Clinical Case Study: Treating Posterior and Medial Left Knee Pain (Meniscus Tear)

Can a meniscus tear stop hurting without surgery? This clinical case study demonstrates how Master Tung acupuncture and the bleeding technique can resolve severe posterior and medial knee pain, even when MRI findings suggest structural damage.

• Patient: 65-year-old female.
• Complaint: Severe pain located behind the left knee (popliteal fossa) and on the medial aspect.

The patient arrived with an MRI scan showing significant structural issues:

• A radial tear of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus, extending to the articular surfaces.
• Mild diffuse external extrusion of the meniscus (~4 mm).
• Bone contusion in the medial tibia (no fracture).

Despite these findings, the rapid response to treatment suggests the pain was functional rather than purely structural.

Using Palm Diagnosis (a unique diagnostic method in Master Tung’s system), we identified an involvement of the Liver.

The strategy combined bloodletting to release stagnation and specific Master Tung acupuncture points to address both the root cause and the symptoms.

Visual inspection of the painful left thigh revealed prominent spider veins along the Liver channel trajectory. These areas were bled to release Blood Stasis.

Right Side: Points Needled:

• 11.09 Xin Xi: A central point for knee disorders.
• 11.16 Huo Xi: Targets knee pain with medial emphasis.
• 33.12 Xin Men: Highly effective for medial aspect pain.
• 44.15 + 44.16 (Xia Qu / Shang Qu): A Dao Ma pair specifically for medial knee issues.

Left Side (Affected Side ):

• 66.06 Mu Liu: Selected based on Palm Diagnosis to treat the underlying Liver disorder. These points have a Liver Reaction Area.

The results were rapid:

• After 1 Session: The patient returned 1 week later, reporting complete pain resolution.
• Follow-up: A second session was performed (acupuncture only, no bleeding) to strengthen the effect and prevent recurrence.

A structural meniscus tear does not heal within a single week. The primary and most important message from this case is that a prognosis should not be based solely on MRI findings.

In this case, the tear observed on imaging was not the direct cause of the current pain presentation, as evidenced by the rapid resolution of symptoms following targeted treatment. The therapy focused on the person and the clinical presentation, rather than just the structural finding.

Furthermore, this case clearly demonstrates the efficiency and importance of the bleeding technique for releasing stagnation and providing immediate pain relief.

I did not expect such rapid results. In fact, I approached the treatment with no expectations at all; I acted out of a clear knowledge of “what needed to be done,” without attachment to thoughts about the final outcome. In my view, this is the optimal mental state for a practitioner – precise and clean action, liberated from the pressure of the result.