Homeopathic Management of Chronic Multisite Musculoskeletal Pain in a 64-Year-Old Male With Degenerative Spine Pathology: A Case Report at Dr Batra's

Abstract

Background: Chronic musculoskeletal pain in older adults is frequently multifactorial, with degenerative changes of the spine, osteoarthritis and tendon pathology contributing to pain, stiffness and functional limitation. Individualized case documentation may incorporate both physical symptoms and patient-specific mental and general characteristics.

Case Presentation: A 64-year-old male farmer presented accompanied by his son with severe right-sided shoulder pain, neck pain and back pain, along with bilateral knee pain of more than 20 years’ duration. He also reported right lower-limb pain radiating from the thigh to the knee and calf muscles. The shoulder pain was severe enough to restrict movement of the right arm and radiated toward the elbow and hand. MRI of the lumbar spine demonstrated straightening of the spine, multilevel disc desiccation and osteophytes, reduced L5–S1 disc space and concentric disc bulges at L2–L3, L3–L4, L4–L5 and L5–S1. MRI of the shoulder showed significant degenerative changes involving the rotator cuff, partial-thickness supraspinatus tear, joint capsule thickening with effusion, biceps tendinopathy with medial displacement of the long head of the biceps tendon, degenerative posterosuperior labral tear and moderate acromioclavicular joint arthritis. The patient’s constitutional picture included a chilly thermal state, irritability, strong and strict personality, workaholic/ambitious disposition, easy anger, fear of injections, fear of being injured and a perceived threat from neighbours, together with loss of confidence after previously considering himself strong and capable. Lycopodium 200 was recorded as the constitutional prescription. Serial follow-up documentation subsequently recorded improvement, with the latest available consultation on 13 August 2026 stating that the patient was feeling better.

Conclusion: This case illustrates the complexity of chronic multisite musculoskeletal complaints in an older adult with objectively documented degenerative pathology. The case also demonstrates the importance of integrating structural findings, functional limitations, physical generals and individualized mental characteristics in longitudinal clinical documentation. The recorded improvement should be interpreted as a clinical observation and cannot, from a single uncontrolled case, establish causal efficacy of homeopathic treatment.