A boy aged 16 years from a poor family was brought to us with a complaint of acute pain and tumor like swelling on posterior aspect of right thigh following injury, with no external signs of any injury. He had fallen from a bicycle in his native
A boy aged 16 years from a poor family was brought to us with a complaint of acute pain and tumor like swelling on posterior aspect of right thigh following injury, with no external signs of any injury. He had fallen from a bicycle in his native place and had been injured in the right thigh about 4 weeks back. He was treated by a local doctor. After 1 week of mild pain very severe excruciating pain started occurring at the place of injury and he was again treated with anti-inflammatory tablets and painkillers. After about 15 days he fell down whilst playing and got injured at the very same place.
He started getting severe excruciating pain at the same place every evening for which he was hospitalized and had to be given painkiller injections every day. He then came to Mumbai on a vacation and stayed with his elder brothers. He was one of four brothers. Father had expired 10 years back. Mother was working hard to earn a living. He was one of the twins. The other twin brother was very close to him. They were very attached to each other and he could not stay without him but as the twin brother was not good in studies, he discontinued his studies and came to Mumbai for work. This boy was very good and sincere in studies and stayed back in his native place. After this separation (4 years back) this boy became sad, quiet, never talked to anybody, sulked and had gradually developed low fever almost daily.
He was afraid of his eldest brother who was strict and occasionally got a beating from him. This boy was a brilliant student and scored well in languages. He did not like mathematics and would get low marks, which was the only reason for him to be punished. In his native place he never talked to anybody except his mother after the departure of his twin brother. He was so reserved and secretive that when he came down to Mumbai on vacation he did not even disclose to his elder brothers that he had an injury or was hospitalized prior to coming. It was only because of his limping gait that the brothers came to know about his injury. Within 3 days of arrival the pains increased so much that he had to be hospitalized in Mumbai again. There was no fracture detected but the allopathic treatment was not able to give him relief. Probability of osteo-sarcoma loomed large and hence they were contemplating a major surgery.
When the child was brought to us in the outpatient department, this child sat with his head down hardly looking up and hardly talking to us. Answers were given in monosyllables without looking up. He was short and thin even at this age of 16 years compared to his twin brother who was almost double his height. He had stopped growing after his brother left the village & came to the city. He refused to comment on what he felt after his brother left.
His personal likes and dislikes were very clear. He hated cold weather, as he could not tolerate it at all. He hated sun, which gave him headaches. He was completely thirstless and had strong aversion to milk.
Prafful Vijayakar
