Are you feeling a stinging sensation in your lower back? Does it travel down one or both of your legs? What about feeling numb along your tailbone? You may have sciatica pain. Although mild sciatica pain can be treated, severe pain should be seen by a doctor. Although doctors offer many treatments, from medication to injections to surgery to the most common treatment, dry needling may be just as effective.
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What is Sciatica Pain?
Your sciatic nerve may cause a burning sensation or stinging pain from your lower back down to your legs and hips. Sciatica pain is caused by pinching the sciatic nerve, which is the longest nerve in your body. The nerve’s length means that the pain can travel up your legs and into your buttocks. It usually affects one side of your body.
Most people who have a herniated disk or spinal stenosis are at risk for this condition. Sciatica is also a possibility for people with bone spurs and excessive body weight.
What is Dry Needling?
Trigger point therapy is also known as dry needling. It is a form of physical therapy that can be used to treat chronic pain and prevent future injury. When combined with other techniques, it is the most effective.
Both involve the use of needles to provide relief. However, this treatment should not be confused with acupuncture. Acupuncture is a method that balances the body’s energy to relieve pain. Dry needling sciatica, on the other hand, involves stimulating and unknotting the trigger points that cause the pain.
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Sciatica Pain
Sciatica can be so severe that patients are unable to get up from their beds. Sciatica can cause radiating pain as well as numbness or a pinching sensation. Although acute sciatica usually lasts between 4 and 8 weeks, it can become chronic.
Doctors often prescribe painkillers or physical therapy to manage the symptoms. The swelling can be reduced by using anti-inflammatory medication like steroid injections and ibuprofen. Dry needling sciatica may be recommended by your doctor in addition to these treatments.
Dry needling uses hair-thin needles to puncture the skin and reach the knotted muscles. The needle is gently removed by your physical therapist. The tissue is depolarized by the twitch response. If necessary, they will continue the process at other trigger points.
Dry needling is a way to relieve tension in soft tissues such as muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Experts believe that by puncturing the tissues, blood flow is stimulated to the area and thus soothes pain. This technique is used by many clinicians including doctors, nurses, chiropractors, and physical therapists.
Dry needling is a treatment that reduces tightness in the spinal muscles and decreases the compression of the sciatic nerve. Physical therapists may be able to target the following trigger points in cases of severe pain:
- Piriformis muscles
- Gluteus minimus
- Gluteus medius
Dry needling sciatica is a procedure that involves the use of needles. Many people are hesitant to try it. Patients may feel some discomfort or pressure on their skin at the first prick. This is normal and usually subsides in 2 to 3 days.
Dry Needling to Reduce Sciatica Pain in Des Moines
Dry needling combined with a proper diet is better than waiting for the sciatica pains to disappear on their own. Experts can help you reap the benefits of dry needling. We can help you with your pain and take care of your concerns.
To treat chronic pain conditions such as sciatica, our physical therapists have received extensive training. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!
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