I am a patient dealing with chronic pain. I have gone through multiple orthopedic surgeries and countless physical therapy sessions. In addition, I have tried at least three different acupuncturists. Truth is that acupuncture has never helped me whereas dry needling helps me tremendously. The only thing the two have in common is the type of needle they use. The physical therapist uses Western medicine and their knowledge of anatomy to place needles into trigger points or stubborn, taut bands of tissue. Acupuncturists use Eastern medicine. Physical therapists use needles for a different purpose than acupuncture. There's nothing about energy fields or meridians in physical therapy dry needling. My life would be miserable again if my physical therapist weren't allowed to dry needle me. Truthfully, dry needling is the only thing that helps me. In light of the opiod abuse debate, removing dry needling from physical therapists' scope of practice would be counterproductive as dry needling can effectively reduce pain without drugs. I really do hope for myself and others that PTs can continue needling their patients. Acupuncture really doesn't come close to treating muscles, deep especially, that dry needling does.