Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea CSF Leakage Homeopathic Treatment

Some CSF leaks occur spontaneously and the cause is unknown, while others are a result of trauma such as a head injury, brain or spinal surgery, an epidural, a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) or a skull base tumor.

Patients with high-pressure hydrocephalus, an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid, also may be at an increased risk of developing leaks

The most common symptoms of a spinal CSF leak are:

Positional headaches, which feel worse when sitting upright and better when lying down; caused by intracranial hypotension

Nausea and vomiting

Neck pain or stiffness

Change in hearing (muffled, ringing in the ears)

Sense of imbalance

Photophobia (sensitivity to light)

Phonophobia (sensitivity to sound)

Pain between the shoulder blades

For patients with cranial CSF leaks, the most common indicators are:

Drainage from the nose (rhinorrhea)

Salty or metallic taste in the mouth

Sense of drainage down back of throat

Drainage from the ear (otorrhea)

Cutaneous sinus tract drainage (CSF leaks into the sinus tract, which then creates a pathway to drain through the skin)

Loss of sense of smell (anosmia)

Change in hearing or ringing in the ears

Less frequently, patients with cranial CSF leaks experience cognitive changes.

Diagnosis of a CSF leak generally begins with a physical exam and history. A CSF leak can be difficult to detect, causing misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis. Experts such as those in the Cedars-Sinai CSF Leak Program can be pivotal in providing relief.

If a cranial CSF leak is suspected, the patient’s physician may ask them to lean forward so they can observe if this increases the flow of nasal discharge. If the discharge can be collected, it is sent for laboratory tests to determine if it is cerebrospinal fluid.

The patient’s physician also may order tests to examine the condition of the brain and spinal cord. Whether the hole or tear is in the cranial area or the spine, the physician can order imaging tests to determine the exact location of the leak.

These tests may include:

Computed tomography (CT)

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans

Specialized tests such as myelography, which takes images of the spine, spinal cord and surrounding structures to look for abnormalities

Cisternogram, which can determine if there is abnormal cerebrospinal fluid flow within the brain or spinal canal

A pledget test may be used to determine if a cranial CSF leak is occurring by placing small cotton pads (pledgets) in the nose.

The pledget test, however, cannot be used to determine the location of the leak. A CT scan, MRI, myelogram or a cisternogram can assist the physician in determining the location of the leak in either the cranial or spinal area.

Homeopathy treats the person as a whole on wholistic concept. It means that homeopathic treatment focuses on the patient as a person, as well as his pathological condition based on symptoms.Symptoms are sign of internal turbulance or loss of equilibrium. The homeopathic medicines are selected after a full individualizing examination and case-analysis, which includes the medical history of the patient, physical and mental constitution, family history, presenting symptoms, underlying pathology, possible causative factors etc.  A homeopathy doctor tries to treat more than just the presenting symptoms. The focus is usually on what caused the disease condition especially. Why this patient is sick in this way while others not in same house or condition. The disease diagnosis is important but in homeopathy, the cause of disease is not just probed to the level of bacteria and viruses. Other factors like mental, emotional and physical stress that could predispose a person to illness are also looked for. No a days, even modern medicine also considers a large number of diseases as psychosomatic. The correct homeopathy remedy tries to correct this disease predisposition. The focus is not on curing the disease but to cure the person who is sick, to restore the health. If a disease pathology is not very advanced, homeopathy remedies do give a hope for cure but even in incurable cases, the quality of life can be greatly improved with homeopathic medicines.

Allium cepa: Allium Cepa is one of the most commonly used Homeopathic medicines for Allergic Rhinitis or Hay Fever. It is generally used in the symptoms of severe runny nose that drips from the tip of nose with watery eyes. There is burning of nose due to over secretion mucous. Along with the watery nasal discharge there is watery eye. There is profuse sneezing associated with runny nose and watery eyes.

Arsenic alb - There is thin watery discharge from the nose with burning sensation, recurrent sneezing one after another with runny nose. Burning and tearing of eyes . There is puffiness around eyes, stuffy nose. The person has an asthmatic tendency with breathing difficulties, and oppression of chest which is generally worse when he lies down. On sitting with a forward bending posture makes the patient little comfort from his asthmatic problem. There is marked wheezing sound during asthmatic affection. The asthma is worse in wet cold weather. Besides that the constitutional symptoms of arsenic alb are anxiety, restlessness, prostration, burning sensation. The anxiety that is found in Arsenic alb is intermingled with fear. The other prominent symptoms are debility, exhaustion, restlessness, with nightly aggravation. Great exhaustion after a slightest exertion.

Natrum mur – Natrum mur is generally well indicated in case of allergic condition which gives the symptoms of more itching of nose, throat, ear with recurrent sneezing one after another. The characteristic discharge from the mucous membranes is watery or thick whitish, like the white of an egg. Natrum mur patient is very sensitive in nature. Every thing he/she takes into the heart. The person is irritable in nature and when in upset does not like any body’s present or giving of any consolation. Consolation aggravated the state of the mind - the melancholy, the tearfulness, sometimes brings on anger. The Natrum mur patient is extremely emotional. The whole nervous economy is in a state of fret (visible anxious like scratching finger on her skin in worry). Completely or desperately in love brings on complaints. The natrum mur patient desire to take extra salt in his diet.

Sabadilla- it has good action on mucous membrane of the nose and the lachrymal glands, producing coryza and symptoms like hay-fever. There is spasmodic sneezing one after another. symptoms of hay-fever or allergic rhinitis with itchy nose and fluent coryza. Either nostril stuffed up, inspiration through nose labored, snoring. Violent sneezing is occurred from time to time, shaking abdomen followed by lachrymation. There is runny nose with severe frontal headache and redness of eyelids.

Sulphur – There is itching with redness of eyes in allergic condition. The itching is followed by burning sensation and relieved by cold application. sulphur patient is always irritable, depressed, thin and weak, but good appetite. He is having forgetful nature, difficulties in thinking. He has many good ideas but cannot implement it. Selfish type person, no regards for others. very lazy person, not cleanness, never look after about his dressing and clothing. Don’t like to take bath. Having of skin diseases always. The skin rashes itch a lot generally in night and warm atmosphere. The person has a feeling congestion or oppression of chest in asthmatic condition.