In short, no, acupuncture is not painful. The fact that acupuncture involves needles automatically gives people the impression that it’s going to be painful, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, approximately 20 acupuncture needles can fit into the tip of a common hypodermic needle. Pretty crazy, huh? But yes, acupuncture needles are sharp so people usually feel the initial pinch when it pierces the skin, but sensations of actual pain are highly uncommon and should not be experienced during any of your treatments here at AcuMediZen Acupuncture & Sports Medicine. Other common sensations that you can expect to feel during a session are dullness, heaviness, pressure, distension and occasional soreness.