If you are planning to undergo trigger point needling just because a friend told you it was effective, think twice. This invasive treatment is not as easy as it sounds. That’s why before undertaking it, like any other medical treatment, you must fully understand the process and it must be done with your doctor’s recommendation.
For you to understand the process of pricking your body with dry needles, you must understand, first, the trigger points.
What are trigger points?
A trigger point also called the “knot”, is a taut band within a muscle. It’s often associated with localised pain, especially when the trigger point is massaged.
According to the experts, these trigger points are formed due to acute traumas and repeated microtraumas in the muscle fibres. It can happen everywhere in the body, especially in the neck, shoulders, legs, and feet.
What exactly is trigger point dry needling?
This treatment involves jabbing some acupuncture needles into your trigger points. The acupuncture needle used in the treatment is not as big as the needles used in vaccination or blood test sampling. It’s normally smaller in diameter.
After inserting, this needle remains in situ (or in the muscle) for about 5-10 minutes.
The goal here is to ease up the muscle knots by dry needling to reduce the pain that you experience. This sense of relief is also called the analgesic effect.
Aside from that, it also promotes a healthy blood flow to the jabbed area and helps eliminate the chemicals responsible for the pain.
What does the treatment feel like?
There’s no general feeling when it comes to dry needling. Most people will feel some twitch right after the jab which can be uncomfortable eventually. While others will not notice it at all.
Some patients also might experience heavy aching on the targeted muscles, which is totally normal. So if ever you experience this, don’t worry. You’re perfectly alright.
The pain or tenderness that you might feel in the targeted area will eventually subside in a day or two. During this period, it’s recommended that you refrain from doing any intense or aggravating activities until the pain is gone.
While waiting for the pain to settle, you can use heat packs to help you manage the pain. Also, make sure to drink lots of fluids after the treatment.
Do you actually need trigger point dry needling?
Just because you felt pain somewhere in your neck, it doesn’t mean that you have to undertake this treatment right away. Consult your doctors first about this process if you experience:
- Tight muscles or muscle groups
- Recurring or chronic pains
- Loss of motion or diminished range of motion due to tightness
- Abnormalities in posture or other bodily functions
Where should you get this treatment?
If you happen to be suffering from chronic pains in your legs and feet, the first thing you should do is to have them checked by the expert podiatrists at Watsonia Podiatry.
The initial consultation will normally cost you around $86 – $96. Which is a fair amount considering the complexity of the treatment.
The foot doctors in the Watsonia Podiatry are trained in dry needling from your knees to your toes. That’s over 20 muscles right there! Just within your feet, 4 layers of muscles can be needled!
But you don’t have to worry because these podiatrists know the ins and outs of the muscle structures in your lower extremities. Simply put, you’re in good hands.
And there you have it! These are only some of the things that you need to know before undertaking this treatment. If your feet and legs are in pain right now, don’t hesitate to call your podiatrists!
