AboutTamsen Staniford, L.Ac. Expertise Please ask me about acupuncture and oriental medicine, nutrition, dietary supplements, and herbs. I am always happy to answer questions about how any of these areas relate to your health and well-being, specific conditions, or simply if you would like some information. I specialize in acupuncture for palliative care, acute injuries, chronic illness, autoimmune disorders, bone health, and western supplements.
Experience I am a licensed acupuncturist in the state of California and hold a Master's degree in Traditional Oriental Medicine. This degree includes training for acupuncture, herbs, nutrition, exercise and bodywork. I have work for a decade in the natural products industry both at the retail and manufacturing levels. I have worked using acupuncture in private clinics, community clinic settings and in inpatient care facilities; including hospice and supportive housing residences. I currently practice in San Francisco in a private clinic, making house calls for home bound patients, and working on grant funded community acupuncture projects.
Education/Credentials Master's in Traditional Oriental Medicine, Certified Massage Therapist and Health Educator, Reiki Practitioner.
Past/Present Clients Everyone from the stressed out worker, to the detoxing substance user, to the dying, to the new mother. Acupuncture can help them all.
Question Hello,
I had my first Acupuncture treatment yesterday. After about 15 minutes,the pins on the top of my foot were hurting. It took about 10 minutes for the practioner to hear me calling out to her and come in to remove them.
It has been almost 24 hrs since the treatment and the pain (hot and cold sensation, pins and needles, mild stinging) is now radiating up my leg.
Can you give me some information about this please.
Thank you.
Answer Hello, I found this question in the question pool and I would like to help you find a good answer.
First and foremost I encourage you to contact the acupuncturist and tell them exactly what happened, and mention how it felt to have them not hear you for 10 minutes. Clearing the air with them will make you feel better in general, and make the practitioner more accountable for their lack of attention. Plus you'll have the best answer to what exactly is happening.
There are number of sensations associated with acupuncture, some are normal and harmless while others are common but less desirable. There are a few rare ones that you would want to seek medical attention for. Normal and harmless sensations include a sensation of movement at and around the acu-point, sensations of heat or cold, tingling, itching, and pressure/heaviness. Common but problematic sensations include burning and stinging. This happens when a small blood vessel or nerve is hit by the needle. In this case the needle simply needs to be taken out and reinserted or sometimes the sensation will just go away. Make sure to let your practitioner know if you feel burning or stinging. While these don't indicate anything serious, they are not desirable and feel just plain irritating. On rare occasions (and almost always when acupuncture is performed by a poorly educated health professional incorporating acupuncture into their western medical practice) an organ or large nerve is punctured. It is actually very difficult for a properly trained acupuncturist to puncture an organ, but it has happened. Report shortness of breath or difficulty breathing right away. Nerve damage starts with a traveling electric jolting sensation upon needle insertion and continues with burning electric zings.
Your description of symptoms match those of mild damage to either a nerve or connective tissue. Both take a while to heal up, depending on the damage. If it persists more than a few weeks or gets worse, seek medical attention to check out the severity of the problem. Otherwise, it should heal up on it's own just fine.
It's unfortunate you had this experience with your first treatment, hopefully your next experience with a different practitioner will be smooth and comfortable :)
