This is a question I get asked by almost all my new patients, and I can certainly understand why! Most people only experience a needle insertion as an injection at the dentist’s or when giving a blood sample at the doctor’s surgery. People associate needles with disagreeable sensations.
I would stress that acupuncture is very different. Acupuncture needles are very fine and are usually painless on insertion. There can be a quick sting or a tingling sensation, but any discomfort is fleeting. Sometimes there can be a dull ache where the needles are. Many of my patients find an acupuncture session extremely relaxing and it is a daily occurrence for people to fall asleep on the couch.
My patients are the bosses in my clinic. If rarely the needles cause discomfort, they tell me and I adjust or remove the needles immediately. There may also be parts of the body that people fear being needled. I have a patient who feels this way about her feet. She does not mind me using points on her hands, arms or legs, but really can not bear the idea of treating her feet. This is not a problem at all. There is almost always more than one way to approach an acupuncture treatment and I can find other points to use very effectively.