Dry Needling for Sciatica: Everything You Want to Know

Dry needling is gaining popularity to treat sciatica. I perform dry needling for sciatica on a regular basis at our clinic in Oconomowoc. And, I’ve also received dry needling to treat my sciatica.

This combination of personal and professional experience has given me a unique perspective. I’ve seen and experienced great results. But, I’ve also seen and experienced it go awry.

If you’re wondering if dry needling can help relieve your sciatica, this blog post is for you. We’ll cover the following –

• When it makes sense to use dry needling for sciatica
• How dry needling works
• What qualifications to look for in a physical therapist
• Muscles and techniques used in treatment

When to use Dry Needling for Sciatica

The easiest way to figure out when to use dry needling for sciatica is to figure out when to not use it. The most important factor is the irritability of your nerve symptoms. If you have a very high level of pain, dry needling for your sciatica may not be the best option.

It is important to match the intensity of your symptoms to treatment dosage. This means if your sciatica is very intense, less treatment is better. If you provide too much treatment when sciatica is very painful, symptoms get worse.

There are various factors that play into how “intense” dry needling is. These factors include: amount of needles, e-stim, and needle movement. We decrease dosage when symptoms are high. When in doubt, it’s better to under-treat sciatica than over-treat. Irritated nerves take awhile to calm down and feel intense. Sometimes, it’s better to not poke the bear.

If your symptoms aren’t severe, dry needling for sciatica is a green light. There are very few side effects and instant symptom relief. The most common side effects are potential for bruising and muscle soreness. Both of these are easily tolerated.

How Dry Needling for Sciatica Works

The most common question we get about dry needling is “How does it work?” As with most things in medicine, there are theories, but no one knows. (Although plenty will say they do know).

The most common theory is that dry needling forces a contracted band of muscle to relax. This theory says the contracted muscle was causing pain. And, relaxing the muscle decreases the pain. Pain can occur either at the site of the muscle or a different area in the body.

While this theory is easy to follow, it’s not the entire truth. Dry needling is a complex interaction of tissue. Local tissue (muscular) and global tissue (brain, nervous system, spinal cord) all play a role. It’s not only the relaxation of a muscle. It is an interaction of various tissues. While we don’t understand it in full, the results speak for themselves.

Dry Needling, Like Healthcare, is Gray

This can be hard to understand. It is especially hard to understand for those that like a clear, logical explanation. The reality of healthcare is that there is a lot of gray. We often figure out what works before we understand why it works. And, the more we learn about the human body, the more we realize we don’t know.

I’ve seen a lot of individuals at our physical therapy clinic in Oconomowoc. And, I’ve learned that most people think they want to understand why they have pain. But, once they don’t have pain anymore, they don’t care why they had it in the first place. People in pain think they want understanding, but they actually want pain relief.

How to pick a Physical Therapist

Picking a physical therapist is important when it comes to dry needling for sciatica. I’ve written an entire blog post on how to know if you have an outstanding physical therapist or not. There are also some specific considerations when it comes to dry needling. They are –

At least 3 Years Experience

If I am being honest, I was not that good at dry needling the first few years I did it. There’s a lot of skill in dry needling. It’s more than putting a needle in a muscle, moving it around, using e-stim (sometimes), and taking it out. Speed, what angles you use, and the precise location you put the needle all make a huge difference in results. The more skilled a physical therapist is, the better results you will get.

Different Courses From Different Companies

Dry needling educational courses have various levels. The first level is the introduction course. It covers how to not hurt people and the basics. This isn’t enough to get out-of-this-world results. You want a therapist who has gone well beyond the introductory courses.

Choose a physical therapist who takes courses from different companies. Each company promotes a different approach. Most companies say their approach is the best approach. Knowing when to use each approach is what gets the best results. There is no one best way to do something all the time. The art of physical therapy is matching the treatment type to the person in front of you.

Muscles or Techniques for Dry Needling for Sciatica

This is a hard question to answer because each situation varies. Factors include: where pain is, how intense the pain is, an individual’s tolerance to dry needling and more.

Fine print aside, treated muscles usually include: lower back, glutes, hamstrings, and calves. Your physical therapist may consider dry needling very close to the sciatic nerve. This can sound scary, but is well tolerated when the physical therapist knows what he or she is doing. It is an advanced technique, but gets incredible results. I use dry needling near the sciatic nerve on a regular basis.

Resolve Your Sciatica

Do you live in Lake Country or Oconomowoc and feel frustrated by sciatica? Reach out for a free consultation! Not only do we get exceptional results treating sciatica, but it’s a diagnosis we see on an almost daily basis. We have the repetitions and experience to help you resolve your symptoms – for good!