An urge to move when I sit still
It builds during movies, flights and long meetings, and walking eases it briefly.
You settle in for the evening and your legs start to crawl, buzz or ache from somewhere deep inside. Walking or stretching quiets it for a minute, then it returns. Long flights, movies and the hour before sleep are often the hardest.
Restless leg syndrome is a sensory and movement condition of the nervous system, and the legs themselves aren’t injured. The brain and spinal cord misread ordinary input from the legs and answer with an urge to move. Dopamine signaling is commonly involved, and low iron can make symptoms worse. Symptoms tend to rise at night as the body shifts toward sleep.
Your doctor diagnoses RLS, checks labs such as iron, and manages medication. I use dry needling, a form of acupuncture, with a gentle current added, which is electroacupuncture. Fine needles go near the tibial and peroneal nerves of the lower leg, aiming to influence how they’re signaling. When the spinal cord seems to be magnifying that input, I also treat the low back and sacrum. That region serves the legs, and the aim is to help settle it.
Most people have had a doctor’s evaluation, iron and other blood work, and a trial of medication. Those are the right first steps, and some people do well on medication. Others find it helps only partly, or that symptoms begin earlier in the day over time, which doctors call augmentation. Stretching and sleep habits help on some evenings but often leave the nightly pattern in place. Electroacupuncture is a different kind of input, aimed at the nerve signaling itself.
I ask when the urge starts, where in your legs you feel it, what eases it, and what your doctor has tested. Then the exam:
I work alongside your primary doctor and neurologist. If anything I find points toward neuropathy or a nerve root problem instead, I’ll let you know and share my findings with your doctor.
It’s often used alongside medication. The aim is calmer evenings and better sleep, not replacing what your doctor prescribed. Any medication change should go through the doctor who prescribes it.
If you haven’t been evaluated, yes. Your doctor can check iron levels and other medical factors that can worsen RLS. Treatment here can run alongside that workup.
It may help when nerve signaling is part of the picture. With a gentle current, needles near the leg nerves aim to quiet their activity. Treating the low back and sacrum targets the spinal amplification. Both are often going on together, so I usually combine them.
That’s worth sorting out, because they can feel alike. I check the nerve paths in your legs and your low back for signs of nerve damage or a pinched root. If the picture points that way, I’ll tell you and share what I found with your doctor.
See a doctor promptly for numbness or weakness that is new or spreading, or new bladder or bowel changes. The same goes for symptoms that worsen quickly, fever, or feeling unwell without a clear reason. These can signal a different condition that needs medical testing.
There isn’t a fixed number; what I set is a block of time, either two sessions weekly for six weeks or three weekly for four, depending on severity and response. During that stretch I keep an eye on when the urge starts each evening and how you sleep. If calmer nights hold, I taper. I can’t promise the symptoms will go away.
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.
We also offer house calls and after-hours appointments by arrangement.
Private Access & House Calls →Ready when you are.
Limited spots each week — book now to reserve yours.
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.
Member Clinic
An independent practice and member of New York Acupuncture Group, sharing clinical space and operations in Manhattan.
This site does not provide medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your health. Read our full disclaimer.