Mrs A presented with acute sciatica on the left side. She complained that the pain was ‘like a toothache’ and was very debilitating. When she pressed on the buttock and hip on the left side, the pain was  somewhat reduced. She felt that massage would help. She was irritable with the pain and ‘just wanted it fixed’.

Mrs A had a history of a broken left leg 20 years previously, which had been poorly set, resulting in left knee dysfunction and stiffness. Otherwise, she  was in reasonably good health and generally had plenty of energy. Usually, Mrs A was a tea drinker, but she reported that she had desired coffee  much more than usual since the condition had flared up. She said coffee seemed to make her feel better.

On further questioning, Mrs A became upset and teary and told me she quite recently had a dispute with her son and was very angry with him. He  had been ‘trying to run my life’ and they had an argument about where she should live. Her concerned son was adamant about her need to sell her  house and move to more ‘suitable’ living arrangements. She was just as adamant she wanted to stay where she was ‘until they carry me out’.

Mrs A and her son had not been on speaking terms since the dispute. Because the sciatica started just after this dispute, the emotional aspects were  important to consider when selecting the best homeopathic medicine for the situation. After a couple of doses of the indicated medicine, the sciatica  was ‘much better’ the next day.

A week later she reported that she had not had any symptoms since taking the medicine.

DENNIS RYAN, professional homeopath, Qld