Dry Needling Lima, Ohio | Orthopaedic Institute of Ohio Orthopaedic Institue of Ohio

Dry needling is a versatile, minimally invasive treatment that can address a host of different pain symptoms. Managing pain is a tricky process, even for veteran and experienced medical professionals, but dry needling has proven to be an invaluable part of a comprehensive rehabilitation program.

This treatment is based on an in-depth understanding of human anatomy and physiology, and a therapist’s ability to take advantage of this understanding is what has made dry needling such an effective method of chronic and acute pain relief.

If you would like more information on how dry needling can help you with acute or chronic pain, fill out our online contact form to get started today.

How Does Dry Needling Work?

Dry needling, often called trigger point dry needling or myofascial trigger point dry needling, works by triggering your body’s healing functions. Small, fine needles are placed into targeted trigger points throughout your body responsible for both local and referred pain. (Referred pain is pain that is caused by a problem occurring somewhere else in the body, like a neck muscle causing a headache or a back muscle causing leg pain.) Your body will naturally begin to heal the tiny lesions caused by the needles.

Through this process, your body will begin to regulate swelling and inflammation, decrease tissue tension, increase circulation and provide pain-relieving chemicals to the affected area. Then, your body will begin to slowly rebuild the damaged tissue.

Forcing your body to treat these trigger points as though they were damaged can provide significant pain relief to patients with chronic or acute pain. This technique, combined with a mastery of human anatomy, forms the basis of dry needling treatment.

Dry needling is a new procedure and does not currently require any specific training for certifications. Nevertheless, it is essential to find a physical therapist who has taken the initiative to undergo training and education in dry needling to safely and effectively implement this treatment. We only work with therapists who meet this standard of care and expertise.

What Does Dry Needling Treat?

The possibilities for dry needling treatment are extensive, but it is mostly used to treat common conditions like:

Neck pain
Back pain
Hip pain
Jaw pain
Knee pain
Tendinitis
Sciatica
Muscle strains
Ankle sprains
Carpal tunnel
Tennis elbow
Bursitis

Arthritis
Stenosis
Cervical pathology
Lumbar disc pathology
Rotator cuff pathology
Plantar fasciitis
Headaches
Whiplash
Post-herpetic neuralgia
Movement pain
Other musculoskeletal pain

Am I a Candidate for Dry Needling?

If you are experiencing any of these previously mentioned symptoms, you are likely a candidate for dry needling treatment. However, there are some conditions that may pose additional risks or prevent you from being a candidate altogether.

This is not a complete list of problematic conditions; the only way for us to determine that you are a good candidate for this therapy is to schedule a consultation with one of OIO’s qualified medical providers.

Our therapists will review your entire medical history and the circumstances surrounding your chronic or acute pain in order to determine the best treatment plan to move forward with.

Some of those conditions include:

Pregnancy
Trypanophobia (fear of needles)
Compromised immune system
Vascular disease
Varicose veins
Skin lesions
Uncontrolled bleeding
Infection
Cognitive impairment

What Should I Expect from a Dry Needling Session?

During your consultation, one of our skilled and highly trained therapists will explain what you can expect during your dry needling treatment. Since this procedure is often performed alongside other treatments, your dry needling will likely be performed in tandem with other physical therapy and massage therapy.

The details of your treatment, such as regularity and length, will be determined primarily by your unique needs. Most dry needling procedures can be completed well within an hour, and treatments can continue as long as they have a positive effect on your pain levels.

What Kind of Improvement Can I Expect from Dry Needling?

Many patients report feeling less pain immediately after the procedure is performed, while others report that it took a few days for the healing process to take effect. In addition to pain reduction, patients also report increased range of motion and improved flexibility.

Each body will react differently, including your own. It is even possible that this treatment will have little-to-no effect on your pain, however, the vast majority of our patients have experienced an improvement in their pain symptoms following this procedure. And combining it with other methods shows even more promising results for pain reduction.

What Should I Expect During Recovery from Dry Needling?

Because the needles are thin, the recovery process for dry needling is generally quick, relatively painless, and includes very few side effects. It is typical for patients to experience mild bruising or soreness and even some bleeding following the procedure. These symptoms are temporary and usually fade within a day or two.

Will My Insurance Cover Dry Needling?

For 2020, dry needling has been granted Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). However, CMS still considers dry needling to be a non-covered medical service, meaning it is not covered by either Medicare or Medicaid health insurance. The majority of private health insurance plans have followed CMS’s lead and chosen not to cover the new dry needling CPT codes.

We do offer self-pay options for those whose insurance does not cover dry needling. Please call our office at (419) 425-6786 for current rates.

Find Pain Relief with Dry Needling Treatment in Ohio

We know how debilitating pain can be on your quality of life. We want to help you find a way to manage that pain, and dry needling is just one way we can help. If you would like to get started, give our office a call at (419) 425-6786 or fill out the online contact form below. We look forward to helping you reclaim your quality of life.