A routine medical scan turned into a medical mystery in South Korea. When a 65-year-old woman visited doctors for knee pain, no one expected her X-ray to reveal hundreds of tiny gold needles embedded deep within her joints. How did they get there — and why had they remained unnoticed for years?
The Surprising Discovery
Doctors examining the woman’s knees were stunned. The gold threads, each the size of a needle, were embedded throughout the joint tissue. The patient, who suffers from osteoarthritis, had originally sought acupuncture after conventional medications caused stomach issues.
Her practitioner had deliberately left the gold threads in place, believing they would provide ongoing stimulation and continuous pain relief. While intended as a therapeutic measure, the discovery raised eyebrows among medical professionals.
Medical Concerns
Experts warn that leaving needles inside the body can carry serious risks, including:
Inflammation or irritation of surrounding tissue
Abscess formation or infections
Complications in future imaging, such as X-rays or MRIs
While acupuncture and gold thread therapy are widely practiced in Asia as treatments for joint pain, rigorous scientific evidence supporting their long-term effectiveness is limited. Yet millions continue to turn to these methods as alternative ways to manage chronic pain.
Conclusion
This unusual case highlights both the appeal and potential hazards of alternative therapies like gold thread acupuncture. While the promise of long-lasting pain relief can be tempting, patients and practitioners must carefully weigh the benefits against the risks. In medicine, vigilance and informed choices are essential — because attempts to heal should never inadvertently cause harm.