Rheumatism
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1998 Jan / Feb VOL VII NO 1.
Dr N r Rangoonwala
' Sil / Sul / Kali-bi

Case 1
Mr XYZ, aged 62 years, a businessman, had taken Silicea as constitutional remedy. He came with:
- pain in knee, joint, toes and ankles along with swelling < exertion, sour > heat, right knee joint was affected.
- O/E: the area of swelling was hot and tender
- fever at 4-5 pm
- known case of diabetes mellitus 

Thermal Reaction
Fan +; Bath always warm; Covering +
Personal History
Desires - sweets; Urine - NAD; Stool - constipated; Sleep - adequate; Thirst - adequate 

Past History
- suppressed boil at age 7-10 years of age.
- Typhoid twice 

Family History Father - gout; 2 brothers - gout, DM; 1 sister - DM; Paternal uncle - DM; Paternal aunt - DM O/E
- White spots on nails.
- May give up for peace and welfare but still is of the same belief
- Weeps on emotional scenes and writings
- Likes bhajans
- Fear of speaking in public and avoids it.

Though he is Silicea constitutionally, in this acute attack of gout he was prescribed Lycopodium 200. The complaint occurred on 1st January 1997 and after taking Lyco 200, his pains gradually subsided within 10-12 days. Fever also decreased but he could still not walk. Though all inflammatory process had subsided, it took about a fortnight for him to stand on his feet with the help of a crepe bandage and the support of a stick, but he felt as though he was learning to walk all over again!
Within one month the complaint recurred with severe pain and swelling on both knees, ankles and toes.

Why?
At this stage, certain questions must be asked:
- What about previous prescriptions?
- What about Homoeopathic suppression of the disease, and it is because of this that the patient was unable to recover completely.
So, though the symptoms were removed, the previous state of health was not resumed, it took a fortnight and a lot of effort to walk. Therefore, it was just alleviation of the symptoms and suppression of disease which is why recurrence took place.
At this stage, the whole case was restudies in its totality and considering that a Homoeopathic suppression had occurred, a single dose of high potency of his constitution drug Silicea was given. Within 8 days, the symptoms totally subsided and this time he was able to walk normally the very next day after the disappearance of pain and swelling. 

Case 2
Mr ABC, aged 55 years, worked in a large company at a very senior level. He complained of: - Pain in the shoulder joint for the past 1 ½ months with restricted movements. He had suffered from cervical spondylosis 15 years earlier, which had been treated with traction and neck exercises < sitting, rising from seat. > continued motion.
- Stammering speech caused after typhoid
- Itching in skin

Personal History
1. Desires: sweet +++; salt++; pickles+; fried food warm; food and drinks
2. Thermal reaction: fan+; bath - as per season; season -winter; sweat+++ generalized

Past History
- Fistula in ano operated twice
- Hydrocoele operated 1970
- Pleurisy - 1960
- Eczema 1965
- Typhoid - 1947
- Inguinal hernia
- Amoebiasis (loose stool with pain and mucus)

Family History
Father - suspected CA nose, RA
Mother - Eczema, died due to brain haemorrhage
Brother - hypertension
Sister - Rheumatic heart

Mentals
Patient was irritable, but the most marked mental was his nervousness. Though a senior officer in a large company for a number of years, he was still very nervous when he had to deal with his bosses and avoided approaching them.
He was first prescribed Arg-nitricum 200, one dose. He developed loose stools with pain in the abdomen; he was given SL but there was no improvement. Then, considering Medorrhinum as his intercurrent medicine, one dose in 200th potency was given when he improved. On 4/11/95, he developed Tinea on his forearm, Arg-nit 1M, 2 doses were given followed by SL, when he improved till 25/2/95. Then, itching of the scalp developed and pain in his shoulder joint recurred. Arg-nit 1 M, 2 doses were repeated. Pain in the shoulder joint was better but itching did not improve. Sulphur 200, one dose was given on 15/10/97 and rest SL. He is better up to date.

Case 3
Mrs PQR, a housewife complained of:
- Stitching pain in left leg from knee joint to foot for the last year.
< Night, long standing, lying down
> Day, pressure, warmth
- Acidity, Ghabhraman > vomiting
- Cramps in toes of left foot < night 
- Cannot endure rainy reason
- Black spots on skin caused due to exposure to sunlight

Personal History
Desires - cold milk, tasty food
Thirst ++ one glass at a time.

Thermal Reaction
Fan+; Bath - warm water; Covering - nil; Season - winter; Perspiration ++ 

Past History
Itching soles
Menstrual History
Menarche at 17 years of age
Regular cycle 2-3 days 28-30
Obstetric History
3FTND < 18, 20 IMTD
Family History
Mother: hypertension;
Father: Rheumatic, hypertension

Mind
Family oriented; Anticipatory anxiety; Slow comprehension; Anxiety causes stool; Fear of approaching people
In this case, 3 drugs are to be differentiated, viz. Gelsemium, Arg-nit, Kali-bich
Gels - should be chilly and drowsy
Arg-nit - hot with special desire for sweet and salt Considering family attachment, < night, stitching types of pains.
On 19/9/95 Kali-bich 200, one dose was given with Rubrum for one month. Pains recurred on 3/10/95 so Kali-bich 200, 3 doses were given and rest Rubrum. She was better upto 21/3/96, then again pains recurred so Kali-bich 1 M 1 dose was given and she is better till date.