Tag Archive for: trigger points

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My Journey into IMS/Dry Needling | Part III

I index2recently completed my series of IMS/Dry Needling treatments and am moving forward in my life; now being a true “believer” of this therapy.

What I take away from my journey into IMS/Dry Needling is that this procedure is not for everyone.  I would absolutely encourage any one to come in shortly after an injury or accident.  If your injury or pain is of recent origin, one treatment may be all that is necessary. The average person responds very well within 3 to 5 treatments.

For patients like me, having a life time of unhealthy habits…. this is a process that is more mental than physical.

IMS/Dry needling therapy has been very successful for me with chronic low back pain and sciatica symptoms.  Needles were used to target specific muscles that had contracted and become shortened over years of a sedentary life style. These shortened muscles compress and irritate the nerves, and cause at times debilitating pain.  My IMS/Dry Needling treatments greatly reduce tightness and pain, while increasing my flexibility and range of motion.  The speed at which you regain movement and eliminate the pain is nothing short of a miracle.

An important note is needling on a normal muscle is painless. In contrast a shortened, muscle will ‘grasp’ the needle and produces a  cramping sensation, and in some instances pain; although this sensation lasts only a few seconds.  Intramuscular dry needling can reduce pain and soften these trigger points, while increasing flexibility and range of motion.

Myofascial pain is a chronic musculoskeletal pain disorder that can involve either a single muscle or a muscle group. It refers to pain and inflammation the body’s soft tissues.  The pain associated with this condition can range from burning, stabbing, or an aching sensations.   With myofascial pain , excessive strain on a particular muscle, muscle group, ligament or tendon can prompt the development of a “trigger point” and that, in turn, causes pain.

The Pros for considering IMS/dry needling:  No down time  |  No side affects  | Immediate results

The Cons for considering IMS/dry needling:  This treatment can be painful   |  “Mentally” tiring if ongoing treatment is required

My official opinion on IMS/dry needling is that it works; and this procedure has helped me regain my mobility and eliminate my pain.  It is a powerful therapy and the number of treatments required depends on 5 factors:

  1. your general health
  2. the duration and extent of your condition
  3. how much scar tissue you have
  4. how quickly your body can heal
  5. how much your body can take before you get tired

For more information about IMS/dry needling please contact Diversified Health Clinic.

*My Journey into IMS/Dry Needling | Part I

*My Journey into IMS/Dry Needling | Part II

 

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My Journey Into IMS/Dry Needling | Part II

My Journey Into IMS/Dry Needling | Part IIMy research into IMS/dry needling is complete, and I have chosen my health care practitioner – a    physiotherapist  from Diversified Health.

Entering the room on my first visit I was a bit anxious.  Knowing that the treatment can be uncomfortable is like taking Buckley’s cough syrup… you know it will taste horrible, but it works!

My therapist was great, we talked about my health history, why I chose this treatment, and what my expectations of this therapy was.  The therapist explained in great detail what would happen on this first visit and what I should expect after my treatment.

Laying on the table the practitioner felt the area in question, my low back and hips and located numerous trigger points.  A Trigger Point is a hyper-irritable spot within a taut band of skeletal muscle which is painful on compression. These trigger points, sometimes referred to as myofascial pain, can refer pain to other areas and often restrict the flexibility of the affected muscle.  If left untreated, they can create new trigger points.  As we talked about how intense the pain was, she was assessing where to place the needles.

My physiotherapist sterilized the treatment area and removed a needle from a sealed package.  Each sterilized needle comes in an individual sealed package. Because the filament needles are so thin there is virtually no discomfort when the needle is inserted.

As the needle entered the skin and reached the muscle, this is when the muscle contracted and I felt twitching, spasms, and tingling; a potpourri of senses.  As the practitioner moved the needle, I felt a sensation like hitting your funny bone,  weird, tingly and painful, but the whole experience happened in under 4 seconds.

This was repeated numerous times on different areas on my lower back and hips. The therapist worked on one side of my body, and then mirrored the treatment on the other side of my body. The physiotherapist talked to me throughout the treatment and was aware and attentive to my reactions to each treatment.

Each needle felt sightly different, some treatment areas felt achy, hot, a stinging then tightening feeling.  Some areas were extremely painful while others areas I felt very little.  The tighter or more damaged the muscle, the more discomfort you feel.

When the session was over, I found myself physically and mentally tired… not sure if it was because I was so anxious on my first visit or because the treatment was physical.  After resting for about 5 minutes, I got up and spoke with my physiotherapist, who answered all my questions, and gave me a set of exercises to complete at home.  Because of the release of toxins and lactic acid that get held in muscles I was quite tired, and found drinking lots of water after the treatment very helpful.  Two hours after my treatment I felt tired and achy, but nothing that an Advil couldn’t help.

There is absolutely no “down time” with IMS/dry needling.

What happened the next morning was just short of a “miracle”.  For the last several years I have found it strenuous to get up from a sitting position due to super tight muscles and back issues… nothing major, just always found myself  getting “prepared” to get up…tightening my stomach muscles and placing my hands on the chair to help push off.

I was standing in the middle of my living room when I suddenly realized that I had gotten out of my chair without a thought.  This may seem small, but this victory solidified my belief that IMS/dry needling is an outstanding treatment for chronic or acute pain.

Dry needling will not be for everyone, it is at times painful (3 to 4 seconds of pain), but there is no denying my results.  I have booked several more treatments, and will update you on my continued journey into IMS/dry needling in Part III.

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Victoria Clinic first in BC to use eToims | Needless IMS

Victoria Clinic first in BC to use eToims | Needless IMSWhat is eToims – Needless IMS?

Electrical Twitch Obtaining Intra-Muscular Stimulation (eToims) is aimed at alleviating pain and dysfunction caused by muscle and nerve injury. It involves the use of an electric current to produce a twitch in the muscle that is strong enough to stimulate or excite the deep fibers of a muscle.

Learn more about managing chronic nerve pain.

The eToims technique locates and diagnoses the presence of unhealthy and painful trigger point in the muscle. Very brief, repetitive stimulation is targeted at these trigger points to try to fatigue these points, thus making them relax.

 How do nerves and muscles work?

Nerves originate in the spinal column and run down your body, arms, or legs to supply an electric current to your muscles to make them twitch or contract. This is just an electrical cord supplying a lamp or appliance. However, if a nerve cannot carry enough electric current to muscles, the muscles actually start to shorten or tighten. Muscles can tighten so much that they put even more compression or vice-like grip around the nerve as it courses its way down your body, arms, or legs. This becomes a cyclical pattern between nerve and muscle. Most commonly muscle is irritated where the nerve enters the muscle at the neuromuscular junction (ie: trigger point).

How does eToims help?

The electric current produced by the eToims Technique penetrates deep enough at the trigger point to produce a strong contraction in the muscle. Basically “jump starting” the muscles to release, relax, and allow blood to follow to the muscles and nerve so that they can “breathe”.

What happens during a treatment session?

You will need to change into loose fitting clothing to allow the therapist access to your muscles. The current is conducted through moist pads placed on your skin. Muscles that produce the strongest contraction or twitch will be worked on first to start some flow through the nerve and stimulate blood flow in your body. The very tight muscles will be worked on next to try to get as much contraction as possible in these muscles. The more contraction elicited in the muscles, the more relaxed the muscles will become. As a result, there is less compression on the nerves, more blood flow, and more pain relief.

How many treatments will I require?

For diagnostic and more acute conditions, 3-4 sessions are necessary. For chronic conditions and chronic trigger points, 6-8 sessions are necessary. It should be noted that each case is very different and therefore number of expected treatments should be discussed with your therapist.

What should I expect post treatment?

You can feel a bit tired after a treatment or feel like you just did a workout. You are encouraged to drink plenty of fluids afterwards and avoid excessive activity immediately following treatment.

 Conditions considered for treatment

  • Muscle pain/myofascial pain
  • Musculoskeletal pain/discomfort
  • Frozen Shoulder
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Low back pain
  • Facet Syndrome
  • Piriformis Syndrome
  • Post surgical back pain
  • Tension headaches
  • Rotator cuff injuries
  • Tennis elbow
  • Shin Splints
  • Whiplash
  • Repetitive strain injuries
  • Sports injuries
  • Tendonitis
  • Degenerative disc
  • Bulging or herniated disc
  • Spinal Stenosis
  • Fibromyalgia

To find out more about this revolutionary technique, please contact us.

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Are you living with chronic pain? eToims can help

Are you living with chronic pain? eToims can helpVictoria’s Diversified Health Clinic is the first location on Vancouver Island to offer eToims, a new non-invasive treatment for pain and inflammation in the body’s soft and connective tissues.

When you irritate or damage a nerve, muscle fibers close around the nerve fibers like a fist. eToims uses an electrical pulse that uncurls the fist from the nerve fibers, thus relieving your muscle pain & restoring function, mobility & quality of life.

What is eToims and how does it work?

Using specialized medical equipment, eToims sends very brief but strong electrical pulses to the areas of irritated nerves. This stimulation causes the muscle to twitch, or contract, and then relax. This focused exercising of the muscle at numerous points throughout the muscle relieves the associated pain.

Traditionally this treatment has involved the use of acupuncture needles (Trigger Point Dry Needling, or IMS) to relieve pain. eToims is a non-invasive form of the same treatment – no needles are inserted into the skin – and is available nowhere else on Vancouver Island, and now Diversified Health offers both treatments.

eToims is great for sports injuries or the mysterious soft-tissue injuries from auto accidents that typically stump health practitioners. It is quick to diagnose and fast to heal, getting you active and back on your feet faster than conventional treatments.

What happens during a treatment session?

The current is conducted through moist pads placed on your skin. Muscles that produce the strongest contraction or twitch will be worked on first to start some flow through the nerve and stimulate blood flow in your body. The very tight muscles will be worked on next to try to get as much contraction as possible in these muscles. The more contraction elicited in the muscles, the more relaxed the muscles will become. As a result, there is less compression on the nerves, more blood flow, and more pain relief.

eToims will treat the following conditions

  • Muscle pain/myofascial pain
  • Musculoskeletal pain/discomfort
  • Frozen Shoulder
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Low back pain
  • Facet Syndrome
  • Piriformis Syndrome
  • Post surgical back pain
  • Tension headaches
  • Rotator cuff injuries
  • Tennis elbow
  • Shin Splints
  • Whiplash
  • Repetitive strain injuries
  • Sports injuries
  • Tendonitis
  • Degenerative disc
  • Bulging or herniated disc
  • Spinal Stenosis
  • Fibromyalgia

Please contact our health care practitioners for more information about the eToims Technique.

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