MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY: A RARE GENETIC AILMENT AND ITS MANAGEMENT IN HOMOEOPATHY.

MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY: A RARE GENETIC AILMENT AND ITS MANAGEMENT IN HOMOEOPATHY.  

11 December 2023.

Talking about certain crippling ailments, haunting and daunting humanity from the longest of time, and even continuing to  wreak its havoc even today, and frankly medical science not able to find a way out of it till date. So one may ask that whether or not will we ever able to conquer it or not anytime? Well, at present I, in my knowledge and experience cannot say when and how but the only way out is to be positive .One such rare ailment in todays talk is MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY.

SO, WHAT IS MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY?

Muscular Dystrophy is group of rare genetic disorders, which chiefly affects the muscles making them weaker over-time and consecutively weakening and wasting away muscle strength, stability and control, to such an extent that the person is not able to lift himself up after sitting a the chair.

AND HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?

            Well, you see your muscle strength, and activity is controlled by “DYSTROPHIN”, a rod shaped protein basically under genetic control. When this gene is damaged or diseased or destroyed or medically termed as MUTATED, things start to go hay wire by disturbing this protein bounding which is necessary for proper muscle function and strength.

HOW COMMON IS IT?

      

As  stated above, it is a rare compared to many other ailments involving the muscles.  It affects very few people, approximately 29 to 32 people per 100,000. Affecting mainly men.

VARIANTS OF MD:

 There are basically two variants DUCHENNE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY(D.M.D) AND BECKERS MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY. Both have similar signs and symptoms, but Becker’s muscular dystrophy being less severe than Duchenne out of two. Howsoever, both are caused by Different mutation in the same gene.Beckers dystrophy also appears later in age, around 7-8 years.

Technically DMD has the diseased gene which is absent altogether or non functional making it more severe than BMD where its partly functional. Moreover DMD has a faster pace towards tissue damage as opposed to BMD. While Average life span in DMD is mid 20s in BMD its around 45 years making it more milder.

HOW SERIOUS IS IT?

  Speaking about complications, timely diagnosis and treatment are required for slowing down the progress of the disease by proper medications and help. Fatalities occur due to non treatment and disease progress, death usually happening due to weakening of heart muscles or Ventricular dysfunction and arrhythmia and consecutively heart failure.

HOW CAN I DIAGNOSE IT AND WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF THE DISEASE?

Proper clinical data and referencial personal history and family history should be meticulously recorded and should be backed up by Genetic evaluation test from meticulously handled blood samples to establish proper diagnosis. 

MUSCLE BIOPSIES may be required to evaluate the severity of the damage the muscle tissue has sustained with extent of tissue inflamation.

Also blood reports like CPK or creatine kinase is required to estimate tissue damage and prognosis. However, CPK levels are not the definitive reports and clinical evaluation should be given due importance to evaluate the patients response to the therapy.

HOW CAN HOMEOPATHY HELP.

 A properly and meticulously selected homeopathic medicine may have a significant impact on improving the patients deteriorating state and may help to slow down the progress and improve the quality of life of the patient.

Homeopathic medicines like Phosphorous, Curare, Nux vomica, Thuja, syphilinum and many more are capable enough to significantly retard the pace of the disease drastically improving  the quality of patients life.

A CASE FROM MY DESK:

This case is of Mr. D, a teenage boy aged 14 years. He found himself in a difficult situation while turning in bed, standing from the chair and also climbing the stairs.

Reflexes were improper on clinical evaluation and his reports of gene study and muscle biopsy also confirmed the diagnosis of MD. 

Moreso he was also suffering from a swelling and pain in his scrotum, where the ultrasound revealed gross hydrocele. His liver enzymes SGPT were also above normal range.

The medicine was selected on the basis of proper homeopathic principles and since then the patient has significantly improved and now is doing most of the things on his own. Moreover, he is able to live at par to his normal life, able to carry out his daily regular activated, his liver enzyme are improved and testicular pain and swelling also shows significant improvements. In support to the above response his blood reports are also showing a promising improvement in contribution to his overall well being.