Acupuncture - am I being a baby?!

[RedPandaFluff]

I've had several sessions of acupuncture in the last few weeks (in an attempt to sort out my hormones given a four-month wait for a gynae appointment) and I really hate it. Most of the needles are painless and I barely feel them, but occasionally they are very uncomfortable and I feel a weird sort of numb pain radiating outwards. I actually had to ask the practitioner to remove one today as it felt like a hot scalpel embedded in my ankle.

I can't believe that such fine needles could cause so much sensation. I'm also dumbfounded (and dismayed with myself) that I actually had to ask for one to be removed. I have a (regrettable, youthful) tattoo, I've had a c-section, numerous surgeries, bone breaks, wounds etc. and I'm usually extremely stoic about pain.

Do some people just not get on with acupuncture?!

That unique pain supposedly shows that the needle is at the right point and is doing its job, and that you really needed it. Some practitioners call it a “good hurt”. I found some of the needles painful but not unbearable, though I was pleased at the end of the session.
I’m sure they can adjust your treatment if some of the needles are just too much.

It's a good thing!

I did wonder if it's a good thing . . . I stuck it out for a few minutes, and the pain dulled down, but then he twiddled it again and it just seared so I told him and he removed it.

If it happens again, I should just bear it, then, if it's doing good?

Just talk about what the pain is like when you're having it done, ask him if you should bear it.

I’m sure it would have done some good before you had to ask him to remove it. No point putting yourself through excessive pain, you’d end up tense and upset.
Hopefully it will get easier as you have more treatments. It did for me!
Is it a Chinese practice you go to? The Chinese doc I went said treatment tends to take longer for us Brits - in China they would have acupuncture and herbs every day, but we Brits expect to go only once a week!

• went to

Well that's the thing, @FictionalCharacter, I do think some of the benefit I've been getting so far has been relaxation and that lovely feeling of someone caring for me . . . until I get a painful needle, in which case I'd rather not bear it because I lose the de-stressing aspect.

The practitioner is Chinese but it's a British practice. He was a medical doctor in China, practicing acupuncture alongside 'modern' medicine, but is solely an acupuncturist over here. He's given me herbal tablets as well. I wish I could afford to go every day!

I know what you mean. I'm not keen on having my feet stuck with the needles, I just breathe through it and tell myself that if I can do 3 c sections, I can put up with it. The more it hurts the more it shows that they have "the right place".

I used to find that sometimes I became really emotional once needles were placed, which is not unusual, let your practitioner know if something is too much to tolerate.
Chinese medicine can be very effective for fertility problems, as several members of my family (and their offspring) can testify!

Has anyone had any success with acupuncture for blocked sinuses and sinus headaches? Do they stick the needles in your face or somewhere else?

Ugh, I hated acupuncture for the same reason. Really horrible sensation!

I wonder if they hit a nerve?

Sorry to butt in, but has anyone had acupuncture for tmjd? Currently researching it (aka googling) but there doesn't seem to be many studies on it

@TheBlueBear89

Sorry to butt in, but has anyone had acupuncture for tmjd? Currently researching it (aka googling) but there doesn't seem to be many studies on it

Yes,combined with physio. Worked very well. Find a physio who also does acupuncture or dry needling.

Same here, 3 c sections but acupuncture almost finished me off.

I had to get them to remove the needles and I left, I couldn’t bear the sensation. Never again.

No - it shouldn't hurt. And to be honest I would be very very careful about who you see as I've had nerve damage and persistent sensations since having it with an inexperienced practitioner.

Thanks for the reply @MrsPelligrinoPetrichor, only seeing it now. Glad you found it helped! My physio actually does acupuncture/ dry needling but haven't plucked up the courage to ask him to do it in case it somehow makes things worse. Do you mind me asking I you suffered badly from it?

@PoptartPoptart

Has anyone had any success with acupuncture for blocked sinuses and sinus headaches? Do they stick the needles in your face or somewhere else?

I once went for a session of acupuncture for infertility when I had a stinking cold. I said I might not be able to lay down as every time I did my head felt like it was going to explode. She stuck a couple of extra needles in my face and I could breath! It was amazing. The effect lasted a good few hours after the session.

I had it once and found it very uncomfortable. When people say it’s hurting because it’s ‘doing something’, what is it doing exactly? Sceptic here.

@TheBlueBear89

Thanks for the reply *@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor*, only seeing it now. Glad you found it helped! My physio actually does acupuncture/ dry needling but haven't plucked up the courage to ask him to do it in case it somehow makes things worse. Do you mind me asking I you suffered badly from it?

Yes I did, and haven't had a bad flare up since. I did physio exercises too.

Thanks for the reply @MrsPelligrinoPetrichor! You have given me some hope. Did the therapist put the needles in your face or other places? My physio said he puts them in the massetter muscles but I think Chinese practitioners tend to use other parts of the body. I think I'd prefer the latter

I had acupuncture for hot flushes when I was undergoing cancer treatment and hated it. I felt very faint and also had to ask for some needles to be removed. It's astonishing the effect such small needles can have on you! I think I had about 6 sessions and maybe did feel some benefit but I was wrapping up chemo and coming off meds at the same time anyway so who knows, maybe it all coincided with feeling better in general. But yeah, I hated it so I sympathise.

@TheBlueBear89

Thanks for the reply *@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor*! You have given me some hope. Did the therapist put the needles in your face or other places? My physio said he puts them in the massetter muscles but I think Chinese practitioners tend to use other parts of the body. I think I'd prefer the latter

I saw a physio but he used the Chinese method and needles went elsewhere- it was along time ago, I can't remember where!

I don't know OP, I had it on the NHS for TMJ/TMD, I thought it was unpleasant. As you describe some were fine and then others felt like being ground right into the nerve, such a grim feeling of pain as they were twisted in. (The actual needle into the skin didnt hurt)

It didn't achieve anything over time and I on occasion was left a bit bruised and mildly swollen feeling a bit crap. I expected the worst case scenario to be that it felt like nothing and did nothing. The consultant did say it was very unusual to bruise or bleed a lot when the needles came out but also said it's very much something that either works for someone or doesn't, and needs to be continued over time regularly for a benefit.

Absolutely not for me ever again but always worth a go in case you're someone it does work for.

I'm just back from another session and "unpleasant" is definitely the right word - although there wasn't any searing pain this time, one of the needle put into my inner wrist made one of my fingers jerk! So weird.

This is session 4 and I'm honestly not sure if I should persevere - it's not cheap. The positive, though, is that he does a nice head massage and other little massages that are relaxing.

So maybe I should just have a weekly massage instead

The ones in your feet are really horrible, but that's an important area for gynae problems unfortunately.

As PPs have said the uncomfortable sensation means he has hit the right place, in the end only you know if it's worth it or not. Perhaps take some ibuprofen before you go to take the edge off it.