Trigger Point Dry Needling

Trigger point dry needling [TDN] is also called dry needling. It is practiced by chiropractors, acupuncturists, medical doctors and physical therapists to treat patients with myofascial pain.

TDN involves the use of solid filament needles inserted through the skin and into the muscle to relieve pain from trigger points. 

Myofascial comprises the roots ‘myo’ [reference to muscle] and “fascia” [reference to the tissue that connects muscle].

When an injury occurs from trauma or repetitive stress, inflammation occurs on the damaged tissue. The damaged tissue then goes into a protective tension phase to protect itself from further damage. This is through avoiding utilization of the damaged muscle, which limits micro-circulation an oxygen supply. These contractures are known as trigger points.

Trigger points are knotted areas that sometimes develop in muscles. These knotted areas [trigger points] are very sensitive and particularly painful when touched. Usually, they are the cause of pain that spread to other areas of the body. 

At Curis Functional Health, our experts push thin solid needles through the skin into trigger points. These needles are meant to stimulate the tissue, rather than to inject any medication.

Your body movement is affected by pain. Experts explain that dry needling changes the way our brain and muscle communicate with each other, in order to restore the normal movement pattern of the body system.

You experience different sensations when being needled, muscle soreness, aching, and a muscle twitch. When you experience these sensations when a needle is inserted, it is a good sign. The needles are placed either deeply or superficially, for longer or shorter periods of time. This depends on the type of pain we are treating and for how long you have experienced it. 

Short period dry needling therapy lasts a few seconds, while longer periods take 10 to 15 minutes.

Why You Need Our Dry Needling Therapy

At Curis Functional Health, we use dry needling as a part of a wider plan that includes manual therapy, some specialized exercises, heat therapy and education. By using dry needling, we target to increase a range of motion that may be limited as a result of muscle tightness or scar tissue.

We use dry needling to treat the following:

• Joint problems 
• Disc problems
• Tendinitis
• Repetitive motion disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome
• Mouth and jaw problems like temporomandibular joint disorders[TMD]
• Migraine and tension-type headaches
• Spinal problems
• Phantom pain
• Night cramps
• Post-herpetic neuralgia.

Our doctors at NorthEnd have taken advanced courses in dry needling. We have enjoyed the success observed from patients who suffered from tight muscles and radiating pain to the upper back, arms, hands, legs and feet.

Who should not Have Dry Needling 

We advise that any patient who is considering dry needling to first consult their doctors first. This is more importantly so for people taking blood thinners, or those people recovering from recent surgery.

 People who should avoid having dry needling all together include

• Expectant women
• People who don’t understand the treatment
• People who have a fear of needles

Book an appointment with us today to enjoy our expert services.