Back to where it was paused - Embarking a new walk!!
As I got up today, there was a sense of contentment that I was returning to the same ground where suddenly it all had paused 12 weeks earlier and as I ensue my journey to the destination, the memory tapes were rolling to recall all those moments where I embarked this new walk. It all started with my pulse rate shooting up when I was told that it would require 10 to 12 weeks as the recuperation time for my fractured leg. Having shifted to a private AC room, the first thing I remember is that the room instead of having an open window, had a board saying ‘this room lacks ventilation and therefore we are charging less than the normal private AC room rates’. Well spending those 12 days in that room was like hell, not for me, but for my bro and mom. Because of the fact that the room really lacked ventilation and me not being a great fan of air conditioning, lying on the bed, I would order to switch on the AC and switch it off almost every 10 minutes or so. However mom, bro and sometimes my friends diligently followed each of my orders – I wonder if I ever would have done that if I had been in their place.
The first 4 days on the bed, almost in a stand still position meant that my shoulders and back started throbbing, but bro did keep those muscles stimulated by the massage that he provided everyday. Day 5 brought a new lease with it, I was taken to the rehabilitation center and there I was asked to do some physiotherapy exercises lying on the bed. However most of the exercises, surprisingly never featured my fractured leg and when queried, the exercises were meant to strengthen the other 3 limbs just to ensure that those don’t crumble in the restoration of their injured companion. One of the many exercises, the doc held my injured leg and since I could not move it by myself, she asked me to pivot around and asked me to sit on the edge of the cot. This was the first time I had held my back perpendicular to the ground level in the previous 5 days. I was asked to sit there for 5 minutes or so with the doc holding the leg for me. However in the same state, my mind started pondering over the concept of sitting in a wheel chair. After returning to my default state for the previous 5 days, we enquired about a wheel chair in the ward and luckily they had one. Never enquired, neither the doctor nor the physiotherapist, ordered my brother to hold my leg and swivel around, so that I can try and get down from the bed and sit on the wheelchair. I got down on one leg with the other leg still held up by my brother in a parallel position to the ground, hopped once, caught the wheel chair and rested on it. Once the injured leg was slowly rested on the wheel chair foot lever and I felt comfortable with the position, I asked my friend to take me around the hospital lobby. My joys knew no bounds – when I was guided through the hospital lobby – never ever felt so relieved to keep my head high. It was so much comforting to feel the heat of the sunlight from the hospital gallery and to watch the vehicles and people plying over the bridge that can be seen from the gallery. While the round lasted only for 15 minutes, because I started feeling uncomfortable with the leg position, these moments were enough for me, to forget about the pain over the last 5 days. When I was helped over to my position on the bed, I messaged my achievement to all my buddies – expected some soothing replies and words of encouragement. My mates did not disappoint, everyone was happy with the news and replied accordingly, one or two called up with an intention to scold me as to why did I attempt such a heroic – but I guess, when they heard the glee in my voice, their wrath would have just evaporated and they ended up feeling happy for me and before they disconnected the call gave me a quiet advice to follow the doc orders.
The next day when I was enjoying on a wheel chair in the hospital lobby, I saw the doc who operated me looking out for me in my ward and when he realized that I was on a wheel chair – I expected a backfire for sitting on the wheel chair without consulting – but surprisingly, he was pleasantly happy to see me – guess he thought that the physio had given me permission.
Day 8 was when I was told by my physio that I would have to try walking now with a walker without touching the injured leg on the ground. It was quiet a session when I was taught how to use my 2 hands and one leg to mobilize around. Another milestone towards my mobility was achieved – out came the cell phone – the cell phone was a real company to give orders to my in-station friends and get in touch with my out-station friends. Three days of practice on the walker made me perfect with the art – atleast the physio thought so!! The physio and the doc gave me discharge orders, once the stitches were removed on the 12th day. It was friends again that took care of all the discharge formalities – Have been really lucky to have such a close network of friends.
Now it was time for my stay at my room in Pune – a daily routine which I would never have imagined – literally spent my entire day watching TV – this was not new, I have already spent days idly and lazily watching TV – but the difference was that I was following the tele-serials and daily soaps – earlier, the only thing I saw sports and news. Life certainly is uncertain, as they say.
4 weeks flew off pretty fast and it was 6th week after 6/6 – time for a follow-up visit to the doc in the hospital and X-ray was summoned. The doc explained me that the hairline crack (yes – the doc during the surgery had managed to generate a hairline crack, while adjusting the bone alignment) had healed completely and the main fracture was also on its way of healing. The doc suggested me that I can start putting partial weight on the injured leg. He suggested me to put 20% weight for the next week and then slowly increase the load over the next 4 weeks to 100% weight. I was confused how do I put 20% load on the leg? The answer was provided by my physio – She asked me my weight and then asked me to put my injured leg on a weighing balance until the balance reaches the 20% of my weight. This was the pressure that I was to put on the injured leg. I asked the doc if I can use the crutches for mobilizing – He asked me if I indeed can manage on my crutches – I replied in affirmation. Then it was time for my crutches classes at the rehabilitation center. The next follow-up visit with the doc was after 4 weeks. Another week passed by with me putting 20% load on the injured leg and I was pretty comfortable mobilizing with the help of crutches. Time for 50% load bearing – I used the same formula as my physio used a week earlier and found out the load that I can put on the leg. Then it struck to me, that if 50% load is to be taken by the fractured limb, then the other leg would have to bear the remaining 50% weight and further analyzing, helped me to realize with this condition, I would be able to stand without any supports (50 % load on each leg). This realization got me started to try and stand without any support. With practice, there I was in the 7th week, standing on my own feet – another feather in the cap – are to lo bhaiyaa ham, apane pairo ke uupar,
khade ho gaye, aur milaalii hai taal.
I browsed the net and found out as to how do I use the crutches to ascend and descend the stairs. Once I learnt doing this by practicing it, I thought I was in a position to join the office. I got the permission from my doc and there I was joining the company in the 9th week. In the 10th week, there was this follow-up visit, where I was told to use only one crutch and then start practicing walking without any support at home. Once comfortable at home, I can start walking without any support. I was able to start walking without any support in the 10th week. Despite starting to walk, I am not able to walk in the right posture, as my brain is not sending signals to my injured leg to take the complete load and therefore I am limping my way out. Physiotherapy sessions are being continued to correct my walking posture and the physio has told me that it would require another month or so to regain my posture.
Screech!!, I was able to hear the screeching brakes and the vehicle took a stop and here I am, walking my way (Donald Duck style) through the BMCC gates and seeing my mates in yellow jerseys enjoy the game of cricket. I could see both the excitement and the relief in my mate’s eyes to see me back on the ground – the same ground on which 12 weeks earlier, I had taken a pause and therefore had to embark this new walk.
The first 4 days on the bed, almost in a stand still position meant that my shoulders and back started throbbing, but bro did keep those muscles stimulated by the massage that he provided everyday. Day 5 brought a new lease with it, I was taken to the rehabilitation center and there I was asked to do some physiotherapy exercises lying on the bed. However most of the exercises, surprisingly never featured my fractured leg and when queried, the exercises were meant to strengthen the other 3 limbs just to ensure that those don’t crumble in the restoration of their injured companion. One of the many exercises, the doc held my injured leg and since I could not move it by myself, she asked me to pivot around and asked me to sit on the edge of the cot. This was the first time I had held my back perpendicular to the ground level in the previous 5 days. I was asked to sit there for 5 minutes or so with the doc holding the leg for me. However in the same state, my mind started pondering over the concept of sitting in a wheel chair. After returning to my default state for the previous 5 days, we enquired about a wheel chair in the ward and luckily they had one. Never enquired, neither the doctor nor the physiotherapist, ordered my brother to hold my leg and swivel around, so that I can try and get down from the bed and sit on the wheelchair. I got down on one leg with the other leg still held up by my brother in a parallel position to the ground, hopped once, caught the wheel chair and rested on it. Once the injured leg was slowly rested on the wheel chair foot lever and I felt comfortable with the position, I asked my friend to take me around the hospital lobby. My joys knew no bounds – when I was guided through the hospital lobby – never ever felt so relieved to keep my head high. It was so much comforting to feel the heat of the sunlight from the hospital gallery and to watch the vehicles and people plying over the bridge that can be seen from the gallery. While the round lasted only for 15 minutes, because I started feeling uncomfortable with the leg position, these moments were enough for me, to forget about the pain over the last 5 days. When I was helped over to my position on the bed, I messaged my achievement to all my buddies – expected some soothing replies and words of encouragement. My mates did not disappoint, everyone was happy with the news and replied accordingly, one or two called up with an intention to scold me as to why did I attempt such a heroic – but I guess, when they heard the glee in my voice, their wrath would have just evaporated and they ended up feeling happy for me and before they disconnected the call gave me a quiet advice to follow the doc orders.
The next day when I was enjoying on a wheel chair in the hospital lobby, I saw the doc who operated me looking out for me in my ward and when he realized that I was on a wheel chair – I expected a backfire for sitting on the wheel chair without consulting – but surprisingly, he was pleasantly happy to see me – guess he thought that the physio had given me permission.
Day 8 was when I was told by my physio that I would have to try walking now with a walker without touching the injured leg on the ground. It was quiet a session when I was taught how to use my 2 hands and one leg to mobilize around. Another milestone towards my mobility was achieved – out came the cell phone – the cell phone was a real company to give orders to my in-station friends and get in touch with my out-station friends. Three days of practice on the walker made me perfect with the art – atleast the physio thought so!! The physio and the doc gave me discharge orders, once the stitches were removed on the 12th day. It was friends again that took care of all the discharge formalities – Have been really lucky to have such a close network of friends.
Now it was time for my stay at my room in Pune – a daily routine which I would never have imagined – literally spent my entire day watching TV – this was not new, I have already spent days idly and lazily watching TV – but the difference was that I was following the tele-serials and daily soaps – earlier, the only thing I saw sports and news. Life certainly is uncertain, as they say.
4 weeks flew off pretty fast and it was 6th week after 6/6 – time for a follow-up visit to the doc in the hospital and X-ray was summoned. The doc explained me that the hairline crack (yes – the doc during the surgery had managed to generate a hairline crack, while adjusting the bone alignment) had healed completely and the main fracture was also on its way of healing. The doc suggested me that I can start putting partial weight on the injured leg. He suggested me to put 20% weight for the next week and then slowly increase the load over the next 4 weeks to 100% weight. I was confused how do I put 20% load on the leg? The answer was provided by my physio – She asked me my weight and then asked me to put my injured leg on a weighing balance until the balance reaches the 20% of my weight. This was the pressure that I was to put on the injured leg. I asked the doc if I can use the crutches for mobilizing – He asked me if I indeed can manage on my crutches – I replied in affirmation. Then it was time for my crutches classes at the rehabilitation center. The next follow-up visit with the doc was after 4 weeks. Another week passed by with me putting 20% load on the injured leg and I was pretty comfortable mobilizing with the help of crutches. Time for 50% load bearing – I used the same formula as my physio used a week earlier and found out the load that I can put on the leg. Then it struck to me, that if 50% load is to be taken by the fractured limb, then the other leg would have to bear the remaining 50% weight and further analyzing, helped me to realize with this condition, I would be able to stand without any supports (50 % load on each leg). This realization got me started to try and stand without any support. With practice, there I was in the 7th week, standing on my own feet – another feather in the cap – are to lo bhaiyaa ham, apane pairo ke uupar,
khade ho gaye, aur milaalii hai taal.
I browsed the net and found out as to how do I use the crutches to ascend and descend the stairs. Once I learnt doing this by practicing it, I thought I was in a position to join the office. I got the permission from my doc and there I was joining the company in the 9th week. In the 10th week, there was this follow-up visit, where I was told to use only one crutch and then start practicing walking without any support at home. Once comfortable at home, I can start walking without any support. I was able to start walking without any support in the 10th week. Despite starting to walk, I am not able to walk in the right posture, as my brain is not sending signals to my injured leg to take the complete load and therefore I am limping my way out. Physiotherapy sessions are being continued to correct my walking posture and the physio has told me that it would require another month or so to regain my posture.
Screech!!, I was able to hear the screeching brakes and the vehicle took a stop and here I am, walking my way (Donald Duck style) through the BMCC gates and seeing my mates in yellow jerseys enjoy the game of cricket. I could see both the excitement and the relief in my mate’s eyes to see me back on the ground – the same ground on which 12 weeks earlier, I had taken a pause and therefore had to embark this new walk.
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