Does acupuncture cause more pain?

it caused more pain and muscle tension.... Everyone is diff tho

A lot depends on your acupuncturist, how gentle they are in the treatment, and what your issues are. I have been doing acupuncture for almost a year. It is only rarely that I have more pain where the needles were inserted...and then it usually goes away in a day or so. Sometimes it hurts when the needles are inserted. If so, tell the acupuncturist. Hot pains mean the needles could be too close to a nerve and should be redone. Achy pain upon insertion is okay. It may help to rub the treated area right after treatment if you're getting raised bumps where the needles were. That happens occasionally with me, though my acupuncturist tries to do a very quick, vigorous rub afterwards to make sure no small hematomas form. How would you rate your pain afterwards on the pain scale? Do you feel it is helping at all?

Crystal,  

I'm  sorry acupuncture has left you sore. I have had much better with dry needLing. It varies by state laws about who can do it. In my state, Virginia, my physical therapist performs it. I think what might be happening to you is that the acupuncturist is not successfully clearing pain trigger points.

I'm  not a medical professional so my layman's understanding is that with acupuncture, they just go into the top layer of your skin, in a predetermined order for everyone. Dry needling goes deeper into your pain trigger points, as determined by your own pain. It is not a predetermined one size fits all for all patients  as acupuncture  is. 

Dry needling  has significantly decreased my pain ando increased  my range of motion.

I hope this helps.

Ellen

I've had acupuncture done by my Sports Medicine guy, and it didn't really do much for me, and occasionally left me more sore. I ended up giving up on him.

Later, I tried acupuncture with a lady trained in China. She can stick a needle in a spasming muscle, it spasms one more time and then it is released. I think she is amazing and has helped me a lot. I always feel less pain after my appointments with her, though sometimes I'm a bit sore where she did cupping if the spots are really sore. 

If I were you, I'd find someone with more recommendations and see if someone else's techniques work better for you.

Best wishes for less pain,

Nancy

EDS Hypermobile, FM/CFS, Sleep Apnea

Hi Crystal sorry to hear that you're having pain following acupuncture. I've never tried this technique myself although it is something I'd like to explore further. It may be worth trying a different therapist? Best wishes, Michelle 

Hi Crystal,

I've definitely seen the success vary by person- and also by area of the body they needed pain treatment the most for. Several EDS people I know who use it swear by it for the sharp pains they get in their upper shoulders going into the head for long term occipital migraines- I seems successful in relieving tight muscles due to spasms in the neves around the connection of the neck-shoulder region. Usually these are people who say they struggle a lot with overworked neck muscles due to weak ligaments and tendons in the neck anyway.

The other people I know for whom it's been super successful, are those with an injury from a dislocation when subluxation are common in that location, but for some reason this particular dislocation has left them with more pain than usual. 

I also agree with several other members who have mentioned that, unfortunately, not every acupuncturist is the same - and even those who are M.D.s or D.O.s can have very different styles, techniques, and philosophies. It sounds like this isn't quite working, but you could talk to the provider about your specific reactions, and see if they are interested in learning about EDS and your needs. Another provider may be more in tune with that and could provide a strategy that is more effective, with out bringing pain from the needle insertion process.

Hello, Crystal, 

For me, acupuncture didn't add to my pain level. However, just the process added to my pain load, and I discontinued treatment. Now I only request acupuncture a couple of times a year. Massage had provided greater benefits without adding to my pain load.