Integrative Dry Needling Forum - Recent Topics

DN for Trismus

Derek Ray — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 02:20:31 +0000

I have a patient with a very difficult case of trismus following radiation for tongue and throat cancer that I recently started needling. We received MD clearance before starting. I was just wondering if anybody has any experience with or tips for this sort of thing, as he's only been able to open his mouth about 10mm on his best day even after 8 weeks of prior ROM interventions. I've only done the Foundations course, so I've been sticking to what I can reach by using the zygomatic arch as a bony backdrop plus the greater auricular point.

Thanks!

Post ACL surgery

Kelly Colbert — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 16:24:16 +0000

I have a 42 yo patient who is 4 months post ACL surgery, she still has some swelling surrounding the knee, decreased ROM: flexion and extension, and is having a hard time contracting the quads and balancing on that one leg. She is working with a PT for exercises, and coming to me for dry needling. I am focused on quads and lateral popliteal for first appointment and she already improved a little in flexion and stated it felt different in a good way. But before next appointment i wanted to hop on here and get any insights on specific things i should look for, or needle. Thanks so much

Patellar bursitis

Caleb Brudi — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 16:00:22 +0000

Would needling directly into a infra patella bursa decrease the swelling? Been swollen about 5 weeks, slightly warmer than non affected side but otherwise no signs of infection.

Possible T4 Syndrome/Consistent Left UE Distal Arm/Hand Numbness Case

Joseph Schneider — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 14:30:55 +0000

Hello fellow IDN providers: So I have a more complex case that I would like your input on in terms of possible root cause as well as treatment options for this patient. He is a 38 y.o. male who presents with occasional neck and upper back pain (in between his Left Scapula and Thoracic Spine at the T3-T5 levels) and Left UE numbness/tingling as well only in his left forearm and left hand. He only has the Left UE symptoms when he is in a slumped posture and when he places pressure/weight through his left ulnar side of his forearm which will create an "achiness" and then will cause numbness in his left pinky finger, then his ring finger, and then in his other digits until the entire left hand becomes numb. When he sits with proper posture and ergonomics, then his symptoms improve. I have dry needled cervical spine as well as his thoracic spine, dorsal scapular and suprascapular neurotrigger points, pec major and minor (thinking more TOS involvement), as well as his ulnar, median, and radial nerve pathways. He subjectively reports that he feels 70-80% better since the start of skilled PT with the incorporation of dry needling, trigger point releases, postural correction exercises, and ulnar nerve glides. But I, of course, still want to get to the "root cause" and want to get 100% elimination of symptoms. He has only had 6 sessions of skilled PT thus far and is compliant with HEP. He is fully active with consistent workouts at the gym and does not have any functional limitations. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Pennsylvania State Board Accepting IDN as part of CEUs

Eduardo — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 18:52:26 +0000

Hello! I am applying for PA licensure and submitted my IDN course work as part of the application. The board said they would not accept this as "they do not license in dry needling therefore they would not accept it". Pennsylvania IS on the list of the IDN approved CEU courses

(https://integrativedryneedling.com/courses/ceu/?_gl=1*17ykbac*_up*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQjwqPLOBhCiARIsAKRMPZpADKM2LkwIaW1pCTTsYwZbLFClHRq7G0oedw9oPA3q6jeycdKvkVAaAtj2EALw_wcB&gbraid=0AAAAAB_5TZFOkQQXSbfDSLxBrDvjujj9X)

. Anyone have any advice for getting them to allow the IDN courses to be approved by the board?

Tinnitus, fullness, deep ear pressure. Needling Tensor Veli Palatini.

Dan — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 14:44:48 +0000

I have a TMJ patient who I have already dry needled trigeminal nerve distribution, upper cervical and majority of TMJ (lateral and medial pterygoids, masseter, temporalis) and they still have this complaint of deeper ear pressure, fullness and tinnitus. I am wondering about dry needling the tensor veli palatini as I have done some reading that suggests this could be beneficial for stubborn TMJ presentation with those additional symptoms. Could I get some guidance on needling this area or a referral to someone in northeast Ohio who is trained in needling this area.

Thanks,

Dan

Thumb pain-thenar eminence

Danielle Sandstrom — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 17:33:30 +0000

Hello all,

I have a patient that has thenar eminence pain and CMC joint pain. She does a lot of sewing and pinching tasks. Where do you all DN for those symptoms? TIA.

Reimbursement for DN

Hector — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 18:33:46 +0000

Is anyone working at a clinic that charges out-of-pocket for dry needling and then gets reimbursed for their dry needling services per patient?

Thoracic Outlet Decompression Surgery

Torri — Wed, 27 May 2026 21:38:49 +0000

Has anyone had any success integrating DN into your post-op TOS patients? Any guidelines, specific points, neural tracts and considerations are welcome! I have taken the advanced course.

Dry needling post CVA

Marisa Hammond — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 14:17:36 +0000

Hello!

I'm treating someone in a private home care setting tomorrow with s/p CVA x5 (4 in November, 1 in March) and I'm wondering if he would be a good candidate for DN in RUE. He does not have numbness or tingling, he's just trying to regain function of RUE. I'm wondering if I could/should try DN with ESTIM for greater muscle activation at the beginning of his session prior to exercise/therapeutic activities? I know there's limited research so I wanted to get anyone's opinion that has any experience with CVAs and DN.

Thanks!

Marisa