Effectiveness of Homoeopathy in cervical spondylosis radiculopathy

neck painEffectiveness 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

6 Comments

  1. My neck was sore and verterbrae had an electo-mylogram with and without dye, lots of calcium around discs and narrowing of canals causing severe pain. Opoid drugs were prescribed they helped for a while but had to take higher doses, just decided to suffer. A few days ago I found an answer for me on Amazon, Feelgood Muscle And Joint Rub with 30 Homeopathic ingredients, my neck was froze straight ahead and now I can rotate it painlessly. Hope it works for all who give it a try.

  2. I am Haresh aged 30, from Thrissur and I am working in Bharth Electronic Ltd Banglore as a software engineer. I am suffering from cervical spondylosis since 3 years. First it started as a neck pain and came to right shoulder and finger and finger tips, especially ring finger. In the begining I went to an allopathy doctor and after 6 month of treatment pain has gone. After 5-6 month, again the neck pain and severe shoulder pain started. This I went to an ayurvedic doctor and took some ayurvedic medicine. This year january month I played volleyball for one week, after that I got severe pain. I took MRI scan, it showed disc herniation between c5-c6. In march I went for ayurvedic panchakarma treatment and pain got reduced. After I starte working in office, pain started again. Now I am undergoing physiotherapy since one month. Physiotherapist told my right side shoulder is very week.Still numbness is there in hands.
    Kindly let me know homeopathy treatment for recovering from cervical spondylosis.

    • I would like to know the homeopathy treatment for cervical spondylitis in the neck. Ive had many injuries in vertebrae and neck. Im a fit 85 year old but still need to turn my neck when exercising. Eileen Collins

  3. My age is 62 years, I am suffering from Cervical Spondylosis for the last 4 months. Pain in neck (pain like electric current) leading towards arm up to fingers. Tips of my 3 middle fingers are about 20% dead.

    Please help and prescribe medicine for me and oblige.

    Regards,

    Rana Khurshid

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