Osteomyelitis
|
The patient is a boy in early puberty. His complaints began 3 years ago in a foot; later they spread to the pelvic bones (Brodie abscess). There were several flare-ups per year, which were treated with antibiotics over a long period. He improved after each antibiotic treatment, but the intervals between inflammatory episodes became progressively shorter. The last relapse began one week after the end of a several-month course of antibiotics. The situation completely got out of hand, partly because of the pain and partly because the patient's general condition deteriorated increasingly. The surgeon planned removal of part of the pelvis — a very mutilating operation — should there be any further worsening. |
| Physical complaints: - Swelling of the feet and lower legs, worse in warm weather. - Worsening of the pain and swelling with fever in the evenings and during the night. - Stabbing pains worse from physical exertion. He cannot find a painless resting position, is awakened by the pain, and the resulting lack of sleep worsens his condition. - Difficulty falling asleep. He is not tired, and his parents say he is a night person. - Massages relieve his symptoms. Mental state: He is a dreamy type and lives in his fantasies about what he will do after finishing school. He likes to read scientific books and dictionaries and is interested in aeroplanes and aviation. Sport is important to him, but he can no longer participate. He cannot tolerate horror films and suffers from a fear of heights. He cannot tolerate tight clothing and has to undo his trousers. He enjoys company. |
|
Tomato soup |
Diet: Aversion to hot food, bread and vegetables. Craving for strawberries. His craving for tomato soup, while rejecting all other foods when he feels unwell, is particularly striking. Analysis: The strange and peculiar symptom is his preference for tomato soup. Although this is not listed as such in the repertory, Calcium arsenicosum is |
listed in capitals under the rubric "Desire for soup" in my repertory "Complete Dynamics v3.1". The other remedies in this rubric do not seem appropriate in this case. I regard the bone necrosis as confirmation of the two components of the salt Calcium arsenicosum. Interestingly, the remedy also has the symptom "fear of birds", which in a paradoxical way could correspond with his interest in aviation. I noted Stillingia as a second choice. Follow-ups: I instructed him to repeat the remedy as soon as he felt a worsening anywhere in his bones. Gradually he improved and after 15 months and 13 repetitions of the 200 K he was declared cured. He had told us that after each dose he had experienced relief within a few hours. This encouraged us to continue. A year later he was playing football as if nothing had ever happened. |
|
Photos: |
