My physical therapists recommended “dry needling” for my plantar fasciitis.

It kills but hear it works… I went the least painful route acupuncture and seeing great results. In fact I’m in waiting room waiting to be called back. Good luck ☺️

I had one PT do my feet and it didn’t help at all, but another one did my calves and it helped a lot!

I had it done on my calves . Didn’t hurt while it was being done but irritated all the nerves so badly made things worse When I had it done for hip and hamstring issues in the past it worked pretty good helped but didn’t cure anything

I do it to my patience, and it works beautifully and the first time you do it it’s uncomfortable, but doing that in conjunction with proper stretching of the toes, foot, calf, and the hip can help to reduce this significantly.

Dry needling helps me. It doesn’t heal but it helps reduce imflammation. I have done in my calves and a few times in my feet. From what I recall the first time was the hardest. After that it is better. I have to see my pt office for this and they say my insurance doesn’t cover it.

Check to see if person doing it has the training and certification. Mine was done by certified PT and there was no pain. Unfortunately, it didn’t cure plantar fasciitis

My physical therapist uses the graston tool on my calf and it really helps with my plantar fasciitis

It helps me. Sometimes a little pain.

Try shockwave therapy when it hits the right spot it’s wonderful

Been using cold press castor oil and it’s been working!

I could not handle it

I’ve had it done a couple of times and jury is still out on effectiveness but i didn’t find it painful at all. I’ve had acupuncture done on other areas of my body and had a similar experience.

I’ve been getting dry needle in my calf and I can see some improvement. It’s slow progress, but I’ll take it!

Having my second session tomorrow…jury is out

It didn't work for me & it was very painful. My podiatrist did it, she was just putting a needle into my foot in different spots.

My first one he was able to insert 8 needles and attach electrodes for 20 minutes. Painful. Probably a 6 out of 10. A week later same foot he couldn't even get 4 in without extreme pain 8+ so he stopped and didn't attach electrodes but instead just "twisted" them every 5 minutes. I was near tears the whole time. He wasn't sure why the second one was different other than my right foot had since become very inflamed and swollen. I cancelled my third appointment

Consult an osteopath

Meh.

I tried but I couldn't handle the pain

Dry needling for plantar fasciitis is something a lot of people get recommended when the pain has become more chronic or stubborn, especially if there’s tightness in the calf, foot muscles, or trigger points contributing to that constant pull on the heel. What’s usually happening in plantar fasciitis isn’t just “heel inflammation,” but a whole chain of tight and overworked muscles (calf, Achilles, plantar fascia) that keeps irritating the same area. Dry needling works by inserting very thin needles into those tight trigger points to help the muscle release, improve blood flow, and reduce that constant tension that’s pulling on the heel. Some people feel relief quite quickly, others need a few sessions, and a few don’t notice much difference — so results can definitely vary. In terms of how it’s done, a trained physio will usually locate tight points in your calf or foot, clean the area, and insert a thin needle directly into the muscle. You might feel a twitch or deep ache for a few seconds, followed by soreness similar to a workout for a day or two. It’s often combined with stretching, strengthening, and load management rather than used on its own, because the best results tend to come from a full approach rather than a single treatment. A resource many people find helpful for understanding why treatments like this sometimes work and sometimes don’t is THE COMPLETE PLANTAR FASCIITIS GUIDE by Nissan Lorna. It explains in a simple, practical way how muscle tightness, foot mechanics, and overload all connect, and how to build a recovery plan that actually lasts instead of cycling through temporary fixes. It’s available on Am@zon, and it can really help you understand where dry needling fits into the bigger picture of healing rather than feeling like you’re just trying random treatments.