Q I am afraid of the acupuncture procedure. Is it safe?
A Since acupuncture is performed by a Korean medicine doctor at a precise location under ultrasound guidance, the risk of damage to blood vessels or nerves is very low. Although the treatment site is the foot and may feel sensitive, the pain is generally tolerable even without local anesthesia. Temporary muscle pain may occur within 1 to 2 days after the procedure, which is a normal reaction.
Detailed Answer
Acupuncture (acupotomy) is a procedure that uses small knife needles with a diameter of 0.5 to 1 mm to separate adhesions. Although blood vessels and nerves in the foot are close to the surface, using real-time ultrasound guidance allows for the selective separation of only the target tissue, significantly enhancing safety. Infection, a major risk, is minimized by the use of disposable sterile instruments, and bleeding is immediately stopped by compression.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
Acupuncture is the most direct external treatment for physically resolving adhesions and hardening—conditions where pain arises due to blocked Qi and blood circulation. When adhesions in the joint capsule and ligaments are released, blocked qi and blood flow open up all at once, which can significantly reduce pain immediately after the procedure. At Dongjedang, we apply ultrasound-guided acupuncture as standard and proceed after providing a thorough explanation and obtaining consent beforehand.
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