Case Study: dry needling to treat sciatic pain

Sarah Hammer Stevens, LAc, has prepared this real-life case example to show how dry needling in Portland is a successful modality for a variety of complaints, including sciatic pain.

A 38-year-old male veteran came to To The Point PDX and complained of pain radiating down the back of his left leg after a sports injury. As a result, the patient reports intermittent shooting pain down his leg and perceived weakness until 1 week ago when the pain became consistent. 

Prior to the dry needling appointment, the patient was referred to imaging by his primary care provider; imaging and therapeutic tests ruled out disk herniation, bone spur or neurological weakness. True sciatic pain was ruled out; the patient was referred to dry needling to help release trigger points.

Physical examination conducted lolumbosacral region produced multiple active and latent trigger points located along the piriformis, tensor fasciae latae, and gluteal fibers. 

Initally, after the dry needling procedure, the patient noted a slight decrease in pain and shooting sensation (about 15%). Upon completion of the second session of dry needling, the patient achieved a 30% reduction of pain.

After five dry needling sessions, the patient reported that the pain and shooting sensation subsided completely and his athletic performance was enhanced.

Pt amended his initial complaint after the completion of the treatment plan; the patient reports that the weakness was a result of not wanting to use his muscles because any contraction of the muscles created more pain.