Effectiveness of Homoeopathy in cervical spondylosis radiculopathy

Effectiveness of Homoeopathy in the management of cervical spondylosis presenting with cervical radiculopathy

Dr. Smitha Madhavan

Introduction
Pain in neck and its associated complication is a regular feature to any orthopedic clinic⁴. Neck pain is commonly arises from diseases of the cervical spine and soft tissues of the neck^.5. Degenerative changes of the cervical spine are one among the important causes of neck pain⁴. Key in 1838 probably gave the first description of a spondylotic bar.²³

“SPONDYLO” is a Greek word meaning vertebra and   spondylosis generally mean changes in the vertebral joint characterized by increasing degeneration of the intervertebral disc with subsequent changes in the bones and soft tissues¹².  About 50% of people over age 50experience neck pain and stiffness due to cervical spondylosis. Of these people, 25- 40% has at least one episode of cervical radiculopathy.¹² Degenerative changes develop in the vertebral column with advancing age¹⁶. So these changes are found almost universally in some degree in persons over 50 years of age¹⁴.

The cervical spine is particularly susceptible to degenerative problems because of its large range of motion and its somewhat complex anatomy⁹. 1t is also likely that, subjects who develop cervical spondylosis have relatively narrower spinal canals¹⁶.

Neck pain arising from the cervical spine is typically precipitated by neck movements and may be accompanied by focal spine tenderness and limitation of motion. Cervical spine trauma, disk disease, or spondylosis may be asymptomatic or painful and can produce a myelopathy, radiculopathy, or both. The nerve roots most commonly affected are C7 and C6.⁵ Pain may be neurogenic when the spinal cord or nerve roots are compressed.⁷It is the most common cause of spinal cord dysfunction in patients older than 55 years.¹⁹

Conservative treatment results in resolution of symptoms in great majority of patients with radiculopathy, but a few require surgery in the form of foraminotomy or disc excision.¹⁵

As radiculopathy is found to be a distressing disease and no scientific study and statistical analysis is known to be conducted  with Homoeopathic medicines for the management of this disease. So I  decided to take over a research study on the topic “Effectiveness of Homoeopathic medicines in the management of cervical spondylosis presenting with radiculopathy”  .

Aim
To study the effectiveness of Homoeopathic medicines in the management of cervical spondylosis presenting with radiculopathy.

Inference
The efficacy of Homoeopathic medicines in the treatment of cervical radiculopathy due to cervical spondylosis is evident by the reduction in the score after 6 months of treatment. Therefore the treatment is effective.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
In the present study 21 patients who attended OPD of Materia Medica of Govt. Homoeopathic Medical College, Calicut from June 2004 – to Sept 2005 were included. These patients belonged to various socio-economic statuses and of age group between 30-70 years. The results of the study were evaluated using statistical principles.

Maximum age group affected is between 31 – 40 years and the incidence more in middle class.  Psora was found to be the miasm in the background.

In this study the efficacy of homoeopathic treatment in cervical spondylosis presenting with radiculopathy was evaluated. Assessment was based on the changes in score noted before and after treatment using the cervical radiculopathy assessment tool.

After statistical analysis, the calculated value was 12.91 which were well above the tabled t value. Thus, this study provides an evidence to say that homoeopathic medicines are effective in managing this condition.

Medicinal management was found to be very much effective. Sulphur and Pulsatilla was found effective in 4 (19.04%) cases each. Calcarea carb in 3 (14.28%), Lachesis and Lycopodium  in 2 (9.52%) cases each, Silicea, Rhus tox, Lac caninum, Phosphoric acid, Phosphorus and Bryonia was found effective in 1 (4.76%) case each. But Bryonia gave only amelioration of pain and there was no relief to the other presented features of the same patient and the same was the case with phosphorus also. 

CONCLUSION
The following salient conclusions have been drawn from the present study after summarizing its findings.

1. Homoeopathic medicines are effective in the management of cervical spondylosis presenting with radiculopathy
2. Age group mostly affected is between 31 – 40 years.
3. Incidence of the disease is more in middle class
4. Psora is the predominant miasm in the background.

Dr. Smitha Madhavan   B.H.M.S, MD(Hom)
Department of Organon Govt. Homeopathic Medical College.
Calicut.10  Kerala. India
Email : drsmithamadhavan@gmail.com

Download full paper : www.similima.com/pdf/cervical-spondylosis-homeopathy.pdf