Dear Friends,
Last year when I turned 50, I spent the day climbing the Manitou Incline – 2744 steps and a 2000 ft elevation gain!
Today, just 1 short turn around the sun later, I have developed stabbing and aching knee pain especially after running. I finally went to the doctor and got an x-ray. Guess what? I have Osteoarthritis in my knees. What?!? I am only 51 years young. I thought you got arthritis in your 70s? Alas, I was wrong. Arthritis is common in people over 50, but can occur at any age.
In March, with the weather warming up. I decided to play a little ultimate frisbee. (Don’t know what ultimate frisbee is? Watch this Highlight video of the Summit, Colorado’s Professional Men’s Ultimate team). After over an hour of running around, my knees got VERY inflamed and angry with me. I walked with a limp for over a week, due to the knee pain.
Since I discovered I have arthritis in my knees, I have tried physical therapy, stretching, massage and acupuncture. While all of these things have helped, I still have to be very cautious about doing anything too active. For the past month I have been doing Dry Needling with Dr. Allie Greene and it has really helped to alleviate the pain in my knees. I potentially see a light at the tunnel, where I don’t need to live with daily knee pain.
What is dry needling you ask? Dry Needling involves inserting thin needles into tight, irritable areas of muscle tissue, causing a twitch response that relaxes the muscle fibers and relieves pain. It can be especially helpful for conditions associated with repetitive strain like tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and arthritis. In fact, many of our Massage Therapists are regularly getting dry needling for carpal tunnel and repetitive strain injuries themselves.
You can get Dry Needling, with our own Dr. Allie Greene! She is both a Chiropractor and Acupuncturist. Truly gifted in her craft. She yields effective results, but there is a time commitment involved. It is generally recommended that you come in 2xs per week for a 30minute dry needling session for 1-2 months (depending upon how severe your pain is).
If you are struggling with repetitive strain injuries or arthritis inflammation and pain, give Dry Needing a try.
In Health,
The Wellness Center is a holistic health center in Glendale, CO. We offer Massage, Chiropractic Care, and Acupuncture. If you’re looking for natural pain relief, support in achieving your health & wellness goals, or simply a way to relax – we’ve got your back!