Trigger Point Dry Needling

[Guest guest]

Sheri,

in another discussion you mentioned;

<<<<<<<< " I can say I have treated my own dog with Trigger Point Needling and

manual techniques with excellent outcomes, but do you (or should you) really

believe it? " >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I would be very interested to hear more of your experience with trigger point

dry needling in dogs and in people.

Rick Wall, DVM

[Guest guest]

Just a quick story, I have been nagging one of my techs to get dry needled.  She has had chronic back issues her entire life but the past 4 years she has been in and out of pain clinics, chiropractors, PT's etc.  I finally convinced her to see a PT that does dry needling and she came in the next day and said, " I got more pain relief in 45 minutes than I did with everything else put together in the past 4 years "  

Now she is constantly asking me, " Are you going to DN that? " Mike

 

Sheri,

in another discussion you mentioned;

<<<<<<<< " I can say I have treated my own dog with Trigger Point Needling and manual techniques with excellent outcomes, but do you (or should you) really believe it? " >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I would be very interested to hear more of your experience with trigger point dry needling in dogs and in people.

Rick Wall, DVM

-- President, International Veterinary Academy of Pain ManagementCertified Veterinary Pain PractitionerCertified Veterinary Medical AcupuncturistCertified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist

Certified American Academy of Pain Managementwww.animalpaincenter.com

[Guest guest]

Let me say first, I never wanted to learn to needle, but I started losing patients to my colleagues who did it. Now that I do TDN (Trigger Point Dry Needling), I find it is an invaluable tool in my toolbox.

My male came up lame after running and playing with my other dog. Totally non weight bearing, so I took him to my vet, she dx'd biceps tendonitis and I asked her if I could try TDN. So, that night I needled mm around the shoulder and the next day he had no limp and was running and playing again. Who knows if he would have gotten better on his own, but I feel the TDN helped.

Most of my patients at present are chronic pain patients who have been around to many providers with minimal change. They get relief with needling. I also have consulted at Craig Hospital (large Spinal Cord Injury and Head Injury population) to aid in pain relief for their patients. The spinal cord population usually have a lot of pain and spasm around their fusions/injuries. Again, they get a lot of relief with the TDN. I have used it post-op and for all body parts, from the foot to the TMJ muscles. There are more and more research articles coming out supporting the modality as a valid tool.

I do NOT needle, and only needle...it is an adjunct to manual techniques and exercise. Unfortunately some patients only want the needle.

I have seen courses advertised for TDN in dogs, and can't wait to take it (as soon as I am certified!).Sheri Morrow, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPTDusty, UD, RAStrider and PippinCardigan Welsh Corgis

To: VetRehab Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2012 10:50:11 AMSubject: Trigger Point Dry Needling

Sheri,in another discussion you mentioned;<<<<<<<< "I can say I have treated my own dog with Trigger Point Needling and manual techniques with excellent outcomes, but do you (or should you) really believe it?">>>>>>>>>>>>>>>I would be very interested to hear more of your experience with trigger point dry needling in dogs and in people. Rick Wall, DVM

[Guest guest]

Sheri,

Thank you for sharing your experiences in dry needling. I enjoy hearing stories

of how the management of trigger points help those with chronic pain, like

Mike's tech and your patients. Training along side many PTs during my

myofascial pain education process I am aware that your profession is like ours

in that we were not formally taught to look for pain in muscles or address the

dysfunction that MTrPs cause. I find and treat MTrPs in most all of my rehab,

chronic pain and acute sports related injury patients, and while like you, it is

not the only modality I use it does help to lower the overall pain burden and

improve muscle function. Dr. Simons, of Travell and Simons, referred to

muscle as the forgotten organ because there was not a medical specialty that

really addressed muscle problems and myofascial pain. I find that to be a very

true statement however there is now a considerable amount of literature and

scientific evidence of what MTrPs do and the effect that dry needling has upon

them.

At the end of February 2-day canine trigger point course, in conjunction with

Myopain Seminars, at my clinic in The Woodlands, TX. I am pleased that the

course sold out very quickly and we are planning an additional course this year,

probably in September. Jan Dommerholt, DPT and I will be heading up the course

and Dr. Petty has kindly agreed to assist in lab instruction. This course has

been years in planning and I am move back and forth from excitement to

nervousness as it approaches.

For those interested Jan and Huijbregts have written a great and concise

paperback book that sales for under $40 - " Myofascial Trigger Points -

Pathophysiology and Evidence-Informed Diagnosis and Management " .

I just returned my final revision of a chapter on myofascial pain in dogs that

will be included in a new book on pain management edited by Dr. Egger,

veterinary anesthesiologist, University of Tennessee CVM and Dr. Lydia Love,

veterinary anesthesiologist, Animal Emergency and Referral Associates,

Fairfield, NJ. I think the book is to be published later this year or early

2013.

So things are looking up regarding the awareness and understanding of myofascial

pain in dogs.

I also recently received a postcard from Virginia Street, the daughter of Dr.

Janet Travell (coauthor of Travell and Simon's - Trigger Point Manual),

considered by many the Mother of trigger point therapy in people, announcing a

new memorial website for Dr. Travell. This is a very interesting website about

an amazing physician who advanced the knowledge of myofascial pain in people.

www.JanetTravellMD.com

Rick Wall, DVM