Joy, Thank you for your prompt reply and thoughtful perspective.
· Due to her exceptional improvement from previous physical ‘state’, I believe previous selection of remedy and potency and dosing were effective. It has been a complex case – definitely not perfect – and evaluating that later will be educational – but I’ll leave that for later.
· Yes – I definitely think she has moved into another state – but my observation is that it is not a ‘shut down’ in preparation for death. Definitely emotions are more obvious at this point (having worked with me for a while now – she is also more communicative about emotions) but I get the impression she has way too much time on her hands (some of it in pain) and emotions and fears (such as fear of re-injury) are exaggerated beyond what they would be if she had more normal activities filling her days. Also – some of the fears – like being hurt by ‘caregivers’ - are very real and it has definitely happened more than once.
· I would not wish to see anyone allow fears to let them ‘give up’ on mobility since that has secondary effects on digestive system, circulatory system, etc. not to mention the mental problems that come with too much time spent confined in 4 walls.
Thank you for the suggestions ‘fear of pain’ and ’intolerance of pain’. It started me looking at nervous/anxious/sensitive etc. Overall she is not a ‘nervous’ person – but in the context of anxiety about something specific – it brought up some very interesting possibilities for consideration. As always – working with the rep – just a new or slight variation in word or phrase gets the wheels in motion.
Again,
Thank you for the prompt response.
Donna
From:
minutus@yahoogroups.com [mailto:
minutus@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Joy Lucas
Sent: Friday, August 13, 2010 12:29 PM
To:
minutus@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Minutus] Elder case - not progressing
I think there are a few points here to consider
. if homeopathy healing has been great then one has to ask why has it stopped - consider all the options of why that could be - and it doesn't sound like dosing or potency as healing has been so good but it might be worthwhile re-starting her simillimum on a different potency and dosing protocol
. perhaps she has moved into another state, one that is driven by emotions and spiritual ideas - she is elderly and the physical pain and fear of pain might be a metaphor for other fears, such as coming to the end of her life, being mobile or lacking in mobility can be quite a statement in that regard, a kind of withdrawal
. if increased mobility = she is still vulnerable to falling or getting injured then that is to be expected in any one who is fragile or weak or whatever is preventing them from being confident in mobility - possibly discuss this with her more - sometimes physiotherapy and carers put people under a lot of pressure to do this, to do that and she might really not want to - in this respect she hardly needs a rx but for carers to be less intense and her life can be made more comfortable in other ways
. if it truly is in her best interest to be moving and have exercise then you might need to look at the extreme sensitivity that appears to be manifesting (i.e. if carers are not being overly forceful at all) and thus her pain is actually intensified - there are a number of rx that pertain to this such as Arsenicum, Coffea, Bryonia, Aconite, + others - it is not only a fear of pain but an intolerance of one as well (use both rubrics)
. just keep talking to her if you feel a new rx is called for and if she is open then she will reveal to you all you need to know for that and hopefully will stay with homeopathy
. mostly though, her needs, i.e. what she wants, should be uppermost and not always what others want for her
Joy
http://www.joylucashomeopathy.com
Working with elder female - physical healing has been spectacular with homeopathy and nutrition. She has however stopped all progress at regaining mobility. A core issue appears to be a fear of re-injury. Therapy does cause pain – and that triggers the fear of re-injury. Also caregivers moving her (and making careless mistakes) actually does cause minor re-injury. So her fears are based on reality. Speaking with her, if not in pain at that moment, she describes hours of pain free time, she is positive and enthusiastic and will talk of regaining mobility. Half and hour later, if the pain has returned (after movement by caregiver or such), she will tell you she is never without significant pain, never gets relief from anything, and you can watch her tense, increase pain, tense more, . . . a very vicious cycle. She does not respond to relaxation exercises when the caregivers are around. Now I have just learned she has stopped the therapist as well – out of real pain experienced, and fear of pain. I know the early pain she suffered after a spinal injury was very severe, and she will currently (in pain free times) acknowledge that the current pain is only a shadow of the previous level, but once suffering pain – she is describes that pain as constant and as severe as immediately after the injury.
I am reworking her case now – and would love to appropriately include the fear of re-injury and pain perception. Her family is worried, since when in the pain, she keeps asking for drugs. With homeopathy – she has not taken any pain medications since November, and the family realized that with a return to pharmaceuticals – the situation will rapidly deteriorate.
Those with experience in elder case management, and case reevaluation in this type of situation – your input would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance.
Donna
D C Rona, PhD, ND, DHM