A Case Study on Cervical Radiculopathy by using Boericke Repertory

Introduction:

Cervical Radiculopathy is due nerve root compression or chemical inflammation of nerves. The C₇ nerve root is most frequently impacted. Other nerve roots like C₆, C₁ to C₅ and C₈ are less impacted. Patients may have complaints of pain over nape of neck radiate in the distribution of affected nerve root and then other areas of the body, such as arms, neck, chest, upper back, and shoulders. Due to nerve impingement, muscle weakness and impaired deep tendon reflexes are often observed. It reduces function, productivity and quality of life. 

Boericke repertory is a clinical repertory which is useful in one-sided disease, when definite cause is given in a case, in pathological cases, in toxicological cases or prophylactic prescription is required. They facilitate selection of remedy for those cases where we could find only common symptoms, few modalities and concomitant, in which the clinical conditions mask the characteristics of the patient.

Key-Words: Cervical radiculopathy, Boericke repertory, Causation     

Case History:

A 35 years / male patient came with the complaint of pain over the nape of neck since 8 to 9 months, radiating to the left shoulder to left hand second finger with numbness sensation. Stiffness of the nape of neck aggravates in the morning. According to the history given by the patient, he slept by putting two pillows below head on left side for the whole night, the head raised for the whole night in same position and the next morning pain started. 

Past History: 

Dengue before 3 years before – allopathic treatment (Admitted in hospital for the treatment) 

Family History:

Father: DM, HTN (Died)

Mother: Healthy (Alive)

Grandfather: HTN (Died)

Grandmother: Healthy (Died)

Physical General:

Appetite: Adequate, 2 meals/day 

Desire: Spicy

Aversion: Not specific

Thirst: 4-5 lit/day

Urine: 6-7 times/day

Stool: Once a day

Sleep: Refreshing

Dreams: Not remembered 

Perspiration: Generalized 

Thermal state: Ambithermal

Investigation:

MRI Cervical spine:

C₄ – C₅: Mild Disc Bulge

C₅ – C₆: Left Para central disc prominence showing compression of left nerve root

C₆ – C₇: Mild Disc Bulge

Diagnosis: 

Cervical Radiculopathy 

Analysis Of Case:

Sr.no.	Symptoms	Analysis
1.	Pain over nape of neck due to wrong position during sleep for whole night (Nerve Injury)	Cause
2.	Pain over nape of neck radiate to left shoulder, left hand to middle finger	Location
3.	Stiffness of nape of neck	Character
4.	Numbness	Character
5.	Pain < Morning	Modality

Totality of Symptoms:

1. Ailments from Nerve Injury
2. Pain over nape of neck radiate to left shoulder, left hand to middle figure
3. Stiffness of nape of neck
4. Numbness 

Repertorial Totlity:

1. Nervous system, Nerves, neuritis (Inflammation), type, injuries to nerves
2. Nervous system, Neuralgic, remedies in general
3. Locomotor system, Nape of neck, stiffness
4. Generalities, Injuries, Chronic effects of injuries

Differential Remedies Of Repertorial Result:

Sr. no.	Remedies	Marks	Grades	Total
	Hypericum	9	4	49
	Arnica Montana	6	2	26
	Bryonia alba	6	2	26
	Cimicifuga racemosa	6	2	26
	Pulsatilla	6	2	26

Prescription:

R_x

   Hypericum perforatum 200C, 3 dose for 3 days

   Sac lac 4 pills thrice daily for 15 days 

Advice: Gentle exercise as advised by Physiotherapist, Avoid sleeping with your head elevated

Follow Up:

• FIRST FOLLOW UP (AFTER 15 DAYS)

• Mild pain over nape of neck
• No Numbness
• No stiffness 

                 PRESCRIPTION: Sac lac 4 pills twice for 15 days

• SECOND FOLLOW UP (AFTER 15 DAYS)

• No pain 
• No numbness
• No stiffness 
• Patient can do regular activity without any pain 

Conclusion: 

Cervical radiculopathy causes neck pain which can impair day to day activity and quality of life. When definite cause is known in a case, it plays a major role in selection of final remedy based on causation. Boericke repertory is a clinical repertory which is very useful in case when exact causation, location, sensation, concomitant, modalities are present. 

This case study suggests that this case of cervical radiculopathy completely cured by the remedy selected on the basis of causation, with the aid of clinical repertory. It summarize that by integrating Boericke’s clinical rubrics, practitioners can achieve high success rates in curing chronic pathological or surgical cases like radiculopathy.

References:

1. Davidson. (2006). Davidson’s Principles and Practice of medicine. Philadelphia: Elsevier.
2. Boericke, W. (2016). Pocket Manual of Homoeopathic Materia Medica & Repertory. Noida: b. jain publishers.
3.  Konstantinos Margetis, W. M. (2025). Cervical Radiculopathy. National Library of medicine.