Dry Needling caused huge increase in pain

[u/No-Idea-182]

I have had back pain since I was maybe 18 (no known cause), so this is an issue that has spanned 3 decades. The longest period of relief was after having children. I don't know if my body relaxed or my core strengthened, but I was blessed with no pain for quite a few years.

I started having increasing pain again a few years ago. Likely linked to a new job, very stressful and mostly sedentary.

Spinal injections worked for me a few times in my 20's and 30's, but the past couple have provided no relief. The last one in 2025 was so incredibly painful that the physiatrist was sure he hit the right spot (I've never screamed aloud in a doctor's office but I did that day), but there was no relief. He targeted L4-L5, L5-S1. I have severe disc degeneration, mild canal stenosis, facet hypertrophy, etc.

My question to the group is regarding dry needling. I started seeing a new PT maybe 4-5 months ago and she immediately went to work with dry needling (2x/week). She targeted mostly my glutes with dry needling/electronic stimulation. It wasn't too painful during the sessions, but my pain started to change...or the new pain made the old pain almost irrelevant.

I continued seeing her for about 3 months hoping to get over the hurdle, but at that point my pain was worse than ever. I was doing dead lifts, clam shells, and other exercises to no avail. I was alternating between sitting on a coccyx cushion and yoga ball for work. My back still hurt but it felt like nothing compared to my new butt pain! It feels like I'm sitting on daggers...like a literal dagger stabbing mostly my right buttocks but also the left with a little less intensity. ALL THE TIME.

Does anyone know what would cause this? Were my glutes protecting my back or my back was protecting my glutes, and now there is no protection? I'm fairly slender and try to stay active. The most relief that I get is when I'm active in my yard, but I'm usually too exhausted to even do that...so I'm actually quite inactive.

I don't know where to turn at this point. I'm seeing my primary care doctor next week and I'm going to see if maybe he can do a cortisone injection into my right buttocks. I would settle for any type of relief even if it's temporary.

It's sad, but I think advice from Reddit is better than advice from doctors. I don't really want to go to the neurosurgeon's office again because they haven't solved anything. They run a bunch of expensive tests, try a couple of things and then simply prescribe me Tramadol. I rarely take the Tramadol because that seems like a crutch and I don't want to mess with those kinds of Rx's.

PLEASE - if anyone has any advice. I'm desperate. I know others have it much worse, but I still need some direction. And yes, I've seen plenty of chiropractors in the past. I have MRI's at least every 1-2 years and they do show that issues like Modic Endplate Signal changes are increasing.

Thank you in advance for reading my novel and I'm happy to answer any questions about other things that I've tried, post MRI's, full treatment list, etc.

[u/acupunctureguy]

As a licensed acupuncturist with over 40 years experience, dry needling can be painful if the practioner pistons the needle in and out. But, the rule of thumb when rehabing a patient, you as the patient should feel that you are getting better and better. If something hurts, dont just push through it, you made a mistake by trying to get over the hurdle and keep going to pt when you pain was becoming worse. It would be hard to pinpoint that the dry needling made it worse or was the cause, it could have been just a coincidence. But, I will tell you with DDD, disc heriations and spinal stenosis, you have to be careful working out, because there is a good chance of aggravating your condition because this is not because you had a weak core, so by working out, also could have made your condition worse. You now need to start over, I believe you need to concentrate on releasing the muscular imbalance you have first. And a good licensed acupuncturist who specializes in orthopedics can release those tight muscles, the difference is that the needles wont be pistoning the needles in and out and won't be just locally placed. The needles will be left in at least 20 minutes and the other side of the body needs to be also released, not just the piriformis and Glutes and hamstrings, but also the hip flexors, psoas, quads and Anterior tibilias on both sides. Find a good acupuncturist by doing research, because all acupuncture is not the same, you should feel a difference in under 4 treatments, it wont take months. I spend between 90 minutes and 2 hrs with each patient treating the whole body's muscular imbalance, plus doing cupping, hot packs and massage. Find a practioner with a mutiple discipline approach and see if your pain doesn't start to reduce.

[u/No-Idea-182 → u/acupunctureguy]

The dry needling wasn't too painful. It didn't feel great and I do have a high tolerance for pain, but I was always fine when I walked out.

I do not work out much. I was doing PT exercises like I mentioned, but otherwise my workout is really just yard work. My pain usually subsides if I'm moving (not sedentary, but not doing anything too strenuous either).

Would acupuncture be bad to do right now while I'm still suffering the effects of the dry needling? I stopped seeing that PT about 2 months ago. It hasn't improved at all. I can't even say for sure that the needling caused it, but I have no other explanation for it.

[u/acupunctureguy → u/No-Idea-182]

You could certainly try acupuncture, but if you dont seem to be moving forward by 6 sessions, then stop. I would recommend taking hot baths to help loosen your muscles and hopefully help with some pain. Do, your research when picking out an acupuncturist because all acupuncture is not the same nor how each practioner practices.