Clinical Cases

Calf Pain in a Woman of 34

calfpain
Written by Navnit Vachhani

Dr. Navnit Vachhani presents a case of calf pain in a woman of 34.

This brief case presents routine and functional complaints in terms of pathology, but these types of cases are frequently encountered in the OPD.  I’m sharing this case to highlight the importance of appropriate analysis, recognizing important features from the case, choosing an appropriate repertory according to the case data. Also, how do we make a good prescription with limited data.

Female, age 34, housewife, middle class urban background.

Chief Complaints:

Since 3 years, daily:  Calf pain, cramps 3+  < evening and night, exertion

Lumbar – back pain 2+  < exertion

Shoulder and trapezius pain < winter

All complaints < before menses 2+

Physical Generals:

  • Appetite : Normal
  • Thirst : Moderate
  • Stool : once a day, consistency normal
  • Urine: Normal
  • Thermal: No data.
  • Sweat: Normal, nothing special.
  • Menses: Regular, 5-6 days/28days, Irritability, low mood < before menses
  • Leucorrhea; daily, scanty, stains indelible. Since 5-6 months
  • O/H : 2 FTND Chief complaints started gradually after last delivery
  • Sleep unrefreshing

Mind:

  • Feeling lazy, No desire to work

Case Analysis:

When a case is presented with lack of mental symptoms, homeopaths, especially novice, tend to prescribe either on specific remedies or to fix on imaginary materia medica pictures. But if we observe the type of data, properly analyse it, understand the relative importance of each symptom in a case, then we may find some valid points for prescription.

Here I tried to analyse and find a useful pattern. I found the following points which stand characteristic and important to the case. In terms of concept of totality: Modalities, Objective aspect and intensified Pathology/sensation. These suggest the approach of Boenninghausen’s repertory andand Boger’s Synoptic Key.  However I choose Phatak’s Repertory because it is chiefly based on Boger’s Synoptic Key and augmented with valid additions

  • Delivery after agg (Time + Causative Modality)
  • Before Menses agg. (Time modality – general modality)
  • Leucorrhea indelible (Peculiar Objective symptom)
  • Cramps ( well marked intensified Sensation/Pathology)

Rx.

Vibrnum opulus selected after referring to Materia medica,

(It’s a chief remedy for cramps and leucorrhea.)

Vib 200 1 dose daily for 3 days

 

Advised to give follow up after 2 weeks

After 3 weeks

( as patient came 1 week late of appointed follow up date)

Calf pain >1

Backache >1

Leucorrhea SQ

 

Sleep improved

Laziness reduced

 

 

 

Vib 200 1 dose daily for 3 days

 

Advised to give follow up after 2 weeks

 

After 3 weeks

( as patient came 1 week late of appointed follow up date)

 

Calf pain >3

 

Backache >3

 

No leucorrhea

 

Kept on placebo for

another 2 weeks.

 

On March 7, 2018, about three years after the last remedy, I contacted the patient and asked about her status and the condition of her complaints and health. She informed me that she is totally fine and the complaints never returned after the completion of the treatment. She conveyed thanks with satisfaction.

Conclusion:

  • Before jumping to routine or specific prescription, see the whole case, consider the type of data you have, decide the method of repertorization or analysis.
  • It is important to select the correct repertory for the case.
  • Do not repertorise directly or randomly. It’s misleading.
  • Use rubrics which have meaning in some conceptual context.
  • If repertory result is confusing, leave it.

#repertory #repertoryapproach #phatakrepertory #boenninghausen #boger

About the author

Navnit Vachhani

Navnit Vachhani MD has had his own private homeopathic clinic for almost a year. He had his PG training from Dr. M L Dhawale Institute, Palghar-Mumbai, and completed MD in Repertory. He worked on Boger’s concept in his PG thesis. He uses homeopathy in routine practice, where common people can take advantage of it.

1 Comment

  • All cases you presented are very nice,analysis is amazing,n ofcourse remedies.plz kindly share more cases n bogers approach.its concept so that we also can get it n can use in all cases.Thanku very much.

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