Abstract

PAIN MANAGEMENT THROUGH AGNI KARMA BY COPPER WIRE IN JANU SANDHIGATA VATA W.S.R TO KNEE JOINT OSTEOARTHRITIS

Nadeem Parvez* and Shweta Mishra

ABSTRACT

Osteoarthritis is a slowly progressive joint disorder that occurs mainly at advancing age. It is a degenerative, inflammatory/non-inflammatory joint disease that results in pain and restricted movement of involved joints. It is a condition involving the breakdown of the protective cartilage covering the ends of the bones where two bones meet to form a joint. In Vriddhavastha (old age), all Dhatus undergo Kshaya (degeneration), thus leading to Vataprakopa (alleviation of Vata dosha) which makes the individual prone to Sandhigata vata (Osteoarthritis). Knee joint is the commonest joint prone to degeneration. For O.A., no treatment is available which can prevent the progression of disease. Patients mainly depend on analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs for pain management. Total knee replacement is offered for long-term sufferers of Knee Joint Osteoarthritis. This surgery is very costly and can have some adverse severe complications after surgery. Agni Karma is a well-known technique given in Ayurveda that employs thermal micro-cautery to the skin over painful areas for managing severe chronic pain which may prevent patients from taking NSAIDs for a long duration. Agnikarma is a neuromodulation technique in which nerve endings of multiple unnamed small nerves of genicular nerves are damaged, preventing the transmission of painful stimuli originating from the original chronic painful source. Other pathological changes which occur during long-standing untreated degenerative changes of the Knee joint can also be subsided by this procedure. In this article, we are approaching the mode of action of Agnikarma through copper wire shalaka and how it disintegrates pathology, which creates in the Knee Joint while degenerative changes occur in it. This Shalaka could be more effective than traditional panchadhatu shalaka. We would also look on how it is helpful in managing chronic pain occurring due to these degenerative changes.

Keywords: Agnikarma, Osteoarthritis, Panchadhatu Shalaka, Copper wire Shalaka, Sandhigata Vata, Vataprakopa.