A Repertorial Approach to Cervical Spondylitis

ABSTRACT: Cervical spondylitis or cervical spondylosis disorder results from chronic cervical disc degeneration, dislocation. This is an article about Cervical Spondylitis focusing on etiology, clinical type and homoeopathic medicines related to various rubrics in different repertories.

KEYWORDS: HOMOEOPATHY, REPERTORY, CERVICAL SPONDYLITIS, HOMOEOPATHIC MANAGEMENT.

INTRODUCTION:

DEFINITION:

Cervical spondylitis or cervical spondylosis disorder results from chronic cervical disc degeneration, dislocation.  Or, it is a degenerative change which occurs in the cervical spine. It is characterized by osteo arthritis of the cervical spine.

Figure 1 – Cervical spondylitis

AETIOLOGY:

It is supposed to be due to:

1. Postural defect
2. Advanced age
3. Rheumatoid arthritis
4. Hormonal imbalance
5. Repeated traumatic injury
6. Psychological causes
7. Idiopathic

CLINICAL FEATURE:

1. Pain in cervical region & neck.
2. Movement of neck is restricted.
3. Sometimes a feeling of tingling & numbness in upper limb.
4. Occasionally vertigo & headache.
5. Feeling of stiffness.
6. Sensory loss in upper limb may also present.

Investigation:

Radiological examination:

Skiagram of cervical region shows – that:

1. Narrowing of inter vertebral disc space, with osteophytes formations.
2. OBLIQUE VIEW: Shows encroachment by osteophytes on the intervertebral foramina.
3. MYELOGRAPHY: It shows herniation of disc.

Differential Diagnosis:

1. Coronary artery disease.
2. Tumors of spinal cord.
3. Multiple sclerosis.
4. Syringomyelia.
5. Sub-acute combined degeneration of cord.
6. Motor neurons disease.
7. Myalgia& neuralgia.

MIASM:

From a miasmatic point of view this disease is insidious so psora is in the background.  The sycotic miasm also apples because of –

1.Slow recovery of the disease.

2.. Narrowing of disc with inflammation & stiffness

3. General aggravation in cold, damp weather.

Hence it is a mixed miasm – psora- sycosis.

REPERTORY OR REPORTORIAL ASPECTS:

Reportorial point of view:  During the time of Kent there was no term spondylosis or spondylitis used for cervical spondylosis. Therefor Kent is lacking symptoms relating to cervical spondylitis. But we can take help of Kent from the chapter of generalities.

A. KENT’S REPERTORY:

S.no.	Chapter	Rubric with 1ST GRADE Medicine	Page no.
1.	GENERALITIES	NUMBNESS externally: ANACARDIUM, BERB.V., CARB.S., CONIUM, GRAPH., HYOS., KALI.C., CYC., OP., PLB., STRAM.	1375
2.	GENERALITIES	COLD AIR AGG.: CIMIC. DULCAMARA. HYPERICUM, RHODO., R.T., SIL.	1348
3.	GENERALITIES	PAIN, BONES: EUP. PERF., IP.. MERC., NIT.ACID., PH.ACID., PULS., RUTA.	1377

 B.  BBCR:

This is a very useful repertory because it is based upon the philosophy of particular to general.

S.no.	Chapter	Rubric with 1ST GRADE Medicine	Page no.
1.	NECK AND EXTERNAL THROAT	PAIN: LACHESIS 2ND GRADE MEDICINE BELL.	745
2.	NECK AND EXTERNAL THROAT	STIFF: BELL, BRYONIA.	746
3.	SENSATIONS & COMPLAINTS IN GENERAL	NUMBNESS: ACONITE, GNAP.	911
4.	CONDITIONS OF AGGRAVATION AND AMELIORATION IN GENERAL	AIR COLD IN AGG. : ARS., AUR., CAMPHOR, CAUSTICUM, DULCAMARA, H.S., KALI.C., N.V., R.T.	1105
5.	CONDITIONS OF AGGRAVATION AND AMELIORATION IN GENERAL	DAMP AGG. : NAT. SULPH.	1112

C.  BOERICKE’S REPERTORY:

S.no.	Chapter	Rubric with 1ST GRADE Medicine	Page no.
1.	LOCOMOTOR SYSTEM	NAPE OF NECK, PAIN IN GENERAL: ACONITE, BELLADONA, CIMICIFUGA, GELS.	879
2.	LOCOMOTOR SYSTEM	NAPE OF NECK, STIFFNESS: ACONITE, BRYONIA, CAUSTICUM, CIMICIFUGA, DULCAMARA, PULS.,STICTA.	880
3.	MODALITIES	AGG. – COLD: ACONITE, ALUM., ARSENIC, BARYTA CARB,. BRYONIA ,CAMPHOR, CAUSTICUM,CHAM.,DULCAMARA,H.S.,KALI-CARB .,MEZ.,N.V.,RHODO.,R.T.,RUMEX, SEPIA,SIL.	968
4.	MODALITIES	AGG. – DAMPNESS COLD: ARANIA, ARNICA,C.C.,C.P.,DULCAMARA,MERC.,R.T.	969
5.	MODALITIES	AGG.WEATHER WINDY, MOIST: EUPHRASIA, N.M.	975

D. BOENNINGHAUSEN’S THERAPEUTIC POCKET BOOK

S.no.	Chapter	Rubric	Page no.
1.	THROAT AND NECK	NACK & NAPE OF THE NECK	131 & 132

E. KNERR’S REPERTORY:

S.no.	Chapter	Rubric	Page no.
1.	THROAT EXTERNAL AND NECK	PAIN:	636-638
2.	THROAT EXTERNAL AND NECK	STIFFNESS:	640-642

F.  Dr. S.R.PHATAK’S REPERTORY:

S.no.	Rubric	Page no.
1.	SPONDYLITIS CERVICAL	363

Management:

1. Rest
2. Reassurance
3. Psychotherapy
4. Main role of physiotherapy with active & passive exercise and massage.
5. Cervical collar should be applied for immobilization of neck.
6. Cervical traction for immobilization of neck time to time.
7. Hot formentation.
8. For temporary relief massage of oil/lotion/liniment/tube etc. & so on.

Homoeopathic therapeutics:

Homoeopathic medicines work very effectively and give marvelous result in joint pain & cervical spondylitis. It contains a large list of such medicines which have been universally acclaimed.

Names, symptoms and other particulars of such medicine are mentioned below briefly:

A. PAIN & STIFFNESS IN NECK:

MEDICINES ARE:

1. BELLADONA: Stiff neck. Swelling of glands of neck. Pain in nape, as if it would break. Headache temporal region with congestion.
2. CAUSTICUM: Stiffness between shoulders. Dull pain in nape of neck. Dull, tearing pain in hands and arms.
3. BRYONIA: Painful stiffness in nape of neck. Stitchesand stiffness in small of back. From hard water and sudden changes of weather. Worse from motion better at rest.
4. DULCA: Stiff neck. Pain in small of back, as after long stooping. Stiffness and lameness across neck and shoulders, after getting cold and wet. Worse from cold, damp, rainy weather. Better by warmth.
5. RHUS TOX.: Pain between shoulders on swallowing. Pain and stiffness in small of back; better, motion, or lying on something hard; worse, while sitting. Stiffness of the nape of the neck. Cervical neuralgia. Worse from sitting &rest. Better by motion, stretching the limbs.
6. CIMICIFUGA: Spine very sensitive, especially upper part. Stiffness and contraction in neck and back. Intercostal rheumatism. Rheumatic pains in muscles of back and neck. Pain in lumbar and sacral region, down thighs, and through hips. Crick in back.
7. VERTIGO DUE TO C.S.:

MEDICINES ARE:

1. GNAPHALIUM: Giddy, esp. after rising from recumbent position. Worse on lying down. Better by sitting.
2. MEDORRHINUM: Vertigo: when stooping; slightly >lying; < on movement. Drawing in cords of neck, causing desire to throw head back.
3. GELS: Giddiness as if intoxicated, as if he should fall down. Giddiness with loss of sight, chilliness, accelerated pulse, dullness of vision, double vision.

Name of some other remedies are given below:

ACONITE, AVENA SAT., LEDUM, STICTA, KALMIA, C.F., RHODODENDRON, FLORIC ACID, ACTEA SPICATA, ARNICA, RUTA ETC.

CONCLUSION:

Homoeopathic medicines work very effectively and give marvelous results in joint pain and cervical spondylitis.

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