce swelling and inflammation; many people use dry needling for piriformis muscle pain relief.

Does It Hurt?

Although many people are queasy when it comes to needles, dry needling uses much thinner needles than those used for vaccinations. The insertion of the needle itself does not hurt, but the slight twitch or contraction of the muscle can cause discomfort, so it’s important to relax. However, this discomfort is usually brief and a sign that the target trigger point was hit by the needle.

Some needles are briefly inserted into the trigger points, while others are left in for about a minute or two. This helps release muscle knots and relax the muscles to prevent any spasms. You may feel the needle being inserted into and removed from your skin, which is used to encourage more movement in your muscle.

There are areas or trigger points that may be more sensitive to pain than others, and you may feel sensations around the area. This may leave you feeling slightly sore after treatment, which gradually goes away with each dry needling session you do. The pain you were experiencing before treatment typically subsides within a few days.

Work with a Trained Dry Needling Practitioner

Dry needling can bring a world of relief to a wide variety of body pain issues. Most muscle and joint pain can be relieved through dry needling, although some traumatic issues may require the care of a different specialist. When in doubt, consult a dry needle practitioner—you may discover other issues you’ve been suffering through that they are qualified to address.

Working with a professional dry needling practitioner can help address the lingering body pain that has been hounding you for months. After just a few sessions, you’ll be able to freely move the affected muscles without discomfort or soreness.

Dry Needling in Jacksonville, FL

If you’re looking for reliable and professional needle treatment in Jacksonville, FL, contact Dry Needle Pain Relief. Dr. Chanatry is a chiropractor who is certified by the Integrative Dry Needling (IDN) Institute. We provide the best and most effective services for helping you treat body pain that’s been bothering you for ages. Contact us today to book a consultation!