What to expect...

A tiny needle is inserted through the skin. Since the needle goes in very fast, most people can't tell that the needle has been inserted. The needle will then be advanced into the problem area of the muscle. This can't be felt when the needle is inserted into a normal muscle attached to a normal nerve.

However, when the needle hits an area in the muscle that is unwell, you will feel a tiny cramp, tingling, or strange sensation. The provider may reposition the needle several times to make sure that all problem areas of the muscle are treated.

The technique takes just a few minutes to perform and many times the needles are taken out right away. In some cases where the condition is severe, the needles can be left in for between 5 and 30 minutes. Several sites are usually treated in one visit.

Patients may feel immediate relief, or may be sore for a few days where the needles were inserted. This is followed by a decrease in pain, better movement, and a gradual return of function. The average number of visits to complete resolution of the problem are 6-10. Treatments are usually scheduled once every 1-2 weeks.

IMS is very operator dependent. That means that hitting all of the correct areas is very important to the success of the procedure. Because of this, a very detailed examination is performed in order to ascertain the right areas to treat.