Dry Needling Negligence Claims Guide

By Brett Williams. Last update 10th January 2023. Dry needling and acupuncture are similar procedures that involve inserting needles into a person’s body to relieve muscle pain and discomfort.

If you underwent a dry needling procedure and you suffered an injury due to negligence, you may be entitled to seek dry needling injury compensation from the practitioner or the clinic where you were treated. This guide will explain the dry needling negligence claims process.

Dry needling negligence claims

Dry needling negligence claims

At Accident Claims UK, our team of advisers are ready to take your call and will offer essential advice on how best to proceed with a dry needling claim for compensation.

You can reach us via telephone on 0800 073 8801, or you may prefer to send us an email. You could also use our chat line, bottom right, or request a callback and one of our advisers will get back to you as soon as possible.

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What Is Negligent Dry Needling?

Also known as intramuscular stimulation, dry needling is a similar procedure to acupuncture where a practitioner inserts stainless steel needles into specific trigger points of a patient’s body. The needles used in this type of procedure are short and no fluid is injected into the body. It is thought to be an effective treatment for muscle pain and fibromyalgia. 

Dry needling is routinely carried out on sports injuries to relieve muscle spasms and to improve flexibility. The procedure may cause some discomfort when carried out on a soft tissue injury.

Dry needling is a relatively new procedure as compared to acupuncture, which is an ancient practice designed to improve a person’s chi (energy flow) with the end goal being to relieve pain and discomfort. As such, because dry needling is newer, there is less research available regarding how effective this type of procedure may be.

There are two types of dry needling techniques used, which are as follows:

  • In-out insertion technique
  • Non-trigger point technique

In-out Insertion Technique

If you undergo an in-out insertion technique, which is also referred to as sparrow pecking or ‘pistoning’, the needles are only inserted into the body for a short period of time. This is to target ‘trigger points’ in your muscles to relieve pain and discomfort.

Non-trigger Point Technique

The non-trigger point technique involves inserting needles around a painful area of the body rather than directly on the point of discomfort.

To find out how Accident Claims UK can assist you when making a dry needling negligence claim against a negligent party, please get in touch today and one of our advisers will advise you on how best to proceed with your claim once it has been established your case is valid.

Is Dry Needling Effective?

As previously mentioned, less research has been carried out on the effectiveness of dry needling procedures as compared to the ancient art of acupuncture. However, patients who suffer from muscle pain and fibromyalgia find that it can improve their condition. The same can be said of anyone who suffers a sport’s injury. With this said, some studies suggest that dry needling can be effective in the treatment of mild to moderate pain and discomfort, whereas other research suggests the procedure was no less effective at treating muscle pain than simply stretching.

If you suffered any sort of injury because of the negligence of a practitioner and you would like to speak to one of our advisers, please get in touch today.

Is Dry Needling Safe?

Because dry needling is an invasive procedure that involves piercing the skin with needles, it is essential that a practitioner be correctly trained and that they follow ‘best practices’ when it comes to cleanliness and hygiene. It is also important to know there are side effects associated with this type of procedure. These are as follows:

Mild Risks Or Reactions To Dry Needling

  • Dry needling side effects (mild) – bleeding, temporary soreness, and bruising which typically passes after a few days. However, other mild side effects could include feeling faint, drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, sweating with symptoms getting worse before they improve

Serious Or Significant Risks From Dry Needling

  • Dry needling side effects (serious) – bleeding that lasts a long time, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, headaches, severe dry needling emotional responses, fainting, skin irritation, gastrointestinal disturbances, and seizures

Cleanliness and hygiene are all important and if the needles used in a dry needling procedure are not correctly sterilised, it could lead to a patient becoming seriously ill and suffering from some kind of blood-borne infection. A needle which has not been correctly sterilised could also result in you developing the following serious health issues:

  • Hepatitis
  • HIV

A needle incorrectly inserted into the body could also result in serious consequences, which includes puncturing a vital internal organ. Should this be the case, it is essential that you are taken to the A&E department of your local hospital so the correct treatment can be administered as a matter of urgency. Any delays in receiving the right treatment could result in serious complications and health issues which could prove life-threatening.

For more information regarding a dry needling negligence claim against a responsible party, please get in touch today and a personal injury lawyer will assess your case before offering essential legal advice on how best to proceed.

Claim For A Collapsed Lung After Dry Needling

Should you undergo a dry needling procedure and a practitioner is negligent, it could have severe consequences which includes developing a pneumothorax. This is a serious health issue that results in air leaking from the lungs and into the chest wall. 

If you suffer a collapsed lung whether this is partial or total and you can prove negligence on the part of a dry needling practitioner or clinic, you could be entitled to seek compensation for the pain, discomfort, suffering and losses you were caused through their negligence.

The condition is caused when a needle is inserted incorrectly into your chest during a procedure. The immediate symptoms you could suffer are as follows:

  • Sudden and acute chest pain
  • Difficulty breathing/shortness of breath

In rare cases, the condition can prove fatal. The good news is that pneumothorax is treatable providing immediate medical attention is sought. Should you believe you have suffered a collapsed lung during a dry needling procedure, you should go to the Accident and Emergency Department of your local hospital as a matter of urgency.

To find out how a personal injury solicitor working on a No Win No Fee basis can assist you in filing a dry needling claim against a party who could be held negligent, please get in touch with one of our advisers today.

Who Performs Dry Needling?

Dry needling should be carried out by a trained physiotherapist, a massage therapist, a chiropractor, an osteopath, a chiropractor, or a general practitioner in the United Kingdom. All practitioners should abide by the licensing and regulations that are set in place by local authorities.

If you were treated by someone who was not correctly trained to carry out a dry needling procedure and, as a result, you suffered an injury, please get in touch with Accident Claims UK today. One of our advisers will offer essential advice on how best to proceed with a dry needling personal injury claim.

Regulation and Licensing of Practitioners

Dry needling courses are available to professionals throughout the UK. A professional who wants to carry out this type of invasive procedure would need to register with their Local Authority and adhere to the licensing and regulations as set out in the United Kingdom. The reason being that a dry needling procedure involves piercing a patient’s skin and, as such, only trained professionals should perform this type of invasive and potentially dangerous procedure.

If you have any concerns about making dry needling negligence claims, please speak to an Accident Claims UK adviser today.

Calculating Compensation For Negligent Dry Needling – Updated August 2021

If you were injured because a dry needling practitioner was negligent, you could be entitled to seek compensation for your losses, pain and suffering by filing a personal injury claim against the person or clinic responsible. The table provided below offers a general idea on the amount of dry needling compensation you could be awarded in a successful personal injury claim.

The amounts provided are offered as a guideline only and are based on the Judicial College Guidelines. They do not include any special damages you may be entitled to include in a successful dry needling negligence claim against a responsible practitioner, clinic, or another medical facility.

Edit
Injury type Severity Compensation Amount
(estimate)
Chest injury (G) through to (A) up to £3,710 right up to £140,870
Illness/Damage due to non-traumatic Injury (B) (1) £36,060 – £49,270
Illness/Damage due to Non-traumatic Injury (B) (2) £8,950 to £18,020
Damage to bowels (E) £11,820 to £22,970

For a more accurate idea on the amount of dry needling compensation you could receive, please contact one of our advisers today.

Special Damages Victims Of Negligent Treatment Could Claim

As previously touched upon, you would be entitled to general damages and special damages in a successful dry needling personal injury claim against a responsible party. General damages are awarded to compensate an injured party for their pain, suffering as well as their loss of amenity. However, special damages are awarded to compensate an injured party for their losses which typically includes the following in a successful dry needling claim:

  • Medical costs – this could include the cost of medical treatment both immediate and in the future should you be suffering from ongoing health issues as a result of the dry needling procedure you underwent
  • Travel costs – this could cover the cost of getting to and coming home from the hospital or other medical appointments whether you go by car, bus, train, or taxi, and could include parking fees
  • Care costs – should you need assistance around the home during your recovery
  • Loss of income and future earnings
  • All other out of pocket expenses linked to the dry needling injury you suffered

You must be able to produce evidence of your expenditure both in the form of receipts and other documentation relating to the loss of income.

For more information on what you may be able to include in a dry needling claim against a negligent party, please contact one of our advisers today.

Why Select Accident Claims UK For Your Case?

We will assess your dry needling claim by offering a no-obligation initial consultation that is free of charge. Once we have established you have a strong case against a negligent dry needling practitioner or another responsible party, a No Win No Fee lawyer would agree to take on your case. They will take all the worry of finding the money to pay legal fees off the table as there would be no initial upfront fee or ongoing payments as your case progresses.

A personal injury lawyer will offer valuable legal advice on how best to proceed with your claim and will provide essential guidance from the outset to ensure you receive the correct level of dry needling compensation you are entitled to. Should the negligent party deny negligence, a No Win No Fee solicitor would work hard to ensure your case is well represented in court.

No Win No Fee Claims For Negligent Dry Needling

As previously touched upon, once a personal injury lawyer establishes you have a strong case against a negligent party, they would offer to represent you on a No Win No Fee basis. This would involve entering into what is known as a Conditional Fee Agreement which is a legal document between a personal injury solicitor and you, the claimant.

The agreement, CFA, sets out the amount you would pay for the legal services you receive which would only become payable once you are awarded compensation. The agreed percentage is deducted from the money you receive. Should your case not succeed, there would be nothing to pay the No Win No Fee lawyer because of the Conditional Fee Agreement you signed.

The benefits of having a No Win No Fee solicitor represent you are numerous as there would be no upfront fees or ongoing payments to find as your personal injury claim against the negligent party progresses. To find out more on how Accident Claims UK can assist with dry needling negligence claims, please contact one of our advisers.

Begin A Claim For Negligent Dry Needling

To start a dry needling claim for compensation against a negligent party, please get in touch with Accident Claims UK on 0800 073 8801. We offer a free, initial consultation and one of our friendly advisers will walk you through the process of making a personal injury claim and what evidence you would need to support your case against the negligent party. You would be under no obligation to continue a claim should you not wish to.

You could also get in touch by using our online claims form and someone will get back to you without delay.

Alternatively, you can email us at office@accidentclaims.co.uk

Medical Treatment Claims Guides

Below, you can find links to some of our other guides on medical negligence: