Are you tired of living with pain? Are your medical providers at a loss for treatment options? Are you done with opioids that don’t work or only mask your symptoms?
Then dry needling may be for you!
Dry needling (DN) is a technique that uses filiform needles, the same needles that acupuncturists use, to penetrate the skin and tissues below. The needles cause a micro lesion, or injury, in the soft tissues that creates a physiological healing, or remodeling response, to the area around the needles. This response stimulates the body’s innate self-healing process for the management of neuromusculoskeletal conditions, acute and chronic pain, movement impairments, nervous system regulation, and skin/scar restoration.
The local effects of DN reduce tissue tension, normalize local inflammation, and replace the injured tissues with similar new tissues. The systemic effects of DN restore tissue homeostasis, a self-regulating process to maintain internal stability, by reducing both physical and physiological stress affecting all body systems.
Dry needling is a highly effective tool that can significantly decrease your plan of care in physical therapy. We use dry needling for various reasons such as nervous system regulation, muscle/tendon/joint pain, skin/scar restoration, and improved lymphatics and circulation to name a few.
If you want to be seen solely for dry needling you absolutely can without a provider referral!
Nervous System
The Central Nervous System (CNS) is a protective mechanism that is responsible for processing sensory information from the body to the brain and spinal cord. For example, if you touch a hot burner on the stove, your brain determines the amount of danger you are in and immediately tells you to remove your hand for protection.
Sometimes the CNS becomes over-sensitized or up-regulated, also known as Central Sensitization Syndrome (CSS), causing more intense sensory experiences than usual. Think of this like your CNS always being “on the go” or being in fight or flight mode (which occurs in stressful situations) and having difficulty finding its rest and digest mode. This negatively impacts your body’s natural homeostasis and can present as chronic pain.
CSS is not fully understood despite research. The main symptom is chronic pain without a clear physical cause or pain that is disproportionate to its physical cause. Other symptoms include pain that health care providers can’t diagnose, pain that is unresponsive to physical treatments, and high sensitivities to pain.
Some unexplained types of pain that may suggest a person has central sensitization may include:
chronic stomach pain, diarrhea, or constipation
pelvic or sexual pain
headaches
dizziness
bladder pain/interstitial cystitis
ringing ears
chronic muscle or joint pain
Although the medical field will usually treat this with medications, dry needling for the nervous system is more holistic and has great results. Placing needles in specific areas in the body helps to down-regulate the nervous system back to rest and digest mode helping the body back to its natural homeostatic environment.
Musculoskeletal System
The musculoskeletal (MS) system is a supportive structure that is comprised of bones, connective tissue, cartilage, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and joints. Its purpose is to give our body shape and support, as well as to protect our organs. The MS system helps us move, creates new blood cells, and stores important minerals like Calcium and Vitamin D.
Dysfunction within the MS system can present as pain, altered sensation, decreased circulation/blood flow, inflammation, decreased range of motion, tight or shortened muscles, and weakness to name a few.
Many times muscle pain/dysfunction is caused by trigger points (TPs), or knots within the muscles, that limit adequate blood flow and oxygen to those muscles. When this happens, some muscles may just be tight while other muscles shorten causing both pain and limited range of motion. Addressing these issues sooner than later can prevent the progression of pain into chronic pain and limited range of motion into contractures.
Dry needling (DN) is a non-pharmaceutical and non-surgical intervention that addresses these symptoms by improving range of motion, flexibility, sensation, and blood flow while decreasing pain, scar adhesions, and inflammation.
DN stimulates the immune system and the TPs allowing blood flow back into the muscles to accelerate the natural healing process. Some people feel an immediate release of pain during a session while others may need a few more sessions to get the desired response.
Some conditions treated:
Joint pain
Muscle pain
Pelvic pain
Tendonitis/Carpel tunnel
Headaches/migraines
Jaw pain
Night cramps
Scar adhesions
Let’s treat your pain and dysfunction before it becomes chronic.
Cosmetic
Cosmetic Dry Needling (DN) is based on the foundation of Traditional Chinese Medicine that has been around for more than 3 thousand years. Several factors affect facial aging including pigmentation, skin thickness, lipid composition, skin rigidity, exposure to high temperatures, smoking, exposure to sunlight/UV light (90% of facial aging is from the sun), pollution, repetitive muscle movements, and diet.
Cosmetic DN does not reverse the aging process but rather slows it down. It helps to restore a youthful appearance and is a good substitute for Botox (DN extends the life of Botox) and injectable fillers. Botox and fillers, although widely used, do have some potential side effects including pain and swelling at the injection site, headaches or flu-like symptoms, droopy eyelids, and crooked eyebrows. However, cosmetic dry needling DOES extend the life of botox!
Although cosmetic, it has actual health benefits including:
Improves skin texture and water content
Brightens complexion
Reduces skin sagging
Reduces jaw tension
Reduces headaches and migraines
Minimizes pores
Restores muscle tone & elasticity and facial symmetry
Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
Reduces appearance and adherence of scars
Reduces puffiness and swelling
The reason cosmetic DN is successful is because of its performance on a cellular level by:
improving microcirculation (blood flow)
improving lymphatic drainage
improving collagen and elastin production
reducing the loss of epidermal thickness
reducing muscle tension
As for additional treatments that complement cosmetic DN outcomes, we offer Gua Sha and dermal rolling as well as lifestyle recommendations that may include posture education, stretching exercises for the shoulders and neck, and dietary recommendations.
Cosmetic DN isn’t for everyone. Here are some contraindications to cosmetic DN to consider:
Hemophilia and other bleeding disorders
Vertigo/dizziness due to increased blood flow to the head/face
Severe high blood pressure due to increased blood flow to the head/face
Severe migraines
Open sores and areas of active inflammation (including acne and active herpes outbreaks)
Bruises easily (more of a caution d/t lots of blood vessels in the face)
Pacemakers (DN is fine as long as there is no electrical stimulation added)
Anti-coagulant medications (blood thinners due to bleeding potential)
Keloid scars (because they don’t stop growing - don’t needle those scars)
Cancer (acquire a doctor’s note for approval)
Call 207-752-6665 to schedule dry needling sessions.
Pricing
Neuromusculoskeletal Dry Needling sessions
Evaluation and first treatment (new clients) $95 for 45 mins
Treatment sessions $75 for 30 mins
Cosmetic Dry Needling sessions
First session $165 for 75 min includes intake, evaluation, and treatment
Sessions $150 for 60 mins (includes Gua Sha, dermal roller, or cupping)
Packages
4 treatments: $ 540 (save $60)
8 treatments: $1,080 (save $120)
12 treatments: $1,620 (save $180)
Add red/near infrared/blue light therapy for an additional $25/session
Gua Sha and dermal roller only with red/near infrared/blue light therapy session: $75 for 45 mins
Red/near infrared/blue light therapy only: $60 for 30 mins
**Red/near infrared/blue light therapy treatments for anti-aging, acne, and pain relief**
Payment & Good Faith Estimates
Unfortunately, no insurance covers dry needling. However, it is important to know if you want to be seen solely for dry needling you absolutely can without a provider referral!
We will provide you with a “Good Faith Estimate” of our costs when you schedule at least 3 days in advance. If you would like to request a “Good Faith Estimate” before scheduling, please call our office at 207-752-6665 or email us at leslie@innerbalancept.com.
Note: You will be asked for your credit card information to reserve to your appointment(s). We will not charge your card unless you cancel less than 48 hours in advance or you do not show for your appointment. The charge will be the full price of your session in those cases.
Documents for Initial Session
Please complete the intake and consent forms and bring them to your first appointment. If you are unable to print them, please arrive 10 minutes early to complete your forms in the office. Otherwise, you may use some time allotted from your session to complete the forms.
Prior to your first dry needling session, please see these handout for important information about your upcoming appointment. These documents address how to prepare for your appointment, what the precautions and contraindications are for dry needling, and what to expect after your appointment.