X-Ray Shows Hundreds of Gold Needles Embedded in Woman’s Knees : The Hearty Soul

In 2014, a series of strange-looking knee X-rays made their rounds on social media. The x-rays, which revealed hundreds of tiny lines around the knees, have recently reappeared online. The x-rays belonged to a South Korean woman who was 65 years of age at the time. She had previously been diagnosed with osteoarthritis, a condition characterized by the degradation of the bones and cartilage within joints, resulting in stiffness and pain. She had tried many different anti-inflammatories and pain relieving drugs, but none of them worked and only gave a sore stomach. So, left without any other options, she then decided to try acupuncture, which eventually led to the surprising findings on her knee x-rays.

X-Ray Reveals Strange Acupuncture Practice  

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine technique. It involves the temporary insertion of fine needles into certain parts of the body to help alleviate pain and other health issues. In this particular case, these tiny gold threads were intentionally implanted and left inside to provide continuous stimulation to the painful joints between sessions. This approach has been used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis in various parts of Asia. However, it can lead to various issues, ranging from making it potentially difficult for radiologists to examine images to localized physical issues. 

The needles can obscure some of the anatomy, making the images hard to examine. Additionally, any foreign objects left inside the body can potentially result in abscesses, inflammation, and infection. Additionally, these thread fragments have, on rare occasions, been found to migrate to nearby tissues where they can cause irritation and injury. Controlled tests have revealed that gold and non-magnetic stainless steel acupuncture needles are MR-compatible and do not heat up or move during scans. However, it is hard to know the exact metal composition used outside of a controlled laboratory environment. A 2021 case reported recurrent cellulitis that was linked to gold threads migrating to other areas. 

Does Acupuncture Work?

According to a survey by the U.S. National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, around 3.1 million American adults and 150,000 children were treated with acupuncture in 2007 alone. But does that mean that it works? Well, some say that there is little evidence that supports this claim. However, a 2022 Cochrane review revealed that acupuncture at roughly 8 – 26 weeks could offer small improvements in pain and function for those suffering from osteoarthritis. 

Additionally, the American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation guideline conditionally recommends acupuncture as an option for dealing with knee, hip, or hand osteoarthritis. However, the UK NICE guideline on osteoarthritis does not recommend acupuncture as a treatment for the condition. While some people have reported significant pain relief, the results vary from study to study and are considered too inconsistent to be universally endorsed by health practitioners. 

How Osteoarthritis is Treated

While the condition cannot be reversed, there are therapies and medications that help reduce pain and improve mobility.  For those with mild pain, Acetaminophen has been shown to help. Common pain relievers, like ibuprofen and naproxen sodium, also typically help relieve osteoarthritis pain. Those who suffer from the condition also benefit from physical and occupational therapy. A physical therapist can show you how to strengthen the muscles surrounding your joints, and an occupational therapist will teach you how to do everyday tasks without putting extra stress on your joints. 

There are also various procedures that can help if the above treatments are not sufficient. For example, cortisone injections into the joint may potentially bring pain relief for a few weeks. Additionally, Injections of hyaluronic acid may also relieve pain by providing some cushioning in your knee. However, some research has suggested that this may simply be a placebo effect. They may also try realigning bones with a knee osteotomy or replace the joint with metal and plastic parts. 

The Bottom Line

When faced with pain, people will often try any possible way to find a solution. Many times, the available options do not work for everyone, forcing them to look for alternative methods and techniques. This has led to the exploration of therapies such as acupuncture, which has been used in parts of Asia for many years. However, using these techniques often comes with its own potential issues. In the case of the South Korean woman, it could have made examining her scans particularly challenging. There is also mixed evidence as to whether acupuncture actually works and whether this specific method has any benefits. There are several complications that can arise from inserting foreign objects into the body. For example, it can cause infection, inflammation, and abscesses. Be sure to check with your health practitioner before exploring treatments that have not been officially recommended by the medical community. 

Read More: 9 Ways To Help Keep Your Joints Healthy as You Age