Introduction:

Vata Raktam is a painful disease of the joints. It is a consequence of aggravation of both vayu and blood (raktam). It starts in the extremities and as it becomes chronic, moves inwards affecting the bigger joints. If it is neglected for a long time, it can be a very painful and crippling disease.

Sometimes, individuals suffering from Vata raktam, go on for years without receiving any proper treatment. Painkillers are used to suppress the symptoms. This not only does not cure the disease, but also by masking the pain and postponing proper treatment, makes the disease more chronic. In the mean time, excessive consumption of painkillers leads to various side effects of these drugs. So, after sometime, the individual begins to suffer from these side effects than the original disease which is very much there deep inside the body. This is what happened to sekhar.

Case History:

Some years ago, he seems to have had pain in the legs. He used to neglect this, take (Allopathic) painkillers and go about his work. He is a very busy professional and had to travel constantly.

When he came to Sanjeevani in the last week of December 2006, he could barely walk. He was emaciated. He was a tall man (nearly 6ft.) with a big frame, and he weighed just 45 kgs. He needed help and support from others to take each step. He was pale, lacked appetite, could not swallow food and was severely anemic. (Hb count was 7). He was being fed through a tube connected to the stomach. He was not able to wear chappals, because he could not grip them with his toes. There was severe, shooting pain in the legs. His feet and ankles were swollen. There was pricking pain from the feet up to the knees. He had pain while sitting down.

At that time he was being treated for “ulcers” in one of the big Allopathic hospitals of Chennai. He had gone there with vomiting and bleeding piles. Endoscopy had revealed “ulcers”. There had been rapid weight loss. He had gone down from 70kg to 35 kg in a period of about 5 months. He was not able to swallow food. At that hospital they had put a “peg” through which liquid food was directly sent into the stomach. The (Allopathic) doctors had advised him to take a “rich” diet, so that he could put on weight. Diet included milk, ice creams etc. His bowel movement was normal. Sleep was disturbed.

Treatment at Sanjeevani:

Since his digestion had become severely impaired, the first thing done in Sanjeevani was to treat his digestion and also anemia. His Allopathic medicines were discontinued. The first prescription was sudarsana choornam, pippalyasavam and lohasavam. To make him consume food orally, instead of a tube through the “peg” was going to be the next major challenge. He was advised to get the “peg” removed from his stomach, and to start taking the medicines and food orally.

Within two weeks, his anemic condition had vastly improved. (Hb went up from 7 to 13). Appetite was much better. The “peg” remained, but he had started consuming food orally. Swelling in the feet had reduced. Pricking pain, from the feet to the knees, had reduced. He was given a prescription consisting of medicines and tonics, which were nourishing (Brmhana) and also took care of his Vata problem, which was giving him the pain. He was advised to get himself admitted to our Vaidyasala, so that his treatment and diet could be closely monitored.

In another ten days, his “peg” was removed. . There was some weight gain, from about 44 kg to about 48 kg. He was admitted to the Sanjeevani Vaidyasala on 26-1-07. At that time he had the following symptoms: pain from the ankles to the knees; numbness in the feet; pain and stiffness in the toes. He was not able to walk without support.

As an inpatient, he was maintained on a regulated diet and internal medication, with intensive treatment consisting of Sarvanga Dhara (pouring warm medicated oils all over the body lasting for an hour at a time) and frequent external application with a medicinal paste over his legs. After a few days of this treatment, the radiating pain from ankles to knees was not there; pain was localized in the ankles and toes. There was some mild swelling in the feet and numbness. In the first week, he was beginning to gain weight, was able to take more food – chapattis, meat soup, milk, etc. Gradually his strength increased. He was able to lift small things – like a cup. He still had pain in the feet, and he was not able to walk without support.

By the end of the first week of February, he began to take a few steps without support. There was no pain in his legs, but he had pins and needles sensation. He was improving steadily. By the 10^th of February, he started walking without support slowly. The pricking pain was confined to his feet, but the intensity of the pain had gone down. His weight had become 49 kg by now. By the third week of February, the pain in the legs had gone down further. He was able to sleep better. The pricking pain in the feet had also reduced. He was discharged on 25-2-07.

Condition of the patient after discharge:

After his discharge, he is being treated with medicines and appropriate diet for his Vata Rakta condition. He was administered madhuthailika vasti, which helped him gain strength and weight. He put on more weight, and now he weighs about 60kg. He is able to walk without any support. There is no pain in his legs now. He still has some tenderness and softness in the soles of feet and he continues with the treatment. Most importantly he has resumed full-fledged work at the office including some travel.