Acupuncture and Dry Needling
for Chronic Pain in Tucson

Pain can be short term from a recent injury, or long lasting due to underlying conditions. Whether acute or chronic, pain can interfere with daily activities, sleep, and overall quality of life. Discover lasting relief and better health with acupuncture for pain management. If you’re in pain, come work with a highly experienced Registered Nurse (RN) and Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac.), serving the Tucson area for over 15 years. Our integrative health clinic is here to support your healing whether you’re dealing with pain, recovering from injury, or just looking to improve your overall wellness.

Why Pain Sometimes Lingers

Chronic pain is not just a lingering symptom — it is often caused by nervous system sensitization, persistent muscle tension, joint restrictions, or scar tissue from past injuries. Stress and lifestyle factors such as posture, repetitive movements, and poor sleep can amplify pain signals, making even minor triggers painful. Understanding these factors is key to creating an effective treatment plan.

Acupuncturist treating patient for Pain Management Tucson, AZ

We use multiple modalities including traditional acupuncture, orthopedic acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, advanced dry needling, motor points, and acupuncture injection therapy to help manage pain and restore normal function.

✓ What Is Acute/Chronic pain?

Acute pain is sudden and often linked to a specific injury, such as a sprain, strain, or surgery. Chronic pain lasts for months or years, often connected to conditions like arthritis, sciatica, migraines, or back problems. Both types can be treated effectively with acupuncture and complementary therapies.

✓ Common Causes of pain in the body

Sports injuries or accidents
Muscle imbalances, poor posture, or repetitive strain
Degenerative conditions like arthritis or spinal changes
Nerve compression or inflammation
Stress, which can worsen muscle tension and pain

✓ Common Symptoms of pain

Sharp or dull aching pain that persists or flares up with activity
Muscle stiffness or tightness
Reduced mobility or range of motion
Numbness, tingling, or radiating discomfort
Fatigue or sleep issues caused by ongoing discomfort

Our Treatment Approach

✓ Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that stimulates specific points on the body to calm overactive pain pathways, reduce inflammation, improve circulation, and promote natural healing. It also works to modulate the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing stress and anxiety (fight or flight) which are often common underlying factors in many conditions.

✓ Dry Needling

Dry needling targets the taut, tender trigger points that keep long-standing pain going. Releasing those bands eases muscle guarding, takes pressure off compressed nerves, and helps restore range of motion that has been limited for months or years. For chronic pain we often pair it with traditional acupuncture in the same visit, so we can calm the pain pathway and free the tissue driving it at once.

✓ Cupping, Gua Sha, & Bodywork

Cupping and Gua Sha address the myofascial restrictions and old scar tissue that build up after years of pain or past injuries. By relaxing tight muscle and improving local blood flow, they leave the surrounding tissue more responsive to needling. Most patients describe the sensation as a mix of deep tissue massage and myofascial release.

✓ Personalized Care

Custom treatment plans based on your specific condition and pain patterns for optimal results

Treatment Process

Step 1 Comprehensive assessment and diagnosis of your pain cause and symptoms
Step 2 Personalized treatment plan combining acupuncture, dry needling, and additional modalities as needed
Step 3 Gentle needle insertion to target pain points and release tension
Step 4 Follow-up sessions and maintenance plan determined for lasting pain relief

Josh Whiteley, RN, L.Ac. Experienced acupuncturist in Tucson, AZ

What Types of Pain Do We Treat?

Neck and Shoulder Pain: Chronic neck pain, shoulder impingement, whiplash, thoracic outlet syndrome, muscle spasms, arthritic pain

Low Back Pain: Herniated discs, sciatica, stenosis, postural imbalance

Knee Pain: ACL/MCL/PCL tears, Patellofemoral pain, IT band syndrome, osteoarthritis

Elbow/Wrist/Hand: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, osteoarthritis, sprains, tendonitis, tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow

Ankle/Foot Pain: Ankle sprains, plantar fasciitis, bunions, Morton’s neuroma, Achilles tendonitis

Hip Pain: Bursitis, tendonitis, labral tears, osteoarthritis

Who Responds Best to Treatment?

Patients with musculoskeletal pain from sports injuries, repetitive strain, arthritis, or nerve compression often experience excellent results. This is one of the most common things we treat at our Tucson clinic. Chronic pain patients who follow a series of treatments and integrate home care strategies such as gentle movement and posture awareness also see the most lasting relief.

High quality meta-analyses studies like this one in the Journal of Pain (2018) which looked at over 20,000 patients across 39 studies found that acupuncture is superior to both no acupuncture control and sham acupuncture in providing lasting relief for chronic pain conditions.

6 Simple Things You Can Do to Support Healing After Acupuncture

Apply Gentle Heat

Use a warm compress, heating pad, or warm bath to relax tight muscles and improve circulation. Avoid ice unless recommended, as cold can sometimes worsen stiffness in chronic pain.

Do Gentle Stretches

Light stretching keeps muscles flexible and prevents stiffness from returning. Focus on slow, pain-free movements rather than deep or forceful stretches.

Stay Hydrated

Drinking plenty of water helps flush out metabolic waste released during acupuncture and supports muscle recovery.

Move Mindfully

Gentle walking, yoga, or tai chi can keep blood flowing and reduce tension. Avoid overexertion or heavy lifting right after treatment.

Practice Relaxation

Stress often worsens pain. Deep breathing, meditation, or simply taking short breaks from screens can calm the nervous system and reduce muscle tension. This is one of the most overlooked strategies to managing chronic pain effectively.

Prioritize Quality Sleep

Poor sleep can make the nervous system more sensitive to pain and slow recovery. Aim for a consistent sleep schedule, limit screens before bed, and create a comfortable sleep environment that supports restful, restorative sleep.

Expert Care

Josh Whiteley, RN, L.Ac. is a licensed acupuncturist and Registered Nurse with 16+ years of experience.

Immediate Relief

Treatment is aimed at easing your pain from the very first visit, and many patients notice a difference within the first few sessions.

Non-Invasive Treatment

Avoid surgery and medication with our natural, drug-free approach to acute and chronic pain treatment

Integrative Approach

We address the root cause of your pain rather than just masking the symptoms

Start Your Journey to Pain-Free Living

Find lasting relief from chronic pain through our specialized acupuncture and dry needling treatments. Our natural approach helps you avoid invasive procedures and medications while addressing the underlying cause of your pain.

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Google Verified Reviews five-star rating badge for Common Roots Acupuncture

“I would be more than happy to refer Josh to anyone looking for a knowledgeable, professional and friendly acupuncturist. I always have great results from his treatments for pain management.”
– Terri C, Tucson

SEE MORE OF OUR TUCSON PATIENT REVIEWS

Explore Pain Conditions We Treat

Start with the area or symptom that best matches what you are experiencing. Each page explains our assessment and treatment approach in more detail.

Frequently Asked Questions About Acupuncture for Pain Management

How many sessions does chronic pain usually take?

Chronic pain usually responds best to a series of treatments rather than a single visit. We start with a comprehensive assessment of your pain and its causes, then build a personalized plan combining acupuncture, dry needling, and other modalities as needed. Follow-up sessions and a maintenance schedule are set based on how your pain responds. Patients who complete a series of treatments and add simple home care, such as gentle movement and posture awareness, tend to see the most lasting relief.

What types of chronic pain do you treat?

We treat musculoskeletal and nerve-related pain throughout the body, including chronic neck and shoulder pain, whiplash, and shoulder impingement; low back pain from herniated discs, sciatica, or stenosis; knee pain such as osteoarthritis, IT band syndrome, and ligament injuries; hip bursitis, tendonitis, and labral tears; plantar fasciitis, ankle sprains, Achilles tendonitis, and Morton’s neuroma; and elbow, wrist, and hand conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, and golfer’s elbow.

Is there research behind acupuncture for chronic pain?

Yes. A meta-analysis published in the Journal of Pain (2018), which pooled 39 studies covering more than 20,000 patients, found acupuncture to be superior to both no-acupuncture and sham-acupuncture controls for providing lasting relief in chronic pain conditions.

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