People sometimes steer clear of acupuncture because of their fear of pain or needles, but this misconception keeps many from experiencing its healing powers and wonderful post-session feelings that follow. In reality, the needles used are as fine as one or two strands of hair and five of these needles could easily fit inside a hypodermic needle. Also, many first-time patients claim they hardly feel anything at all and few would reject its benefits on the basis of any temporary discomfort. So before you spend time worrying about how acupuncture feels, you should get all the facts.
First, it’s important to understand what acupuncture is so you don’t let your imagination get the best of you. The process does use needles but as mentioned before, these aren’t typical hypodermic or sewing needles you may be more familiar with. Furthermore, the needle doesn’t have to go very deep to be effective. It penetrates the top layer of skin and just idles back and forth gently. As each needle is inserted, the acupuncturist will manipulate the needle in order to elicit a response. Once achieved, the patient is asked to rest for a period with the needles in place and, during this quiet phase, many often fall asleep or fall into a deep state of relaxation.
Ultimately the question you must ask yourself isn’t “will it hurt?” it’s “will I feel anything at all?” From patient to patient and from point to point, reactions vary from completely painless to very sensitive, with most falling somewhere in the middle. When the ultra-fine needle is inserted, most of our patients report a small prick, like a mosquito bite, but it feels like a tap not a sting.
After the needles are removed, it’s possible to feel sore in body parts where they were inserted. This most commonly occurs with points in the hands and feet but, again, everyone reacts differently and you may feel more sensitive in other areas or not at all. Most of this soreness will disappear by the time you get home but some can experience soreness for up to 24 hours. It’s less common but a big trigger point can cause residual soreness that lasts a few days.
Similarly to how your body shifts after a chiropractic adjustment and can leave you temporarily sore before you feel the benefits, acupuncture causes an energy shift in your body and can leave you feeling the same way. But remember, this soreness is more like how your muscles would feel after a moderate workout, not an intense pain like you tore or sprained anything.
This centuries-old healing procedure focuses on the integrity of bodily systems, not specific conditions so you can benefit from a session whether or not you have a particular ailment. Many people come in regularly to help alleviate stress, deepen their relationships with others and increase effectiveness and enjoyment in the workplace.It can also improve digestion, increase white or red blood cell production, release pain, relax tension, increase energy and circulation and is a powerful preventative measure and can help keep you healthy throughout the year, so the benefits of an acupuncture session far outweigh the minor discomfort you may or may not feel.
If you are looking to receive acupuncture and are worried about pain or are phobic of needles, Parkside Health & Wellness Center would love to help alleviate your concerns with a consultation when we can insert one needle to see how you respond before you commit to a full session. Contact our Parkland office today at to book your appointment with Dr. Andrew Agoado!