A sharp catch as I get up
A brief stab or pinch right as the hips leave the chair, often eased by using your hands, widening your feet or leaning forward.
Pain on standing up is a symptom that can come from several places. Some people feel a stab near the back of the pelvis as their hips leave the seat. Others feel a pinch in the outer hip or groin, or a line of discomfort into the buttock. The first stand of the morning is often the worst, and it eases after a few steps.
Rising from a chair asks the hips to hinge and push while the low back stays steady. If the hips are stiff or their muscles are guarding, the low back takes over. So does the SI joint, where the spine joins the pelvis. Muscles commonly involved are the gluteus medius and minimus, piriformis, quadratus lumborum, adductors and iliopsoas. Bracing the abdomen and holding the breath can add to the problem.
I treat this with dry needling, a form of acupuncture, focused on the muscles that recreate your catch when I press on them. The sciatic nerve passes just beneath the piriformis, and a tight piriformis can press on it as you rise. Needling the piriformis and the rotators next to it gives the nerve more room. Right after needling, I have you stand again to confirm the change.
Standing up pain is often handled as a general back or hip problem. Imaging may show a disc bulge or arthritis, which may or may not explain a pain that lasts one second at lift off. Medication can dull the catch without changing the movement that keeps setting it off. General strengthening sometimes loads the wrong area first or progresses too fast. A physical therapist or chiropractor in New York cannot add needling to that work, because state rules do not allow them to dry needle.
I ask exactly when the pain hits, at lift off, halfway up or at the top, and which chairs or speeds make it worse. Then the exam:
Your orthopedist, physiatrist and physical therapist stay part of the picture. When an exam finding points back toward one of them, you’ll hear it from me, along with the details to bring to them.
Often, yes. Those findings may matter, but they do not always explain why pain spikes in one specific movement. I compare the scan with what reproduces your pain on exam and treat the muscles involved.
That timing is useful information. A short spike at lift off often points to how weight leaves the chair. It can also mean a sensitive spot of tissue or a nerve reacting to the movement. The aim is to make the rise smooth and repeatable through the day.
It lowers tension and guarding so you can practice a better way of standing without pain taking over. Freeing a tight piriformis also eases pressure on the nerve beneath it. I retest the stand right after needling to check that the muscle was actually involved.
Many people begin with one or two visits a week for a short stretch. Visits taper as you can stand up more often without the catch. The schedule follows your progress and your calendar.
Yes. Seek urgent evaluation for new or worsening leg weakness or foot drop. The same goes for numbness in the groin or saddle area, or loss of bowel or bladder control. Fever with severe back pain, major trauma, or severe pain that is rapidly getting worse also need a doctor first. If you are unsure, see a doctor first.
Use the same setup each time. Set your feet a little wider and hinge forward until your nose is over your toes. Breathe out as you rise and stand at a steady speed. A higher chair or a cushion can help for now if it reduces the catch. Small changes repeated often usually work better than long routines you cannot keep up.
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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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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