I mentioned in my previous post that I’d been having an achy right foot…nothing major, but I could feel it. I had a friend who last year ruptured her plantar and the image of her foot is forever ingrained in my memory; so, when I started to feel this little niggle, I decided to take care of it right away.
At my coach’s suggestion, I visited a sports doctor on Monday who said that it was good I was catching this early. Then he said, “I can tell you what I want to do, and I can tell you what your other options are.”
Uh, oh.
I told him to give it to me straight.
Dry needling.
WHAT?!?
I’ve heard about it from other runner friends but I didn’t really know what it was. Basically, they poke you with a needle and then push the needle as far as they can until you say STOP.
He said that I could turn on my stomach so I didn’t see, but I told him that I did want to see. And I also wanted to see the needle. He showed it to me and even let me hold it. I became one with the needle.
I had 3 needles poked in the arch of my right foot. Each time he pushed it in deep until I couldn’t anymore. Then, once in, he would twist the needle.
He asked if I was okay with him inserting one on my shin. I figured, might as well…
What I thought when he poked me in the shin
Let me just say, that I’m actually very good with needles. I was thankful for this random gift as I have no idea how those NOT good with needles would handle this procedure.
He taped me up and said that I should feel better the next day. The next day?!? But it was true. I felt relief the very next morning. I was advised to rest though and not run for 4-5 days. I could cross train, which I did on Tuesday and Wednesday and on Friday, I went for my first run.
I’d have to say, I’m a believer in this dry needling business. It hurt, but it was effective and really, that’s all that matters to me. I’ll take the pain to make the pain go away.
–Have you ever done dry needling?
–Are you good with needles?
Omg this made me feel dizzy just reading about it! Not good with needles but glad it worked for you!
I don’t have many talents, but being good with needles is one and I’m thankful I am for these types of occasions, LOL
I’m terrified of trying this! My coach does it and I know the time will come, but it sounds painful and I’m a wuss! I’m glad to hear you approve.
I too, figured it was inevitable, lol!!!
OMG all that I can say is no thank you! Needles make me lightheaded, so in my book this is some massive gutsiness. I guess this BQ business is no joke! š
Jaja!!! I think so!! I hope it’s all worth it, lol!! :p
You are a brave girly. But I think if that’s what my doc said to do, I would do it too. I would just opt NOT to see the needle, eek! I’m glad it helped and you felt better the next day- that sounds like it was worth it for those results.
Right? You gotta do what you gotta do!! LOL!
OMG, I cringed just reading this! There’s no way I could handle dry needling. I think I’m traumatized from just reading this.
LOL!!!!!
I just had dry needling done on my back and still on the fence. Super painful and then done which is great but it took me a few days to feel better. Glad it worked for you!
I imagine it’s worse on the back!! OUCH!!
ugh, omg…i had the cringe going big time just reading! you are way braver than me, that just sounds horrendous. I had to get a shot with a huge needle one time before undergoing surgery and can’t even look when i get a shot anymore. But, I’ve also suffered from PF and that’s no joke. My PF is on the verge of returning, this time in my left foot and it happens when volumes and intensity increase during marathon cycles, especially when following something like Hansons. I’m just about holding it off by using cyro-cups for icing after most of my runs and applying arnicare every night. Hope the treatment works so you get back out there fully healed.
Thank you!!! I’ve heard cupping isn’t very pleasant either, lol!!
This made me cringe but also has me a bit curious. I’m dealing with some random injury right now and I would do just about anything! Thanks for sharing your experience.
Noooooooo!!!! I hope it heals soon!!
I’ve wondered how dry needling was different than acupuncture and now I totally get it! I’m glad it brought relief! I wonder how it works.
Me too! I hope that it lasts, lol!!
I happen to love dry needling, but I have a stupid high pain tolerance and while it was weird, it wasn’t an out of control experience. This is a bit different!
OMG! I have to keep my eyes closed even at the dentist for a routine cleaning; I can’t imagine watching dry needling! BUT, I am very glad to hear that it brought you relief.
NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE!
(But glad it worked for you! š )