She had been living with severe osteoarthritis, a condition that gradually destroys joint cartilage and leads to chronic pain, stiffness, and swelling. Everyday movements like walking, climbing stairs, or bending had become increasingly difficult. Standard painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs provided little relief and also caused stomach side effects, so she sought an alternative treatment: acupuncture.
According to a case reported in the New England Journal of Medicine, tiny gold needles were inserted around her knees and left in place to provide continuous stimulation aimed at reducing pain. However, what was intended as therapy raised medical concerns.
Doctors warn that leaving foreign objects in the body can trigger inflammation, infection, or abscesses. Over time, the body may react by forming fibrous tissue around them. These embedded needles can also interfere with X-rays and may pose serious risks during MRI scans, where metal objects can potentially move and cause internal damage.
Experts note that while acupuncture remains widely used in many countries and is sometimes sought for chronic pain conditions like arthritis, scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness is still limited. In some regions, variations of the practice even involve inserting small gold elements around joints.
In this case, what began as an attempt to ease chronic knee pain ended up revealing an unusual and risky consequence of alternative treatment—literal gold-like material hidden inside her knees.