The Healing Power of Dry Needling: Insights from Deb Santoro, DPT
When traditional pain management falls short, dry needling offers a powerful solution transforming lives in Fort Worth. At Curnyn PT, we’re proud to have Deb Santoro, DPT, as our Dry Needling Certified (CERT DN) physical therapist. She is one of the practitioners in our clinic with specialized credentials to perform this advanced technique. Additionally, many of our PTs are certified in dry needling, ensuring high-quality care for our patients.
Deb brings exceptional expertise to every treatment session. Beyond her dry needling certification, she specializes in working with joint replacement patients, neck and back pain, and has extensive experience in gait and balance training. Her passion for educating patients on proper posture and body mechanics ensures that each person receives comprehensive care tailored to their unique needs.
Understanding Dry Needling: More Than Just Pain Relief
Dry needling involves the use of ultra-thin, sterile filament needles, also used in acupuncture, but with a completely different purpose. While acupuncture focuses on restoring Qi (the body’s vital energy flow) in traditional Chinese medicine, dry needling is grounded in modern medical science. It targets the nervous system, which transmits chemical and electrical signals, to treat dysfunctional tissue, promote healing, and provide relief.
"We don't call it Qi—we call it the nervous system," explains Deb.
This evidence-based approach focuses on treating not just trigger points but also areas of muscle, tendon, and bone dysfunction that contribute to pain and limited mobility.
The technique involves inserting a thin filament into specific areas of dysfunctional tissue, then moving the needle in precise directions to achieve therapeutic results. This mechanical stimulation creates powerful healing responses throughout the body. Often, intramuscular electrical stimulation is added to the needles to enhance the treatment effect by activating the immune system and promoting healing.
The Science Behind the Success
Dry needling promotes healing by delivering three key benefits:
Anti-Inflammatory Response
The needle insertion triggers the body's natural anti-inflammatory processes, helping reduce swelling and irritation in targeted tissues. This response helps break the cycle of chronic inflammation that often perpetuates pain conditions.
Natural Opioid Production (Endogenous Opioid Peptides)
Dry needling triggers your body’s natural ability to relieve pain by releasing powerful compounds like endorphins, enkephalins, and dynorphins. This innate opioid response offers effective pain relief without the risks or side effects often associated with prescription medications.
Vasodilation and Improved Circulation
The treatment promotes blood vessel expansion, enhancing circulation to treated areas. Better blood flow means more oxygen and nutrients reach healing tissues while waste products are more efficiently removed.
When Dry Needling Becomes Your Solution
For patients who haven’t found relief through other treatments, Deb often recommends dry needling as an effective alternative.
"When nothing else works—when injections aren't providing results—dry needling can be remarkably effective," she notes.
This advanced technique proves particularly beneficial for:
Low back pain that hasn't responded to traditional therapy
Neck and shoulder tension affecting daily activities
Scapular dysfunction limiting arm movement
Hip and glute pain impacting mobility
Multiple muscle layers requiring targeted treatment
The precision of dry needling allows therapists to address specific layers of muscle tissue that other treatments might not reach effectively. This targeted approach often succeeds where traditional methods like electrical stimulation pads have fallen short.
For enhanced effectiveness, dry needling can be combined with advanced techniques such as ultrasound-guided dry needling. This method ensures precise needle placement by using real-time imaging to target the exact areas requiring treatment. Additionally, incorporating electrical stimulation with dry needling can further enhance muscle activation and pain relief, providing a comprehensive approach to addressing deep-seated musculoskeletal issues.
Safety and What to Expect
Dry needling is one of the most invasive treatments physical therapists offer, but it remains highly safe when performed by certified practitioners like Deb. The primary concern is minor skin irritation at needle sites, which typically resolves quickly.
The needles used are incredibly thin, designed for comfort during treatment. Most patients find the sensation much more tolerable than anticipated, especially when they begin experiencing the significant pain relief that follows.
Your Path to Pain-Free Living
If you’ve been dealing with persistent pain that hasn’t improved with other treatments, dry needling could be the solution you’ve been searching for. With Deb’s expertise as a certified dry needling practitioner, along with the skill of our PT team and Curnyn PT’s holistic approach to care, you can now access this advanced treatment option right here in Fort Worth.
Take back control of your pain and rediscover the life you deserve. With our team’s expertise and the proven benefits of dry needling, we’ll help you reclaim an active, fulfilling lifestyle.
Take the Next Step Toward Recovery
Contact Curnyn PT Today!
At Curnyn PT, we believe everyone deserves to live without the limitations of chronic pain. With Deb Santoro's expert dry needling treatments and our team's comprehensive therapeutic movement plans, you can experience the relief you've been searching for. Learn more about Deb and the Curnyn PT team!
Schedule your appointment today—no referral needed. Contact us today to schedule your appointment and start your journey to pain-free living.
