query builder like with wildcard in the middle

Code:

SELECT * FROM table WHERE column LIKE 'some%thing'

3rd parameter
after = 'some%thing%'
before = '%some%thing'
both (or leave empty) = '%some%thing%'

but how with 'some%thing' ??

i just can use this:

Code:

SELECT * FROM table WHERE column LIKE '%" .$this->db->escape_like_str($search)."%' ESCAPE '!

can i use query builder to produce LIKE clause with wildcare in the middle?