Acupuncture Does It Hurt? Learn the Truth Here

Understanding the Sensation of Acupuncture Needles

Acupuncture treatment is often met with the question: Acupuncture does it hurt?

This is usually the biggest concern that people have when first getting acupuncture. My answer is mostly NO. What I tell all new patients is; the needles are hair thin and are more like a pin rather than a hollow tip hypodermic which are the type that doctors and nurses use for vaccines and taking blood. The hypodermic needles are about 16 times thicker than an acupuncture needle.

When inserting the acupuncture needle, you may feel a slight pinch. Most of the time you won’t even know I inserted the needle. On a rare occasion, there will be an electrical sensation which means that the acupuncture needle is touching a nerve. All I do is pull the needle back a bit and the sensation goes away.

Another sensation that you may feel is a dull ache. This is actually a good sign! It means that energy is moving and any blockages or stagnations physically or emotionally are being pushed through. It usually only lasts a few minutes then goes away.

What to Expect During Your Treatment

Since pain is what most people come in for, many patients walk out with noticeably

less than they came in with. How much varies — sometimes it's a small shift,

sometimes it's dramatic. In the early phase that relief typically holds anywhere

from a few days to a week.

Early on, the goal is to stay ahead of the pain. If you came in at a 10 out of 10,

you want the next treatment before it climbs back to a 7 or 8 — then before it

reaches a 5 or 6, then a 3. That's why I usually recommend twice a week for the

first two or three weeks. Coming in only once a week early on often means the pain

returns to where it started before the next visit, and the whole process takes longer.

After those first few weeks we start spreading treatments out. Chronic issues often

settle into a monthly tune-up. With acute problems, most people don't need to come

back at all unless they re-injure it.

What You Might Feel After Treatment

After a treatment, you may feel some different sensations. Since everyone is different you may feel one or many of these. Sometimes you will feel tired and want to sleep or you could have a burst of energy and feel great. With pain, the sensations may get more painful for a day then the pain will decrease significantly. You may also notice a change several hours after you walk out the door. It really just depends.

How Many Treatments Will I Need?

Everybody’s bodies are different and that is why it is hard to tell people how long things will take to improve. With Acute issues (up to 3 months) I recommend giving 4-6 treatments then evaluate. It may not take that long. With Chronic issues, I recommend giving at least 10 treatments before you begin to feel marked relief. The longer you have an ailment usually the longer it takes to relieve the problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Does acupuncture hurt? Most patients feel little to nothing — the needles are about 16 times thinner than the hypodermic needles used for shots or blood draws.

• How many treatments will I need? For acute issues, usually 4–6 treatments. For chronic conditions, often at least 10 before you notice marked relief.

• What might I feel after a session? Some patients feel tired and want to rest, others feel a burst of energy. Pain may briefly increase before decreasing significantly.