What are the Different Types of Acupuncture Needles?

I do self acupuncture following initial sessions with my doctor. In my case I have chronic pain from systemic arthritis and it helps to reduce the number of pain meds I need. It's meant I can still work rather than becoming a burden on the state. It's also helping to alleviate migraine pain following a Humira injection.

I have often thought about trying acupuncture to help with frequent headaches. It seems like nothing else I have tried has really worked, and I would like to see if this would help.

Thinking about the needles doesn't really bother me too much. I have talked to people who have had acupuncture done and they say it isn't a big deal.

I had a boss who had some treatments for carpal tunnel in her hand. I think she felt some relief after a few treatments.

There are also some professionals who use acupuncture for animals that are in pain. My dog is getting older and has troubles with arthritis, and I wonder if this is something that would help her too.

I don't think I would want to use intradermal needles or press needles. The idea of having acupuncture at all kind of freaks me out. I don't think I would like to walk around with needles just sitting in my skin.

I think if I ever develop chronic pain or something like that I'll look for a different kind of treatment!

@Monika - I think I would feel a lot safer with needles that came out of a wrapper too. I assume that with the silver and gold needles, acupuncturists probably reuse them. I doubt something made out of gold is meant to be used only once!

I think this would make me a bit nervous. What if their sterilization procedures weren't correct? I'm sure most acupuncturists would do a fine job of sterilizing their needles, but it only takes one mistake to give someone a blood-borne disease!

I've had acupuncture done before, but my acupuncturist just used the metal filiform needles. I was pretty relieved at the time by how small and unassuming they looked-I'm not a big fan of needles.

I remember I used to always watch my acupuncturist get the needle out of its plastic wrapper and dispose of them in a biohazard container after use. I always felt more comfortable, knowing my acupuncturist had good safety practices.

The acupuncturist I went to always used the plastic guide that came with the needle to insert them. She would kind of put the whole thing over where it was supposed to go, and gently push down on the needle. She said the guide was helpful to know exactly how far she should insert the needle into the skin.

@Mammmood - I’ve never tried acupuncture. However, if I were to go in for treatment of any kind, it would be to treat some mild carpal tunnel. I’ve heard that the treatment works well for that.

Further, if I had my choice of treatments, as a beginner I’d like to start out with the electroacupuncture treatment. To me, this sounds like it would be the perfect cure, allowing needles to deliver a steady massage of pulses to my hand muscles.

I know that massaging generally works to reduce the pain so I’d be more confident in this treatment than in any other.

I had no idea that anyone practiced bloodletting nowadays, in any way or manner. When I read that in the article my mind went back to the old days of medicine when people thought they could treat people by letting them bleed a little, or a lot.

It turns out that in fact bloodletting is used in some forms of diabetes treatment. I guess this is a situation where the trained assistance of a skilled acupuncturist would be called upon, although the particular needle mentioned to perform that operation strikes me as being a little too sharp (a mini spear?).

I guess the Chinese acupuncture needles get the job done.