‘My symptoms had gone’: sceptic finds relief… | Royal Free Charity

‘My symptoms had gone’: sceptic finds relief from chronic pain

28 May 2025 
A man sat in a blue hospital chair with a desk in front of him. He is wearing a blue, long-sleeved t-shirt and glasses and is smiling.
Neil (pictured) had three weeks of relief from chronic pain after an acupuncture session. 
A self-proclaimed sceptic has discovered unexpected relief from chronic pain through charity-funded acupuncture. 

Neil McQue lives with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PP-MS), a condition that causes persistent back pain. Despite consulting various doctors and specialists, no treatment had eased his discomfort. Then, after a session with a Royal Free Charity-trained acupuncturist, something remarkable happened. Neil noticed he was no longer in pain. 

Neil said: ​“Because I’ve got MS, I’m in pain almost all of the time. It’s been looked at by various doctors and specialists, they couldn’t help. They didn’t doubt I had back pain, but they couldn’t do anything about it. 

“Somebody asked if I’d like acupuncture, and I said no because of my scepticism. Then I thought, ​‘Why not?’. I thought somebody would stick little pins in me, I wouldn’t feel any difference and then I’d be able to say, with some justification, I’ve had it, didn’t work.” 

Neil, an outpatient at the Royal Free Hospital, decided to have acupuncture while receiving a crevice infusion to manage his symptoms. Previous infusions had never improved his back pain – but this time was different. 

“10 days later, I was getting up from the bed and I realised there was no pain, my symptoms had gone. It was incredible. It lasted for about three weeks before it wore off. To someone who was sceptical, that was amazing. ”

“It’s not like it was a placebo effect either because psychologically I’d already made up my mind. I wasn’t going in thinking it would help but I have evidence that it does work. The acupuncturist helped my chronic back pain.” 

The charity funds acupuncture services for patients referred by NHS staff of the chemotherapy suite at the Royal Free Hospital. While not a replacement for medical treatment, it enhances patient care for those living with pain. 

A close up of a man’s ear with three silver acupuncture needles and five acupuncture needles covered in orange plastic stuck in at various angles.

What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture involves inserting fine needles at specific points on the body to stimulate sensory nerves under the skin and muscles. This process encourages the body to release pain-relieving endorphins, which can have a therapeutic effect. 

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