‘Gold Mine’ from Acupuncture Inside Woman’s Knees Shocks Doctors

Acupuncture has been practiced for thousands of years and involves placing thin needles into specific points on the body in an effort to relieve pain or improve certain health conditions.

A routine hospital visit for knee pain turned into a medical surprise after doctors discovered what looked like a “gold mine” inside a 65-year-old woman’s knees.

The South Korean patient had been living with osteoarthritis, a common condition that slowly breaks down the protective cartilage inside joints.

As the cartilage wears away, everyday movements such as walking, climbing stairs, or even standing up from a chair can become painful and difficult.

According to a case report published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the woman had tried painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs to manage her symptoms.

Unfortunately, the medications brought little relief and caused stomach problems, making long-term use difficult.

Looking for another solution, she decided to try acupuncture.

An Unusual Form of Acupuncture

In this woman’s case, however, the treatment went a step further. Tiny gold needles, or gold needle fragments, were intentionally left inside both knees to provide continuous stimulation, a technique that has been used in parts of Asia as an alternative treatment for arthritis.

Years later, imaging scans revealed hundreds of tiny metallic pieces scattered throughout the tissue around her knees, creating an appearance that doctors described as resembling a “gold mine.”

Although some people turn to acupuncture after conventional treatments fail, medical experts warn that leaving foreign objects inside the body carries potential risks.

Dr. Ali Guermazi, a radiology professor at Boston University who was not involved in the woman’s case, previously explained that retained needles can trigger inflammation, infections, or even abscesses.

The body’s immune system naturally tries to isolate anything it sees as foreign. Over time, this response can lead to chronic inflammation and the formation of fibrous tissue around the embedded material.

The presence of metal fragments can also make medical care more complicated.

According to Dr. Guermazi, the needles may interfere with X-ray images by obscuring important anatomical details.

Even more concerning, patients with metallic needles left inside their body may not be suitable candidates for certain MRI scans.

Because MRI machines use powerful magnets, metallic objects could potentially move during the scan and damage nearby blood vessels or other tissues.

Research on acupuncture has produced mixed results. While many patients report temporary pain relief, scientists say there is still limited high-quality evidence showing that acupuncture can effectively treat many underlying medical conditions.

Despite the ongoing debate, acupuncture remains widely used around the world. In some Asian countries, implanting tiny sterile gold threads around painful joints is still practiced as a treatment for arthritis.

The therapy has also become popular in the United States. According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, millions of adults have tried acupuncture as a complementary treatment for pain and other health concerns.

For doctors, the woman’s case offered a striking reminder that alternative treatments can sometimes leave behind unexpected evidence years later.

While her knees quite literally contained what looked like a hidden treasure, medical experts say the discovery also highlights why patients should carefully weigh the potential benefits and risks of procedures that involve permanently leaving foreign materials inside the body.