Acupuncture and Your Comfort
Many patients associate the word “needle” with pain and may become fearful about whether or not acupuncture will hurt. This often discourages many people from trying acupuncture because the idea of a treatment involving needles doesn’t sound like a relaxing experience. It is understandable why people may think that, but the treatment is intended to relieve pain and discomfort, not create more of it! And that is what acupuncture can do for you if you’re willing to give it a chance.
What Does Acupuncture Feel Like?
While you shouldn’t expect to feel pain when receiving an acupuncture treatment, there are other sensations you will notice in your body. These could be a tingling, pulsing, or warming sensation in the area where the needle was inserted. Some patients also report that they feel a calming “heaviness” throughout the body part near the needle placement. Feeling these other sensations is a good thing as it helps put you more in touch with your body, and it means the placement of the needles is effective. You may feel other sensations, or possibly nothing at all during treatment, and that’s okay, too! Everyone’s acupuncture experience will be unique.
Won’t Those Needles Hurt?
Acupuncture needles are tiny! They are so small, in fact, that you can fit between 20 and 30 into the tip of a typical hypodermic needle. They also have a slightly rounded edge; therefore, they don’t actually cut the skin as other needles do. The needles are designed this way because they are intended to reach your nerve endings and affect energy flow without causing discomfort, pain, or other potentially adverse side effects.
You may initially feel a quick sensation on the surface of the skin as the needle is inserted, but not as you think of when getting a shot at the doctor’s office. Though often, many patients don’t feel the needles being inserted at all.
Once the acupuncture treatment is over, occasionally, patients may continue to feel some sensations where the needles were inserted. There may be a dull aching, almost as if there were a bruise. It is important to understand that, while rare, this is perfectly normal and won’t last long.
What If I Am Uncomfortable?
Providing your acupuncturist with feedback before, during, and after your treatment is crucial! At Lotus Studio Acupuncture, you will sit down with your acupuncturist before your treatment to discuss what you are looking to gain, and this is a perfect time to calm any fears or anxieties you have surrounding the experience.
Often people who have never experienced an acupuncture treatment may be nervous simply because they don’t know what to expect. We will help you understand the process and allow you to feel relaxed and enjoy your experience. If at any point, you begin feeling discomfort during the process, let your acupuncturist know. During your treatment, they can make adjustments to the needle placement or even take them out to increase your comfort.
Contact Us to Discuss Your Acupuncture Questions
Lotus Studio Acupuncture is proud to serve the Wheat Ridge, Arvada, and Denver Metro area by providing services such as acupuncture, electroacupuncture, cupping, gua sha, tui na, herbal medicine, and rolfing. Please reach out to us with any questions by calling 303-882-6169 or click here to request an appointment!