NERVOUS SYSTEM – Neurological problems
Nerves help us to feel/recognise all types of sensations, i.e., touch,
temperature, pressure, position, movements and all types of pain (stabbing,
pricking, lightning, burning, itching, irritating, etc.). With these feelings
brain can accommodate the situation and environment to comfort our body. Any
problem arising in the nerves (neurological problem either persistent or
temporary in nature) will make one feel frustrated.
Unlike other complaints, neurological problems are difficult to cure and
take a longer time to attain
the state of cure, i.e., one needs to wait to feel a marked improvement for
at least a week, most often, 20-40 days. In recent days, our mental and
physical stress and strain, additive habits, sleeplessness, etc., seem to cause
more and more neurological problems.
Common neurological problems and causes
The common nerve disorders causing neurological complaints are neuritis, herpes,
polio, ganglion, epilepsy, Parkinson’s diseases, sclerosis, tetany,
degenerative brain disorders, etc. Other than nerve disorders, other systemic
diseases can also cause neurological complaints i.e. diabetes, hypertension,
arthritis, SLE, leprosy, gout, diphtheria, tuberculosis, syphilis, etc.
Any disturbances in the nerve conduction of impulses/signals causes
nerve twitchings or jerks.
·
Increased transmission of impulses / stimulation of
nerves causes – spasms / stiffness
·
Decreased transmission of impulses / stimulation of
nerves causes – paresis
·
Loss of transmission of impulses / stimulation of nerves
causes – paralysis
Most often, the ultimate cause(s) remain unknown. Also, neurological
complaints can arise due to various reasons i.e. infection, inflammation,
injury / compression / entrapment / disease, degenerative changes,
de-myelination, loss of blood supply due to vascular diseases / obstruction,
toxins (foods / drugs / sniffing insectisides or dyes or glues or metal powders
/ poisons (curare/cyanide/venums) / addictives), exhaustion, sleeplessness,
habits (alcohol / smoking), malnutrition, exposure to extreme temperatures,
etc.
Symptoms
The common symptoms arising from neurological problems are twitching,
tremors (chorea athetosis), numbness / paresthesia, paresis / paralysis, weakness,
cramps, sensitiveness, burning pain, shooting / lightning pain, referred pain,
radiating pain, headache, vertigo, fainting, dizziness, confused thinking,
sleeplessness, muscular wasting disorders, etc. Symptoms usually vary from
person to person in type, intensity and suffering period depending upon the
affected nerve(s). Sometimes, patients will be even blamed for complaining
about pain by hallucinating or out of fear or just to get attention or care.
The complaints (pain / altered sensations / loss of functions) may last for
days or weeks or months or years. Neurological problems of vascular origin and
tumour usually occur slowly and gradually get worse in due course. In case of
infection, remission and flare up usually alternate. In case of de-myelination
or degenerative disorders, symptoms vary in the intensity according to the
extent of the disease process.
Twitching
Arises as a flickering in conduction of impulses to cause involuntary
muscular contraction. It is otherwise called fasciculation. It can commonly be
seen in the arms, calf muscles, eyelids, etc. Its incidence seems to be more in
cases of dehydration, malnutrition,vitamin and
mineral deficiencies (especially magnesium deficiency), in bedridden
persons, undue loss of vital fluids (blood / menses / semen), etc.
Tremors
Are rhythmic involuntary movements
occuring in skeletal muscle fibres. It is supposed to arise from weakness of
nerves or loss of proper coordination in it. Even though tremor is not a fatal
disorder, it disturbs the sufferer in communicating and in actions. Most often,
tremors will be seen in hands / fingers. Fear, anxiety and nervousness often
intensify the tremor.
Numbness
It is an altered sensation of the touch. It is otherwise called as
paraesthesia or sleeping nerve. It is commonly felt in hands and legs. It
produces a tingling sensation or feeling of pin and needles. Everyone could
feel the numbness or benumbed sensation when there is any swelling or when we
happen to sit in a particular position for a long time or with unusual sleeping
posture. It happens because of compression of nerves or pressure over the
nerves. It can also occur in pathological conditions (i.e., due to the diseases
like diabetes, hypertension, hypothyroidism, carpel tunnel syndrome, leprosy, tumours,
etc. So one should not be careless with the feeling/symptom of numbness.
Neuritis
It means inflammation / irritation of the nerve(s). It can occur in any
places / nerves, i.e., Optic neuritis (in eye), Brachial neuritis (in hand),
Trigeminal neuritis (in face), Polyneuritis, Peripheral neuritis, etc. The
incidence of neuritis will be more with diabetes, hypertension, alcoholism and
exposure to extremes of temperature.
Neuralgia
It is a painful nerve disorder. It follows inflammation /
irritation of nerves (neuritis). Pain usually radiates in the particular
pathway of the affected nerve(s). The pain of neuralgia usually comes and goes
in flashes. Some may be persistent and long-lasting. The common neuralgias are
brachial neuralgia (pain in hands), trigeminal neuralgia (pain in face),
sciatica (pain in legs), optic neuralgia, and post herpetic neuralgia
(persisting nerve pain in the healed spot of old herpes ulcer – shingles).
Paresis is said to be a pre-paralytic condition or mild
paralysis, where muscles seem to be very weak, but work. One should be more
cautious in this state and undergo treatment immediately with proper diagnosis,
since paresis could progress to paralysis anytime.
Paralysis means total loss
of function(s) in the affected part(s) / nerve(s). Here nerves abruptly quit
their functions due to the compression or damage or diseases (polio,
stroke,etc). The affected part will become flaccid without any muscle tone or
strength.
Diagnosis
It is a must to diagnose a complaint
before starting treatment or suppressing it with a
pain-killer / anticonvulsant / anti-depressant. Nerve functions and
diseases are usually analysed with history of the complaint i.e., incidence,
nature of disease, weakness, coordination of movement(s), reflexes, muscle
thickness / wasting, spasticity, strength, alteration in sensations, gait,
aggravating factors with respect to posture, pressure, etc. Not only the
symptoms but also the time factor and progress or regress of the diseases can
provide clues to the diagnosis of the nervous complaint. Most often these can
outline the diagnosis. To pin point a nerve lesion, a compression or disc
degeneration or disc prolapse, one can do X-ray, CT scan or MRI.
The other common tests required to detect and treat neurological complaints
are
·
Routine blood tests and urine tests
·
Electroencephalography (EEG) / Electromyography
·
Nerve conduction velocity test
General treatment
Reassurance is the first line of treatment in all nervous complaints
irrespective of any systems. Since finding the ultimate cause is difficult,
treatment also seems to be difficult. ‘Wait-and-watch’ approach with
supplements will be the answer in most cases. Also, the routine mode of
treatment is based on symptoms and their intensity. If one happens to have
pain, pain-killers will be prescribed. Sometimes, just as a start-up, the
patient will be provided an anti-inflammatory course of medicines followed by
vitamins and mineral supplements.
In extreme cases, steroidal drugs and anti-depressants will also be
prescribed to manage the situation temporarily. Also, one will be advised to
depend on massage and exercises (physiotherapy) for complete cure or recovery.
Likewise, posture corrections and traction will also be part and parcel of the
treatment procedure in case of compression or degenerative changes. If
complaints seem to be persistent with twitching and spasms even after trying
these medicines, anticonvulsants or surgical dissection or desensitisation of
nerves will be tried.
Homeopathic approach
Other than paralysis, where the part is functionless without any movements
or reflex, most nervous complaints resemble psychological complaints with
subjective feelings. Also as one cannot stipulate the physical changes /
disease factors in case of nervous complaint, the world of medicine finds
difficulty in treat it. Most neuralogical complaints take a long time to show
response. Considering all these factors, Homeopathy works well, caring for
patient’s feelings and sensations. The only point is, the patient may need
patience for its result.
Neuritis or neuralgia or any neurological complaints should not be treated
just with anti-inflammatory drugs and pain-killers, since their action is
temporary and the situation will often get worse with time to lead to surgery.
One should be aware that “Instantly killing pain with a pain-killer tablet is
just like putting off the light when you don’t want to see the things around.
Surely, the day will come when / where you cannot switch off the pain”.
Here pleasure with pain-killers is nothing else but the intermission of pain.
The goal of treatment should not only be relief but also to prevent
recurrences. Homeopathy can provide miraculous relief from nervous pain /
complaints without any recurrence. The well-selected medicine prescribed to the
core of the disease will certainly calm the suffering nerve(s) and to remain in
endurance. Homeopathy can ensure cure / better relief from nervous disorders
without any side-effects.
Homeopathic medicines commonly used in cases of Neurological complaints are
Aconite, Agaricus, Arg nit, Ars alb, Belladonna, Bryonia, Calc carb, Cannabis
indica, Causticum, Chamomilla, Colchicum, Colocynthis, Cuprum met, Dioscorea,
Gelsemium, Glonine, Gnanphalium, Hypericum, Kali bich, Lachesis, Lathyrus,
Lycopodium, Mag phos, Medorrhinum, Natrum mur, Nux vom, Opium, Phytolacco,
Plumbum met, Pulsatilla, Rhus tox, Ruta, Sangunaria, Secale cor, Spigelia,
Stramonium, Tarentula, Viscum alb, Xanthoxylum, Zinc met, etc. These Medicines
should be taken under the advice and diagnosis of a qualified Homeopath.
for
new hope
Dr. S.
Chidambaranathan, BHMS, MD (Homeo)
Laxmi
Homeo Clinic
24 E.
New Mahalipatti Road
Madurai,
TN 625 001
India
Tel: +91-452-233-8833 | +91-984-319-1011
(Mob)
Fax:
+91-452-233-0196
E-mail:
drcheena@yahoo.com
www.drcheena.com / www.drcheena.in
(Disclaimer
- The contents of this column are for informational purpose only. The content
is not intended to be a substitute for professional healthcare advice,
diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of healthcare professional for
any health problem or medical condition.)