Anyone tried Dry Needling or Acupuncture for Pain or Neuropathy?

I had dry needling for lower back pain, numbness, tingling, and muscle cramping in my legs and feet in 2016. The procedure was painful, but worth it as the pain decreased by two numbers [1-10 scale], the muscle cramps stopped completely, and the numbness/tingling also decreased. This year the pain increased again by at least two numbers, numbness and tingling came back with a vengeance. Am in physical therapy again using dry needling hoping it will again help. Have a MRI scheduled tomorrow, so will see if any explanation why. My experience is dry needling works, but is painful to undergo. For me, the pain lasts about 24 hours after needling, then reduces to a lower level than prior to the needling. I have particular problems with my hip because one leg is shorter than the other.

Hello @cindiwass I've had dry needling for back and shoulder pain and it helped me a lot. The first time was after many, many regular pt sessions and the needling was not painful. The next time a couple of years later I went straight for the dry needling without the many sessions of standard PT manipulation. It was very painful (but fast) and the discomfort (not as painful as the actual treatment) lasted for a couple of weeks but ultimately it did help me a lot.
As with anything, I think it depends upon the problem with your hip as well as the experience and knowledge of the practitioner.

I am doing PT now for neck pain. They have done dry needling twice, only prescribed once a week. They used only 4 needles in my shoulder neck are and only left them in for 6 minutes.

Can anyone else tell me how long the needles we’re left in and how many needles they used on your pain area?

At another PT provider 2 years ago, they used dry needling for neck pain on the other side (finally went away) and added about 12 needles and then attached TENS machine stimulus to the needles.

I also want to try a acupuncture for my neck pain. I just found a local provider who is supposed to be experienced and good. Have a call in for an appointment. Has anyone tried acupuncture for neck pain or other pain related to spinal degeneration?

Hello and welcome, @teslachan. Thank you for joining the conversation to share with others what you have found to be helpful in dealing with your symptoms. It will be interesting to see if you get any feedback at your MRI appointment to learn why this is working for you.

Can I ask how you came across dry needling as an alternative option?

I've had both acupuncture and dry needling for my neck pain and pain due to mild scoliosis and found it helpful in both cases but is also dependent upon the skills of the practitioner.

I've had acupuncture where they attach the TENS machine to the needles and leave them for awhile. However, dry needling done by a PT who is also a sr instructor for dry needling is a different technique. The needle is used quickly in and out a few times palpitating the trigger point.

Hi Amanda, Thank you for the welcome! Dry needling was suggested to me by my primary care physician. She had other patients who had good success with relief from chronic neurologic pain using dry needling.
My understanding of why it works for me is that chronic nerve pain can cause us to tense up, causing muscles to spasm, which then release only part way leaving knots of tension. The dry needling targets those knots and causes them to loosen, which also can release muscle tension in other connected areas.

Thank you for sharing your experience. I’m sure the skill of the practitioner is critical.

Thank you, I have the same issues as my body compensates for the “pain in the neck”, it creates muscle tension in the shoulder/scapula.