If an acupuncture needle hits a nerve, you'll likely feel a sharp, electric-like zing, zap, or tingle that shoots or radiates along the nerve pathway, often causing a brief, intense discomfort or numbness. While usually temporary and harmless, it signifies nerve irritation; most nerves quickly recover, but in rare cases, lingering tingling, soreness, or weakness can occur, requiring attention to your practitioner if symptoms persist beyond a day or two.
In rare cases, the contact between the needle and the nerve causes irritation or nerve damage. The symptoms of nerve damage include irritation, pain, and numbness. If the symptoms persist long, you must consult your healthcare provider immediately.
What It Feels Like If a Needle Hits a Nerve
Needles inserted too deeply or in the wrong spot could cause nerve damage, puncture or perforate a vital organ, or collapse a lung. These injuries from acupuncture are rare but possible. One of the most significant mistakes an acupuncturist can make is the failure to refer a patient to a medical doctor or specialist.
With acupuncture, there are some important risks that you should be aware of prior to receiving treatment. One such risk is that the needles can hit another tissue other than muscle. In some cases, the needles may hit a blood vessel, such as a vein or artery (very rare), or even a nerve.
The "forbidden" acupuncture points, primarily avoided during pregnancy due to their strong effects on uterine activity, include LI4 (Hegu), SP6 (Sanyinjiao), GB21 (Jianjing), BL60 (Kunlun), and BL67 (Zhiyin), along with points in the lower abdomen (CV3-CV7) and sacral region (BL27-34). These points are known for potentially inducing labor, cervical ripening, or strong downward energy, making them risky until labor is desired or appropriate.
The signs of nerve damage include the following:
Although acupuncture is not considered to be absolutely safe, it can lead to infection, pneumothorax, and even death if not properly manipulated 1. Just like the use of drugs, improper use of drugs cannot be attributed to adverse drug reactions. Pain is a common disease.
The 4 Golden Rules of Acupuncture are fundamental lifestyle guidelines from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that support natural healing by aligning with the body's rhythms: Eat only when hungry, drink only when thirsty, rest when tired, and sleep early, promoting balance and conserving vital energy (Qi) for optimal health and recovery.
Acupuncture is considered an invasive method that may potentially cause mechanical damage to nerves, particularly as some commonly used acupuncture points are located above important nerves.
5 Common Signs of a Nerve Injury
When a needle grazes or “hits” a nerve during dry needling, you might feel a quick, sharp sensation. It's often described as a zapping or shooting feeling that travels along the nerve pathway.
Uncommonly, there may be weakness in one or more muscles. Most nerve injuries are temporary, and will recover over a period of about three months. Permanent injury does occur on rare occasions.
The risks of acupuncture are low if you have a competent, certified acupuncture practitioner using sterile needles. Common side effects include soreness and minor bleeding or bruising where the needles were inserted. Single-use, disposable needles are now the practice standard, so the risk of infection is minimal.
If your nerve is bruised or traumatized but is not cut, it should recover over 6-12 weeks. A nerve that is cut will grow at 1mm per day, after about a 4 week period of 'rest' following your injury. Some people notice continued improvement over many months.
Acupuncture appears to be effective in a wide range of painful conditions for example neck, arm, back and leg pain. It has been successfully used to treat headaches, migraines, trapped nerves and various kinds of rheumatic, arthritic and muscular pain. Some people however may not feel any benefit.
The forbidden points—LI4, SP6, BL60, GB21, and CV3—are traditionally avoided during pregnancy due to their potential to induce labor or stimulate strong physiological reactions. Always consult with a healthcare professional before using acupressure to ensure both the safety of the mother and the baby.
After acupuncture, avoid strenuous exercise, alcohol, caffeine, heavy meals, and hot baths/saunas for at least several hours (ideally 12+) to let your body rest and integrate the treatment; instead, relax, stay hydrated with water, eat light, and gently move around to maximize healing and avoid interfering with your body's energy reset.
Here are some of the most powerful acupuncture points:
Wait until the next day before you start exercising because the body needs time to recover from the effects of acupuncture. This is especially important if you are experiencing some side effects after your appointment, such as soreness or stiffness.
Acupuncture is not specifically mentioned in the Bible. However, in the context of Bible teachings, some Christians may view acupuncture as a natural healing practice. It is important to approach practices like acupuncture with discernment and prayer, seeking guidance from scripture and the Holy Spirit.
In most cases, acupuncture needles don't need to be placed very deep. The average depth is around 1/4 inch but can range anywhere from 1/16 inch to 1/2 inch. Once the needle has been inserted, your acupuncturist will use experience and “feel” to determine how deep the needle needs to go to maximize its effects.
To stop nerve pain immediately, topical lidocaine or capsaicin creams/patches can provide quick numbing relief, while prescription options like anti-seizure drugs (gabapentin) or strong painkillers (tramadol) offer faster but not always instant relief; gentle stretches, TENS, and relaxation techniques can also help manage acute flare-ups by blocking pain signals or relaxing muscles.
Diabetes, chronic alcohol use, certain medications, and autoimmune disorders are common contributors. Additionally, repetitive strain, vitamin deficiencies (particularly B12), and poor circulation can mimic neuropathic pain.
Vitamin and Nutrition Deficiency-related nerve damage
People can develop nerve damage because they have deficiencies in certain vitamins. The deficiencies that are most likely to cause this are copper and vitamins B1, B6, B9, B12, folic acid (B9) and E. Too much vitamin B6 can also cause this.