Should acupuncture hurt? When you ask people whether acupuncture hurts, most of them will say some variation of, “No.” I’m going to add the opposite opinion, with a few caveats.
Pain is relative. It’s relative within your own experience – that time you got beaned with a softball hurt way more than burning your hand with coffee. It’s relative depending on the part of the body being impacted – a hit to the head is going to hurt worse than a hit to the thigh, if all other variables are held constant. It’s relative between people – your girlfriend can take way more pain than you can, buddy. I’m serious.
There are different kinds of pain. Stubbing your toe feels different than burning your toe. A grazing blow to the leg feels different than a direct kick to the leg. Most importantly for this discussion, we all know what “good pain” feels like. That burn after a good workout, for instance.
You don’t need to be afraid of sensation! Even those powerful sensations that we call “painful.” Acupuncture hurts a bit – at least when it’s doing its job. But that pain is entirely different than anything you’ve ever experienced. So different, in fact, that you could call it something other than pain. In a treatment with a licensed practitioner, the sensation does not come from the insertion of the needle. It’s also not life threatening in the slightest. So don’t be afraid!
Some people describe the acupuncture sensation as “pulling” or “electrifying” or “dense” or “indescribable!” It’s a feeling like something MOVING – and at first, or when a particularly strong point is being needled, you may experience it as pain. This sensation is produced by the Qi of the body “grabbing” the needle. It is a good sign. It means that the treatment is beginning. Let me repeat: If the acupuncturist is skilled you will FEEL something. Rest assured that this sensation will pass and that you will come to understand it as a “good pain,” perhaps right away. The sensation is a signal from your body that says, roughly,
“Whoa!”
It is the sensation of good things to come. Very good things.
It is, of course, possible that the pain you are feeling is NOT a good pain. This happens occasionally when a point is misneedled, but your doctor will be aware of that and will most likely remove the needle and reinsert. More experienced doctors do this rarely, students do it… more often. Fortunately, we’re mostly just needling eachother and once we get into the student clinic we’re mostly past that phase. :)
So, the next time somebody tells you that acupuncture doesn’t hurt – ask them what they mean. If they insist that they felt nothing during the treatment, you might recommend that they find another practitioner.
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
I can appreciate the distinction between pain and what might be described as the sensation of unblocking energy. As an adult, I find I am able to make that distinction and am also able to understand the ultimate benefits, despite the discomfort.
I am curious, though, on your perspective of acupuncture for children. I was recently discussing with an acquaintance her use of acupuncture to address her 14-month-old’s chronic ear infections. Of course parents, with any type of medical care they pursue, will make decisions for their children about what options appropriately support their health. And children, depending on their own cognitive development, will process sensations differently. For example, as a three-year-old I underwent the allergy scratch test and, though I remember little else from the stage of my life, I distinctly remember the terrifying sensations of that particular experience. Over 20 years later I again had the scratch test and again experienced pain, but the second time around I was able to understand the experience in a different context.
As a practitioner what parameters, if any, might you place around treating children with acupuncture? And beyond that, what is your perspective on both how parents make decisions about what levels of sensation they expose their children to and how parents and/or practitioners communicate with children around the variety of treatments, and their corresponding sensations, that support health?
Great question – and so well put! :D
Well, my daughter has had acupuncture many times. She does anticipate the “pain” and sometimes gets a little wound up about it. However, she is able to make that distinction for herself. Further, most kids in China grow up getting acupuncture – from practitioners with MUCH MORE rigorous technique than most anyone in the US.
That being said – acupuncture for kids in the US is often done differently. Worsley-style 5 Element acupuncture, for instance, uses relatively thin needles and quick insertion. I think this works for kids because while they’re more than willing to process a sensation quickly, they are less likely to tolerate sitting with needles producing sensations for 15-20 minutes as is often done with standard acupuncture for adults.
It’s also up to the environment produced around the procedure, of course. If no big deal is made of it, if excessive energy isn’t put into describing the needles, how it feels, etc – the kid is less likely to be tense when the needles are inserted, and thus less likely to experience pain.
I think, also, that kids simply don’t need as rigorous treatment because in Chinese medicine we consider them “All Yang,” which is to say that their energy is very PRESENT and active. So a treatment with a strength barely able to move the Qi of a clunky old adult will completely resolve the problem in a kid. Kids have truly amazing responses to acupuncture.
I think you just need to talk to kids at their level, minimizing the discussion of sensation but being honest that they may feel something. I think it could be a strategy to begin with something a little less invasive, like cupping or moxa, so the kid gets used to this – to them – unusual form of treatment.
Honestly, I think it’s a greater problem getting kids to drink their herbs than to get them to accept acupuncture! :D
Thanks for commenting!
Eric
I’d agree with the comments above. It hurts because you expect it. But compared to slipping and falling on ice or bumping your head on a shelf, it’s doesn’t hurt at all. In fact, you wouldn’t feel it if you didn’t know it was coming.
Finally someone who admits it….acupuncture can HURT!!!
Would “tingling” be a better word here? Or is the sensation very much similar to “pain”, just that it is at a much lower intensity?
I had acupuncture yesterday for the first time. The first few needles didn’t hurt-they felt strange, but didn’t hurt. Then my chiropractor inserted a needle into my ankle-ouch! That felt like a lit match! She assured me that she would remove it if I couldn’t stand it, but she hoped I could. Okay, I’m a big girl with lots of leg pain from a 4-wheeler wreck, so I stood it. Then, she told me she was going to insert a needle into my big toe and that it was probably going to sting a little. A little? I hope I didn’t break her nose when I kicked like a mule! I was very embarrassed, but pleaded with her not to put anything in my toe ever again! That felt like a 5″ needle being stuck in my toe!
How do I feel today?
I can’t honestly say that I feel better. One part of my leg hurts where it’s never hurt before. There’s a small bruise from the needle there. But it’s only been one treatment. I get another tomorrow. I’m not looking forward to it, but my 4-wheeler wreck caused my right leg to be slung behind my neck five years ago. I’ve walked with pain ever since. (I hate to complain-at least I AM walking!)I’m an elementary school teacher and need to be on my feet often. I pray that this treatment will help. Please pray with me.
Hey Kristi,
I’m sorry you didn’t have a great first experience. Don’t let one experience turn you off, though. If you don’t see good improvement in a few appointments, ask your acupuncturist what you can expect. Oftentimes, this kind of healing of old injuries takes time. If your acupuncturist seems unsure, or you’re not comfortable with the answer, you can also consider seeking out another practitioner to try. It can take a couple of tries before you find a person who really resonates with you. See my post about finding a great Chinese medicine practitioner for more information, if you like. Finally, I hope you get well soon – my prayers are most certainly with you.
Hi, I had acupuncture for the first time last night for my back (i have very bad sciatica) and it really really hurt. it was an intense burning stabbing twisting pain (nothing like i have felt before) which made me feel very nauseous and light headed. i had about 17 needles with some of them inserted about 3 inches into me.
I did not find the experience relaxing but i did come away from it very exhausted and tingly all over.
Does any of this sound normal?
Hello folks,
I had my 3rd acupuncture session on saturday….all needles went in fine, no pain, just a prick, as with the previous other 2 sessions. Then, she went into the extra ponts, hua to jia ji points, and it felt like she cut me with a dagger…then, 2 minutes after, total redness, and my left kidney got swollen. It swelled up, the other students were looking in amazement, and it was red too…..fortunately, after a few minutes, the pain went away, and the swelling did come down and the redness went away. however, the follwing morning, both my kidneys hurt, and quite frankly, I am gettng some burning sensations/shooting pain in my kidneys (both) on day 2 after treatment…is this normal?? Is this just a healing crisis, as I do have osteopenia, as my instructor/therapist knows, and maybe it was an unblocking of energy that blasted my kidneys, mostly left….please hlep and email me with any information to alleviate my fear, which we all know will make my kidneys feel worse…..please help…thanks!
I recently had sessions to relieve RSI pain in my neck shoulder and wrist. After nine excruciatingly painful sessions I had to ask the practitioner to stop. This pain was like nothing I’d experienced before in sessions for stress related tension.
Although over the nine weeks the pain did centralise back to my neck the pain of the needles didn’t lessen and he was unable to stimulate them by twiddling them. I don’t think I am a woose where pain is concerned but wonder if I should have continued with something so painful.
Pain is a strange phenomenon.
A popular story is the guy who when working on a building site jumped down onto a protruding nail that went right through his boot and out the other side.
He was in terrible pain and he was rushed to hospital where the surgeons set about removing the boot.
They were amazed when found that the nail had actually missed his foot completely!