Hi James, acupuncture can be painful if the needle is inserted incorrectly hitting a nerve. Even very experienced acupuncturists can have this happen. A good one will listen to you and remove the needle instantly or shift it to reduce any discomfort. Needles can also cause a sting but it shouldn’t last long, dissipating after a minute. The ache (kind of sore muscle feeling) is a good one though. As for the “saving needles”, that just strikes me as odd. Never heard of such a thing!