If you’re experiencing muscle aches and pains but haven’t been able to find lasting relief for your symptoms, dry needling may be right for you. At the Orthopedic Center for Sports Medicine in Metairie, Louisiana, Luis Espinoza, MD, and their team offer dry needling services to help ease your symptoms and improve overall function. To schedule an appointment for dry needling, call the office or book online today.

What are trigger points?

Trigger points are hypersensitive areas of muscle tissue or fascia (the connective tissue surrounding every muscle, organ, bone, and blood vessel in your body).

While scientists are still learning how and why specific areas of tissue have increased sensitivity, some conditions may lead to the development of trigger points, including:

  • A sedentary lifestyle
  • Vitamin and nutrient deficiencies
  • Recent injury
  • Repetitive activities or overuse
  • Poor posture
  • Sleep disruptions

If you’re experiencing severe or ongoing muscle pain, it may be time to come in for a comprehensive evaluation at the Orthopedic Center for Sports Medicine to see if trigger points may be the root cause.

What is dry needling?

Dry needling is a hands-on technique that detects trigger points. It involves small needles placed beneath your skin. At the Orthopedic Center for Sports Medicine, the team uses sterile treatment needles to encourage blood flow to the area and help ease muscle tension.

Muscle tissues treated with dry needling will often have a local twitch response. This response tells your provider that the treatment is working, and it often provides immediate pain relief.

Is dry needling painful?

Most people don’t find dry needling painful. In many cases, the sensation of the dry needle is barely noticeable. If you’re concerned about any discomfort you might experience during treatment, your Orthopedic Center for Sports Medicine provider can reduce sensation in the area prior to treatment by applying a topical numbing cream.

While some people may experience a noticeable improvement in their condition after one session, you may need several visits to achieve optimal results. The number of dry needling sessions you’ll need depends on the severity of your condition. You may experience some mild soreness after each treatment, but this is normal and will quickly fade.

Getting the pain relief and healing you need starts with proper treatment. The team at Orthopedic Center for Sports Medicine is prepared to develop a treatment plan that best suits your needs and unique condition. They also offer other physical therapy treatments to help ease pain and improve your mobility.

If your muscle pain persists beyond conservative treatments, call the Orthopedic Center for Sports Medicine or book an appointment today.