Kali Bichromicum in a Case of Gout with Right Ankle Pain

Case Description

The main guiding symptom of this medicine is considered to be ropy discharge from the mucous membranes, and this is also regarded as an important guiding symptom for its use.

On the basis of this symptom, Kali Bichromicum is used in various diseases of the mucous membranes. It is also used in cases of migraine when there is a ropy discharge of mucus.

In addition, according to Kent, it is used in cases of gout in which the joints become swollen like balloons and there is considerable pain.

I cured one condition of gout with Kali Bichromicum. The symptoms of the disease used to become worse during winter. During the cold season, the patient suffered so much that he could not move from one place to another without support.

The patient was thin, weak, and fair in complexion. He had rheumatic pain in the right ankle, which reached its extreme during winter. The patient obtained relief from fomentation of the ankle.

For four years, extensive allopathic medicines had been tried for this condition. Homoeopathic medicines had also been used, including Colchicum, Ledum, Rhus Tox, and others, but none provided any benefit.

Finally, on the basis of the symptoms of pain in the back part of the ankle and the symptoms involving the mucous membranes of the eyes, I prescribed Kali Bichromicum 200.

An important symptom in this case was that the patient's foot became stiff in the morning, which caused him considerable difficulty in the morning.

After giving one dose of Kali Bichromicum 200, he did not experience this difficulty, and the pain was greatly reduced.

On the following day, a second dose of the same medicine was given, after which all the complaints of the patient disappeared.

Key Symptoms on Which the Medicine Was Prescribed

1. The patient's eyes were highly inflamed, with many watery tears from both the upper and lower eyelids.
2. There was pain at one point in the back part of the ankle, which the patient could press with his thumb. Pointed pain was considered a characteristic symptom of the medicine.
3. The right ankle pain became most severe during winter.
4. The foot became stiff in the morning.
5. The patient obtained relief from fomentation of the ankle.

Conclusion

This case of gout with right ankle pain had persisted despite approximately four years of allopathic and homoeopathic treatment. The symptoms were particularly severe during winter, and the patient had difficulty moving without support.

Kali Bichromicum 200 was prescribed on the basis of the characteristic symptoms, including the pointed pain in the back part of the ankle, eye symptoms, and morning stiffness of the foot. After the first dose, the morning difficulty was relieved and the pain was greatly reduced. After the second dose on the following day, all the patient's complaints disappeared.