Homeopathy & Chronic Back Pain Case

Kyle (name changed to preserve confidentiality) is a 13 year old male who came to see me complaining of mid-lower back pain for 2-3 years after lifting rocks. He states his back hurts when he stands or sits for long periods of time but it can start to hurt within 10-15 minutes. It can also hurt when walking. He finds that the pain is better with hard pressure, lying down and movement. He describes the pain as constant with the feeling of needing to stretch and move. The pain feels like pressure (squeezing, compression, tight, hard to move) and pulling (ripping, tearing) simultaneously. It can sometimes affect his neck and cause him pain which is throbbing and he feels like he can’t look down. It is better when he looks upward because it feels released. He also can have sharp pain in his anterior and posterior ribs and he states that he can hear them pop in.

The pain affects him by creating trouble focusing in school and sitting in church. When asked how his friends might react if they had to deal with his back pain he states that they probably wouldn’t come to school. 

Because of the back pain, he finds that in school he has to get up and make an excuse to leave class. However, he loves to make excuses to leave class because he enjoys tricking the teacher. He enjoys classes where he can get up and move around (physical education, music and social studies).

Kyle is very sociable and active in sports and clubs. He is quite protective of his friends during sports.

Kyle states he is confident and he is certain of some things, sure that they will happen and he has strong beliefs. 

Kyle states he feels hyperactive. He wants to move, run and likes to be free. If he can’t move he feels jumpy, wants to change positions and feels warm inside. He would feel that the energy is being stored everywhere in his body and his fingers would want to move and he would want to leave. After he moves he feels like he is cooling down and ready to learn although this lasts only about 10 minutes.

He likes to annoy his brother and his teachers. He says it feels good and he likes the reaction he gets. 

Kyle was given Nux Vomica 200C as it matched both his physical symptoms and his emotional state. 

Within a few days his back pain resolved. It has never come back.