Management of Chronic Back and Hip Pain With Homeopathy

Back pain is one of the most common causes for which patients seek emergency care. This symptom tends to be persistent, causing some individuals significant disability.  People of any age can present with back pain arising from mechanical or nonspecific causes. Etiologies differ for each age group, which can guide the clinician in determining the appropriate treatment. 

Back pain arises from a broad range of causes in adults and children, though most are mechanical in nature or have a nonspecific origin. Mechanical back pain comprises 90% of cases, so health providers can easily miss rare causes while focusing on common etiologies

Back pain arises from various conditions, which can be classified into the following:

Traumatic: Back pain commonly results from direct or indirect contact with an external force. Examples are whiplash injury, strain, and traumatic fractures.

Degenerative: Musculoskeletal structures can weaken over time due to aging, overuse, or pre-existing pathology. Conditions like intervertebral disk herniation and degenerative disk disease fall into this class.

Oncologic: Anatomic structures of the back can develop primary or secondary malignant lesions. Pathologic fractures of the axial skeleton can arise as a complication.

Infectious: Infections of the musculoskeletal structures in this region can arise from direct inoculation or spread from another source.

Inflammatory: This category includes inflammatory conditions not caused by infection or malignancy. Examples are ankylosing spondylitis and sacroiliitis. Chronic inflammation can give rise to spinal arthritis.

Metabolic: Calcium and bone metabolism can cause the symptoms. Osteoporosis and osteosclerosis are examples.

Referred pain: Visceral organ inflammation can cause referred back pain. Examples are biliary colic, lung disease, and aortic or vertebral artery pathology.

Postural: Spending long hours in an upright position can cause back pain. Pregnancy and certain occupations can predispose people to postural back pain.

Congenital: Inborn conditions of the axial skeleton can cause the symptoms. Examples are kyphoscoliosis and tethered spinal cord.

Psychiatric: Back pain may also present in patients with chronic pain syndromes and other mental health conditions. Malingering individuals may also claim to have back pain.

Differential Diagnosis of Back Pain in Adults

Lumbosacral muscle strains and sprains: Usually from a traumatic incident or repetitive overuse; pain worsens with movement and gets better with rest; range of motion is restricted; muscles are tender to palpation

Lumbar spondylosis: The patient is typically older than 40 years; hip pain may be present; pain occurs with lower limb extension or rotation; neurologic exam is usually normal

Disk herniation: Usually involves the L4 to S1 segments; may have associated paresthesia, sensory change, loss of strength or reflexes, depending on the severity and nerve root involved

Spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis: Caused by repetitive spinal stress; may present with back pain radiating to the gluteal area and posterior thighs; neurologic deficits follow the L5 distribution. 

Vertebral compression fracture: Localized back pain worsening with flexion; point tenderness on palpation; may be acute or chronic; steroid use, vitamin D deficiency, and osteoporosis are risk factors

Spinal stenosis: Accompanied by leg sensory and motor weakness relieved with rest (neurologic claudication); neurologic exam may be normal initially but progress with increasing stenosis

Tumor: May be accompanied by unexplained weight loss, focal tenderness to palpation, or malignancy risk factors on history (97% of spinal tumors are metastatic).

Infection: The patient may have a history of spinal surgery in the last 12 months, intravenous drug use, or immunosuppression; accompanying symptoms include fever, a wound in the spinal region, localized pain, and tenderness, most commonly from vertebral osteomyelitis, diskitis, septic sacroiliitis, epidural abscess, and paraspinal muscle abscess; consider tuberculosis if the patient comes from a developing country.

Fracture: May arise from trauma, prolonged corticosteroid use, and osteoporosis; common among patients older than 70 years; associated findings include contusions, abrasions, tenderness to palpation over spinous processes

Case study:

A case of male age 44 years Registered in September 2022 (Patient ID: 49096) In Life Force Homeopathy Pimpri branch with symptoms of Left-sided hip pain at a particular point exactly below the left iliac crest since 2012. Presenting symptoms were left-sided hip pain throughout with moderate intensity, which is of stabbing character without any radiation, which gets aggravated by touch and exertion. He took conventional medicines between 2012 and 2015 without any relief as such. Was not on any conventional medicine then. The pain of duration was continuous, daily, with a progression in frequency and intensity of pain. On inquiry, there was no history of falls or injury. He was quite concerned about pain and recovery.

His case was studied in detail, and as per the case needs of Dr. Rajesh Shah, prior investigations were taken into consideration, and some other investigations suggested & prescribed the medicines individually specific to him, & diet was also discussed and shared.

Investigations: 

In September 2024 X-ray LS was done and the impression was mentioned that straightening of the lumbar spine was noted, and very subtle anterior marginal osteophytes with end plate Sclerosis were, mentioned.

Follow-ups:

First, follow up: After the first prescription, which was done on 10/12/2022, the symptoms as mentioned during the case—the intensity, frequency, and left-sided pain of the hip—were the same, but they were not increased. He didn’t take any conventional medicine.

Second follow-up:  The second follow-up was done dated 22/01/2023; his complaints were increased compared to before, along with aggravation in left sciatica too, with stiffness as well, and pain in resting position as well. The details were taken to find the exact cause for the increase in the complaints; on inquiry, it was found that the weather has changed and it was very cold in north India.

Third follow-up: In March 2023 the symptoms were much better by the last follow-up; the backache and sciatica were better, and no stiffness was there, and he was not on any conventional treatment.

Last Follow-up: In April 2024, as the last follow-up, he was overall 80-90% better; the symptoms of backache and stiffness were on & off, but were manageable.

Conclusion:

This case illustrates the role of homeopathy as a viable alternative for long-term backache management and musculoskeletal health improvement. The treatment provided relief without side effects or invasive procedures.

- Case study is written by Dr. Nagma Inamdar, Associate doctor to Dr. Rajesh Shah, MD (Hom)