Doctors Discover “Gold Mine” Hidden in Woman’s Knees
When a 65-year-old woman from South Korea went to the doctor because of knee pain, no one expected the examination to reveal something so unusual. But that is exactly what happened.
Unwanted Stomach Issues
Living with osteoarthritis can be extremely difficult. This condition gradually wears down the cartilage in the joints, causing stiffness, swelling, and ongoing pain. Over time, even ordinary daily tasks can become exhausting.
Simple movements such as climbing stairs, bending down to tie shoes, or walking short distances may become slow, painful, and frustrating.
The woman in this case had been struggling with osteoarthritis for some time. She said that pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications offered only limited relief, while also causing unwanted stomach problems.
Because of that, she decided to try acupuncture, according to a case published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Acupuncture is an alternative treatment that has existed for centuries. It involves inserting needles into specific points of the body in an attempt to reduce pain or treat certain health concerns. In this woman’s case, the needles — believed to be made of gold — were intentionally left inside her knees to provide continuous stimulation.
However, leaving needles inside the body can carry serious risks.
“Foreign objects left inside the body can lead to inflammation, abscesses, and infection,” said Dr. Ali Guermazi, a professor of radiology at Boston University who was not involved in the case.
Foreign Invaders
Dr. Guermazi also warned that embedded needles can make X-rays harder to read.
“The needles may obscure some of the anatomy,” he explained in 2013.
The body does not always react well to foreign objects. When something foreign remains inside, the immune system may respond with inflammation or a long-term foreign body reaction.
“The human body aims to eliminate the foreign object,” Guermazi said. “It begins with a defense mechanism, such as inflammation and the formation of fibrous tissue around the object.”
Even more concerning, needles left inside the body may create risks during future medical imaging.
“The patient cannot undergo an MRI because the needles left inside may shift and harm an artery,” Guermazi noted.
Although acupuncture remains popular, evidence proving that it effectively treats medical conditions is limited. Still, many people continue to choose it for joint pain, especially in certain Asian countries. In some practices, tiny sterile strands of gold thread are inserted around the joint as a treatment for arthritis.
In the United States, acupuncture is also widely used. According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, around 3.1 million adults and 150,000 children received acupuncture treatment in 2007.
For this woman, the gold-filled knees became a striking reminder that alternative medicine can sometimes leave more than a temporary effect. In rare cases, it can leave behind something physical, unexpected, and unforgettable — almost like a literal treasure hidden inside the body.
