So a little backstory before we begin…
A few years back I was in a car accident where I broke my neck. I had surgery and since then things have been mostly normal. I am able to be active for the most part and I can do just about everything I did before the accident; however, I often suffer from back and neck stiffness, shoulder pain, and headaches.
I know that my issues stem from my accident and that my spine doctors say that this is all pretty normal, but pain isn’t, nor should it ever be a normal part of someone’s day to day life.
A lot of people would go to the chiropractor for back issues but because I had broken bones in my spine and surgery I’m very wary of anything that has to do with moving or cracking bones, which I think is a fair way to feel.
So after a lot of suggestions from family and friends I decided to inquire about acupuncture and dry-needling.
I didn’t know the difference at first, but essentially acupuncture works to alter the flow of energy to help with mood and pain, while dry-needling works to alleviate pain and induce healing by targeting nerve impulses. The two are often confused.
I ended up getting dry-needling because I know exactly what’s causing my pain and why. And after my check-up I learned that my neck, shoulder, and back muscles were all extremely tight and full of knots.
So here are some of the things I like and things I think people should consider before doing dry-needling.
THINGS I LIKE:
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The relief when the needled are removed:
It does hurt a little when the needles are in but when they’re pulled out it feels pretty good.
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The directness of the pain relief:
I like that the needles are directly targeting my pain areas unlike taking medicine or doing topical massages or heat treatments.
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The lack of pain:
Compared to a lot of things the pain is very minimal. I have a higher pain tolerance, but I think almost anyone could handle this.
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The price:
Depending on where you live the prices will vary. I go to my local chiropractor for my dry-needling and I get great care at a great price.
THINGS TO CONSIDER:
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Your pain tolerance:
It hurts a lot less than a tattoo, It hurts less than giving blood, and It hurts a little less than a flu shot. I don’t think it really hurts much at all, but you will have a little bit of soreness afterward because your body is healing.
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Why you need pain relief:
If you’re looking for immediate results this isn’t the best route, you will likely feel better after the first session, but it takes more sessions to get better or complete relief.
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Your budget:
I go weekly, but you could go more often or less depending on your time and budget. Student health centers likely have dry-needling available for students at a reasonable price.
MY FAVORITE RESULTS:
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Falling asleep easier- I can get comfortable so much faster!
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Less Strain- Looking down at my laptop and books for class is less straining
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Working out is easier- I can do more of the workouts I used to without neck and back pain.
Overall if you’re looking for pain relief that’s quick and easy and affordable, dry-needling works and I’ve had great experiences and results so far. It’s definitely something worth looking into because I feel much better.