Pain on stairs
Often sharper going down than up, with a catch under the kneecap or along the joint line.
Knee pain is a symptom with several possible sources. For some people it is a sharp catch going down stairs. For others it is stiffness after a subway ride, or an ache along the inner or outer knee after pivoting.
The knee sits between the hip and the foot. If the hip doesn’t control rotation well, or the ankle is stiff, the knee absorbs the extra twist and impact. Locally, the quadriceps and patellar tendons, the joint line and the outer thigh muscles can all become sensitive. Nerves around the knee, especially the saphenous nerve on the inner side, can produce burning or a vague ache that passes for joint pain.
At the knee, dry needling, a form of acupuncture, does most of the work. Along the inner thigh, the saphenous nerve passes between the vastus medialis and adductor muscles. When those muscles tighten around it, needling them aims to give it room. The nerve’s branch below the kneecap can also be the irritable part. Then electroacupuncture places fine needles near it with a mild current to help change its signaling.
People with knee pain have usually had imaging, anti-inflammatories or a general exercise program. Imaging can show arthritis or meniscus changes, yet it can’t show how the hip and foot are loading the knee. Medication can ease pain for a while without changing how you move or how sensitive the tissues are. Exercise programs can also stall when they focus on the knee alone. If you have seen a physical therapist or chiropractor, dry needling is a separate tool, since New York law keeps both from offering it.
I ask which movements hurt, exactly where you feel it, and what a normal week of walking, running or lifting looks like for you. Then the exam:
Your orthopedist, primary doctor and physical therapist stay part of the picture. When an exam finding suggests one of them should take another look, I’ll say so and share my findings with you.
Not always. If you’ve had imaging, I’ll take it into account. Many knee problems involve movement patterns and tissue sensitivity that don’t show clearly on a scan.
Often, yes. Arthritis can be part of the picture. Pain is also shaped by how irritable the joint is and how the hip and foot load it. I treat the muscles and nerves around the knee and coordinate with your doctor as needed.
That’s common when several tissues share the strain or when nerves are sensitive. I track which movements bring it on and which spots are most tender, then adjust treatment to match.
Usually it’s a combination, since more than one thing is often going on. Needling the tight thigh muscles takes pressure off the nerve that runs between them. Electroacupuncture is added when that nerve keeps sending pain signals on its own.
Some soreness or heaviness for a short time is possible, similar to after a workout. I adjust the dose to how sensitive the knee is right now and to your schedule, especially around runs, lifting or travel.
A doctor should check the knee first after a fall or impact. The same applies if it locks and won’t straighten, or swells quickly and heavily. So should a red, hot knee with fever, or a knee you can’t put weight on. These can signal a fracture, a tear or an infection.
Adults with pelvic floor, nerve and orthopedic pain, along with neurological conditions. Most of my patients come to me after other care hasn't fully settled things. If you're looking for general wellness acupuncture, I'm not the right fit.
We review your history and what you've already tried. I assess the muscles and nerves involved, and you're treated the same day.
It depends on the condition. Pelvic and orthopedic plans usually run 4 to 6 weeks. Neurological plans are usually 2 visits a week for 6 weeks or 3 a week for 4. After that, visits space out so the changes hold. These are typical timelines, not promises.
Yes. I work alongside doctors, physical therapists and specialists. If something I find needs a closer look from one of them, I'll tell you.
I'm an out-of-network provider. You pay at the time of your visit, and my office submits the claim so any reimbursement comes to you. Free benefit checks are available before your first visit through the verification form, and HSA and FSA cards work. I don't take Medicare or Medicaid, though some Medicare Advantage plans reimburse out-of-network care. Full insurance details
Yes. I treat adults, teens and children, though I don't specialize in infants or toddlers.
Yes. Book a free discovery call to ask your questions and see whether we're a good fit.
Dry needling is a form of acupuncture. Fine needles go into tight bands of muscle and trigger points to lower muscle tension and change how the area is signaling.
You may feel a brief twitch or a deep ache as the needle reaches tight muscle. It passes quickly, and any soreness afterward usually fades within a day or two.
It's generally safe with a properly trained practitioner. Needles are sterile and single-use, and I check your health history first, including blood thinners. In New York, dry needling can only be performed by licensed acupuncturists, MDs and DOs. Physical therapists and chiropractors aren't permitted to perform it.
Eat something light beforehand and wear loose clothing that lets me reach the area being treated.
Usually not. Ultrasound helps in a few specific cases, but it hasn't been shown to improve results for common trigger points. A careful hands-on exam is what guides the needle. More on ultrasound-guided dry needling
Dry needling aimed at the pelvic floor and the hip and abdominal muscles around it, for pain, tension and urinary symptoms driven by those muscles and their nerves. More on pelvic floor dry needling
Sometimes, depending on the muscles involved, and you'll be draped throughout. Treatment always follows your consent and comfort. I don't do internal exams or internal treatment.
No, though it helps if you've already seen a doctor or pelvic floor physical therapist. Bring any notes or imaging you have.
Completely. I've heard it all, and there's no judgment here, just a straightforward conversation so we can treat what's going on.
Yes, I treat adults of every gender and identity. After gender-affirming surgery involving the pelvis, bring your surgical notes and we'll decide together what fits.
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118 W. 72nd St, Rear Lobby, New York, NY 10023
Evidence-based acupuncture and dry needling on the Upper West Side. From chronic pain and headaches to pelvic floor dysfunction, Dr. Jordan Barber pairs the highest level of training with care that actually listens.
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