A routine X-ray revealed a shocking discovery: hundreds of tiny gold needles embedded in the knees of a 65-year-old woman suffering from severe osteoarthritis.

The woman had turned to acupuncture after standard treatments, including painkillers and anti-inflammatory medications, failed to ease her joint pain.

Acupuncture, a traditional therapy widely used in Asia, sometimes involves leaving thin metal needles in tissue to provide continuous stimulation, though this practice carries risks.

Experts warn that foreign objects in the body can trigger inflammation, infection, or abscesses, and metal fragments can interfere with imaging or become dangerous during an MRI.

While gold-thread acupuncture remains common in some Asian countries and has gained limited popularity in the U.S., scientific evidence supporting its long-term benefits is scarce. Patients should carefully weigh potential advantages against serious complications before pursuing such extreme alternative treatments.

The South Korean woman’s case, recently documented in the New England Journal of Medicine, serves as a cautionary example. What may seem like a harmless alternative therapy can carry hidden dangers, highlighting the importance of consulting medical professionals and understanding risks before undergoing unconventional procedures.

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