Physical Education

I was even more hurt when my regular orthopaedic surgeon refused to take my SOS calls.

Saturday noon injuries, according to his assistant, needed to wait till Monday evening for treatment. It was the start of the weekend and the Hippocrates oath had been locked up at the office.

Luckily a friend gave me a physiotherapist8217;s number. Not only did the doctor return my call, she had her junior waiting for me when I hobbled in, wincing in agony. Half an hour later, I walked out. Better. Still hurt but cheerful as the pain was 50 per cent less. Since then, I have gone back every day and now I am actually gloating about my injury. Because I had discovered a tiny hamlet of professionals who still care. Located opposite Babulnath Temple, this charitable clinic is run by a dynamic doctor and her assistants. They charge 1920s8217; prices but give you 21st century treatment. From the exercise they prescribe to the equipment they use8212;everything is just right. It may lack the shine and sparkle of some of our newer facilities but it has the one thing they lack: Compassion.

When I watch the team deal with the older people who come with age-related ailments, they are gentle, yet firm. And always patient. If someone wants to ask the same question again and again, they take the time to reply.

Strangely, their time management is also perfect. No matter how crowded it gets, or how late you arrive for an appointment, they take you in. When I asked how they managed, their reason was simple: 8220;Your time is as valuable as ours.8221; I have perhaps another month left but I know I shall miss coming here. Because I like to be reminded of a time when doctors could be counted on. Also time tends to stand still here. No one watches the clock. They watch the patient.

Which is why I am bewildered at doctor8217;s attitudes8212;specially the orthopaedic ones. They actually discourage you from going for physiotherapy. Perhaps they feel that once they pronounce a person well, they can disengage from the healing process. But that is only half the battle won. From personal experience, I can say that this time my ankle hurt less and healed faster this time8212;as compared to the last. Sure there was no short cut to rest but even while I was in bed, a long-term view on wellness was being worked out.

I am still a month away from full recovery but I am promised that once that happens, the left leg will be stronger than before. I believe them because I have seen the results. Be it a niggling pain in the back or a slight twinge in the wrist,

I have seen it all fixed. So write your own prescription for pain: Ignore doctor8217;s orders and visit a physiotherapist.

The columnist is Editor-in-Chief, ELLE