Not always—but it’s not always completely painless either. Sensations vary from person to person. A normal response might include a quick sting on insertion followed by a dull pressure. This is considered a good sensation. A sharp, zinging feeling (like hitting your funny bone) is less common and may need adjustment. Many people report barely feeling the needles at all.

It depends on your condition, but most people benefit from 4–6 weekly sessions to feel noticeable change. After that, bi-weekly or monthly treatments are common for maintenance and ongoing balance.

Acupuncture needles vary in size, but they’re extremely thin—about 40 can fit inside one regular hypodermic needle. Length and thickness depend on where and how they're used.

Some feel better after 1–2 treatments, while chronic issues may take 12 or more. Most people notice a shift in symptoms or overall well-being by the 4th session.

Acupuncture treats the whole body using a broad, holistic approach. Dry needling focuses only on releasing tight muscles. Dry needling is one small part of acupuncture, but acupuncture includes much more.