Painful Acupuncture

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I've been getting acupuncture on and off for about 3 years. I have tried different practitioners, and the one that I found to give the most comfortable treatments was the one that I couldn't afford. So I go to this one place where they include the acupuncture along with regular physical therapy and that way my insurance covers everything and I don't have to pay separately for the treatment. The woman who inserts the needles is rather heavy handed. At first I thought this was the way acupuncture should feel. But man, it really hurts when she jabs those things in. A few times I have had a sharp, intense pain where the needle went in, and it lingered even after being removed. I am convinced she is hitting a nerve. I have also come away with bruises. I have asked her to go light with the needles, even asked her to change to smaller ones, but it still hurts.

Now I am finding that the last place she stuck that had an immediate pain reaction that lingered for at least five minutes, still hurts when I bend my leg (just above the knee). Also there is a spot on the top of my right foot near the toes, where I experience a sharp tingly pain now and then. I am afraid she is doing something wrong and that she is damaging nerves. I find that even with incorrect technique, I still get benefit from acupuncture. But I am getting frustrated with this woman. She is licensed and has many years of experience. I am sure that no one else is complaining. But I have actually canceled appointments this week because I dread more pain.

A license/permit, and years of experience do not automatically equal skill in doing a procedure. She has obviously had years of practice at doing it the wrong way. It is possible that no one else has complained because the other patients may not have been to other acupuncture practitioners, so they may not realize that she is doing it wrong. Since she is doing it wrong, don't have her do it again. Have someone else do it.

I have bad knees myself, and may eventually try it. I did try injections, but they didn't help. I do get some help from some supplements I am taking, but would like even more help than that. I have heard of a new process that is not available yet. They inject some kind of gel into the joint to replace the stuff you are missing. I think it helps to at least partially restore the joint cushion. There is another treatment that is available, that I believe injects hyluronic acid into the joint. I may try that soon. I had planned on eventually having knee replacement surgery, but my research came across the fact that people who have this done are at greater risk of strokes from blood clots breaking free from the surgery site. That makes me nervous. I would prefer to try the other treatments first.

I hope you find someone better to administer your treatments.

I'm sorry to hear you had such a bad experience! I understand first-hand how hard it is to have to deal with worries about the cost of medical treatment, so it is a shame she is the most affordable option, but I really hope you can find someone else who is more skilled. I'm concerned about you getting hurt.

Out of curiosity, what condition(s) are you trying to treat with the acupuncture? I was considering trying it for pain management after a neck and back injury last year, but am not sure how effective it'll be. I really can't afford to pay for more treatment, especially if it's more treatment that doesn't work, so I'd be interested to hear about other people's experiences.

I've been trying to treat several conditions; I originally started going there to address fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. While the acupuncture doesn't seem to do much for the fatigue, the herbs that they give me do help with anxiety, depression, and insomnia. The acupuncture really amazed me when I had a flare up of an old eye inflammation. Before I would have had to go on steroids, but with just one treatment it resolved. Another time I was having some issues with tachycardia (a troublesome side effect from a medication) and was put on a dangerous medication. A few sessions of acupuncture and that problem resolved too.

As for payment. some Rehab clinics are starting to offer it by renaming it "dry needling technique." This way it can be paid for by your insurance. I briefly tried a PT who offered this, but later found out that she wasn't licensed. So I had to return to the place mentioned above.

Thanks, that's interesting. One of my issues right now is Mysofascial Pain Syndrome, and I understand dry-needling and acupuncture are recommended for that.

I haven't tried acupuncture yet, does it hurt?

This is actually a very good point here.


I have heard good things about pain being alleviated by a good acupuncturist. Be careful who you get. The needles should not give pain, just mild discomfort in some spots.


I asked for the head PT to do my treatment yesterday. What a difference! I also told him about the injured sites, and he applied laser therapy there. It feels much better. I held off asking him before, because he lost several staff recently ( not for poor technique, though) One moved away, one was his wife who was also a PT and they got divorced, and the receptionist retired. So he is trying to juggle a lot. But I am going to request him each time because I am tired of feeling like a pin cushion!