Paget’s disease and Siddha Management

It is long time since this blog is updated, as the microblog social network is simpler to express things in few lines. But this time decided to write this blog as it is felt the message is important and needs to be conveyed. Also normally clinical issues are not discussed in this blog unless they are really path breaking. Yesterday afternoon, a seventy year old male patient called up on telephone and informed that at last he is relieved of the ordeal of daily dressing of his wound in the right thigh with pus/ fluid discharge. He also said ‘The discharge stopped and wound healed almost before a week but I want to be doubly sure that discharge does not reoccur so that I can confidently convey to you’. Amazing  it is almost three years I have been suffering seeing one doctor after other including Ayurveda physician, for the condition I was diagnosed as Paget’s disease, I never thought that these simple herbal medicines suggested by you will work’. But I thought it otherwise as the medicines and herbs prescribed to him are all well researched and have enough evidence.

For the common reader who reads this blog, let me explain what this condition is. Paget's disease of bone is a chronic disorder that can result in enlarged and misshapen bones. Paget's is caused by the excessive breakdown and formation of bone, followed by disorganized bone remodeling. This causes affected bone to weaken, resulting in pain, misshapen bones, fractures, and arthritis in the joints near the affected bones. Often Paget's disease is localized to only a few bones in the body. Paget's disease typically is localized, unlike osteoporosis which usually affects all the bones in the body.

In Allopathy/Biomedicine there is no cure for Paget's disease, medications bisphosphonates and calcitonin can help control the disorder and lessen pain and other symptoms. Medications are often successful in controlling the disorder, especially when started before complications begin. Paget's disease is rare in people less than 55 years of age. Men are more commonly affected than women.

In this patient it has occurred in the femur the thigh bone. He has developed infection and was having a non healing deep fistula type wound with discharge mostly with pus. His movements are restricted and with very little physical activity, infection and stress has developed borderline diabetes.

The drugs suggested were the following. Cissus quadrangularis – Pirandai as food supplement for bone repair, Skimmed milk, Ragi and millets particularly the ones rich in calcium as breakfast food. Decoction of Rubia cordifolia – Manjista and Mahavallathy legiyum for its efficacy in controlling neogrowth and local application of a medicated wick with datura oil. A blend of Turmeric and Indian Gooseberry to control diabetes was also given. The results were obvious by the end of two months. Discharge of pus stopped after 20 days, the serous discharge after two month, with formation of granulation tissue and wound completely healed in 70 days. The patient is now able to walk atleast 500 mts without pain or instability with a support of a walking stick. He is suggested for a X-ray of the femur to confirm the bone shape. The Expense incurred for this is only 0.01% of the money he has incurred in the last three years. It is not just about the cost effectiveness but also the safety and efficacy of these plant drugs in a chronic disease.

CTMR attempts to share its clinical experience for the benefit of the humanity.