If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me about my acupuncture treatments or stopped me on the street about my cupping marks – I could probably pay my many copays and still make a profit! Eastern medicine is unfamiliar to many in the Western world, invoking intrigue or mystique when mentioned.
As someone who has been receiving acupuncture treatments for close to 5 years (even before I developed fibromyalgia), I am a huge proponent of the benefits acupuncture can provide. I have seen different practitioners and have been with my current acupuncturist for 2 years. I plan to do a few more posts about acupuncture and the other treatments I have done with my acupuncturist, but I figured to start I would do an FAQ of sorts. So let’s dive in!
“Does it hurt?”
Yes and no. This is all going to depend on the area of the body you’re having acupuncture done and how tense the muscle is. Some needles go in with little to no feeling and some have a slight tinge that I find less painful than a finger prick or paper cut. What is more noticeable than the actual needle entering your skin, is the feeling you get when the needle reaches the muscle. The way I describe it to friends is that you get an uncomfortable tenseness for a few seconds (not unlike when you are on a foam roller at the gym) and then the muscle relaxes and you feel the muscle relax. Overall, I have never found acupuncture to be explicitly painful, if anything the few seconds of discomfort are outweighed by the immense relief the treatment offers.
“What are the appointments like?”
I have had different experiences with different practitioners, but overall the experience is the same: you will be lying on a table with needles in you. Depending on what areas you are targeting you will either be face up or face down (side treatments are also an option!) and may be required to undress to a certain degree. They may cover you with blankets or towels and heat lamps may utilized as well. Typically when I go in, my acupuncturist asks what I would like to focus on and then together we decide how I should position myself on the table and what articles of clothing need to be removed. It is important that you find an acupuncturist that you like and trust because you will need to communicate with them more than a typical doctor.
“What happens once the needles are in?”
Most appointments will be about an hour. Putting in the needles takes a few minutes and you are laying on the table for the remainder of the appointment. It is important not to move too much, as you can hurt yourself and you will feel discomfort when you move a muscle that is being treated. While you are on the table, your acupuncturist may place a heating lamp over an area that needs extra work or utilize an electrical stimulation device on some needles. These e-stim devices send a pulse through the needles that activates the muscle that the needle is inserted into. It feels pretty funny because the muscle twitches and you aren’t moving it, kinda like an eye twitch on a much larger scale. My acupuncturist has recently integrated noise cancelling headphones with nature sounds and meditations into my treatments and I love it. Sometimes I even fall asleep during the treatments.
“Does it work?”
I feel like this depends on many things. First, consistency is key with acupuncture. The first appointment may offer some relief, but if you aren’t consistent, you won’t see progress. Second, you need to be realistic about what acupuncture can treat and consult your acupuncturist about what kind of progress you can expect. For example, acupuncture definitely helps to reduce my pain from fibromyalgia, but it does not completely go away. Acupuncture is one part of my preventative care and treatment plan that contributes to my overall well-being. Finally, you need to know what you are working with, so its important to get seen and diagnosed by a Western Medicine professional so that your acupuncturist can work in conjunction with that diagnosis.
“How expensive is that?”
I have seen a lot of variation here so I wanted to share what I have come to expect. There are certain insurance plans that will cover acupuncture treatments (for specific issues) and I have been lucky enough to find providers who take my insurance. In terms of regular pricing, I would expect an initial visit to cost somewhere between $85-$120 and follow ups to be anywhere from $70-$100. Do you research and definitely ask about insurance/pricing before you go for your fist treatment.
“Where can I find one?”
I found my first ever acupuncturist via the good old fashioned google search for “acupuncturists near me”. I think word of mouth is the best way to hear about any kind of doctor so perhaps ask around or pose the question on Facebook and see if anyone in your social circle has someone they would recommend. My current acupuncturist April was volunteering her services to cancer patients when my mom was in treatment for breast cancer and we both stuck with her afterwards.
“How do I know if I found a good one?”
As I said before, you should feel completely comfortable with your acupuncturist. They will be seeing you at varying levels of undress and they will be dealing with you in your must vulnerable painful states. My acupuncturist April of Bronxville Acupuncture has a beautiful and comfortable office that makes you feel comfortable when you walk in. She is very easy to talk to and listens to you and your body. She makes me feel like we are a team in my treatment and believes me when I tell her what I need. April also has made other treatment recommendations and has suggested herbal supplements for various maladies.
If you have any further questions be sure to drop them below!