As both a patient and rehabilitation specialist (speech-language pathologist), I support the use of dry needling by physical therapists in the State of Virginia.  I have a connective tissue disorder called Ehlers-danlos syndrome (EDS), as well as Lupus.  EDS is considered a rare disorder, and it is difficult to find treatment modalities that are effective in treating the widespread body pain associated with EDS.  I was fortunate enough to find a PT in Virginia who is highly skilled in the use of dry needling combined with manual therapy.  I was treated by this PT 1-2 times per week over the course of approximately 2 years.  During this time, I was able to reduce my use of opiate medication as a treatment for the pain associated with my Lupus and EDS, and my quality of life was increased as a result.  It is worth noting that I had seen another PT prior who also performed dry needling alone, without the manual therapy component.  I found this to be significantly less effective than dry needling used IN COMBINATION with manual therapy.  I have since moved to New York, a state where physical therapists are not allowed to perform dry needling.  I now suffer from increased pain and have had to increase my use of opiate medication as a result.  My quality of life has now decreased, secondary to the pain associated with my illnesses.  When I travel to Virginia (2-3 times a year), I make a point to visit my physical therapist for a session of dry needling and manual therapy.  I have tried seeing several PTs here in NY for manual therapy, and find it to be much less effective in treating my pain than manual therapy combined with dry needling.  I have also sought trigger point injections from my physician, as well as acupuncture, and neither of these come anywhere near providing the relief that dry needling used in conjunction with manual therapy does.

EDS has led me to have craniocervical instability, which resulted in a craniocervical fusion from skull to C2.  I am left with significantly decreased range of motion in my neck.  I've also had an L4-S1 laminectomy and tethered spinal cord release.  Both of these surgeries have left me in a near-constant state of muscle spasm.  As a speech-language pathologist (and "sister" professional to physical therapy), I am aware of the amount of education and training in anatomy and physiology that my physical therapist has completed.  As a result, I am completely comfortable in the fact that he is aware of where to place the needles, how to place them, and how deep he is able to go.  He is also aware of where NOT to place the needles, how NOT to place them, and how deep NOT to go.  My fear is that acupuncturists do not have even close to this same level of training.  With a rare condition like EDS combined with Lupus, I would not be comfortable placing my body in the hands of someone who, though well-meaning, may place me at risk of medical complication.  

In summary, as an educated patient with a rare disorder who now lives in a state where PTs are not allowed to perform dry needling (but acupuncturists can), I implore you to leave things in Virginia well alone!  Acupuncturists do not have the level of training necessary to be allowed to perform dry needling.  They are also not trained in manual physical therapy.  Dry needling should be left in the hands of skilled physical therapists who can utilize this treatment modality in combination with manual therapy to treat their patients!