50 former arthritis and hip, knee replacement patients played garba at a special event organised by Sai Snehdeep Hospital, Koparkhairane.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in
Normally, one expects a person who has undergone a hip or knee replacement surgery to lie low. The last thing you would expect such a person to do is to break into a dance.
But a group of senior citizens, all between 65 and 80 years of age and all members of the Bone and Joint Support Group of the Sai Snehdeep Hospital, Koparkhairane, proved this idea wrong. On Friday, World Arthritis Day, about 50 men and women from the group came together for a garba night organised by the hospital.
The hospital feels that such initiatives help patients bond together to share and learn from each other so as to lead a normal life even after undergoing complex bone and joint surgeries. Said Dr Ruchika Sood, “The objectives of the support group is to provide a bonding platform to all our rehabilitated patients. It also offers proper support and guidance to pre-operative and post-operative patients with knee and spine problems. Some of the major initiatives of these groups include physiotherapy session, special consultation, investigations and health check-ups, and regular sessions on knee and spine and related physiotherapy by experts.”
The participation of the members was spontaneous and a great time was had by all. Said former patient Raksha Shah (82), “My knee arthritis was so bad that in spite of all conservative measures, my activity levels were restricted. I never considered surgery as an option in view of my age. Also, my relatives used to tell me that knee replacement may not be for me. But I attended a meeting where orthopedic surgeons lectured us on specialised knee replacement techniques. Today, a few years after the operation, I have a full and active life.”
A patient of knee replacement, Menka Singh, said, “We are not a group that will sit idle even if we are post the age of 60. After my surgery, I feel motivated and fit enough to compete with teenagers in today’s garba evening.”
This initiative is aimed at creating awareness for getting back to healthy and active life post joint surgery, with appropriate cure and rehabilitative care. Orthopedic surgeons Dr Rajesh Badiyani, Dr Sachin Kale, Dr Kuldeep Tamboli, Dr Amol Wagmere, Dr Atul Kharat and Dr Virendra Pal Singh are involved in this initiative.
(Pictures courtesy Sai Snehdeep Hospital)