Minor Knee Surgery in India

President Franklin D. Roosevelt said in his inaugural speech: "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." He is right. For the past 20 years or so, I have been traveling around the world, and the one thing I have feared is getting sick or hurt in another country. I worried how to difficult it would be to navigate the health care system in another country and feeling vulnerable to strangers advice. I am proud to report that now I have squashed that fear. After 2 weeks of my knee still hurting a little bit and not being able to fully extend my knee, I asked my mentor teacher about the hospitals in India and one that she would recommend. She gave me a few names and I chose the one closest to our house. He took one look at my knee and the fact that I could not fully extend it and immediately said that it does not look good. He then sent me to get an MRI.

On Monday, February 4th Dr. Lakshmikanth determined from the MRI that in my right knee, I have a bucket handle tear of my medial meniscus and he suggested that I get a partial medial meniscectomy. In layman's terms it means that my meniscus has torn and has lodged in between my knee making it impossible to fully extend my knee. He advised that I get the surgery sooner than later because waiting could cause more damage and I would be in pain for 6 months. The next day I had a full day of classes and then went on an overnight trip to a farmhouse and then visited a village school.  In between it all, I was contacting my sister and my primary care doctor in the U.S. to have them help me understand what is necessary. Luckily, Thursday, February  7th, I did not have any classes so I spent the day figuring out whether I should get surgery or not. Thursday morning I was able to talk to an Orthopedist from the U.S.  that was recommended by my sister and my primary care doctor. He confirmed that the surgery was necessary and the sooner the better. Thursday morning I called the Indian doctor and scheduled the surgery for Friday, February 8th. They did say the sooner the better so I figured why not. If I am able to be back to my normal 200% rather than 90% than the sooner the better.

Thursday night before I spent the night in the hospital, we went to dinner as a family as a "good wishes send off." It was really nice. We found this place called Byg Brewski Brewing Company and it was a little oasis from the hustle and bustle of the city. It was close enough to the hospital and not too far away from home.

The food was amazing! Everyone got what they wanted:-)

 The place was beautiful and really provided a peaceful atmosphere to calm my nerves about the surgery the next day.

Took some sweet pictures for me to have in the hospital on Thursday night. After dinner, we parted our ways and I was off to the hospital and kept reminding myself that this was the right decision and that in the long run, it will be better.

As I began the check in process, (they suggested spending the night so there are no delays and my surgery was scheduled for 7am), everyone was taken aback by the fact that I was by myself. I kept telling them that it was a minor surgery and would only be a 30 minute surgery. They informed that even for the slightest hospital procedure the whole family and extended family comes to the hospital. I just simply told them that it was just me and my husband and two kids and there was no need for the kids to hang around a hospital. Then I had to choose a room and the admissions guy handed me a laminated sheet of paper that told me the different types of rooms and prices. I felt like I was in a hotel. I can choose from a room with 5 people to 2 people to a single room to a suite. The admissions officer suggested a room with 5 people since I was by myself. I politely asked for a single room.

The idea of me being by myself was reoccurring throughout my whole  time there. They did not know who would be a witness to me signing the papers for the procedure or that no one was going to be there when I woke up from the anaesthesia. At first, it did bother me I am not going to lie. Then I was able to rationalise that it is just a cultural difference and they do not mean any harm by asking or saying it. I simply explained my situation and they were very kind to assist me.

I headed to my room around 7pm on Thursday evening and was met by several nurses and doctors to make sure everything was set for the surgery Friday morning. I was so glad I got my own room. It did feel like I was in a fancy hotel aside from my temperature and blood pressure being checked and several staff checking in. I got a little kit with a wash cloth, shampoo, lotion, toothpaste, toothbrush, a tea cup and continuous hot water and watched some TV in English.

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I was given pajamas for the night.

Everything happened so quickly from when I made the decision to have the surgery Thursday morning to the actual surgery Friday morning. I took a nice long hot shower Friday morning and then at 6:30 a.m. I was whisked away into the operating room. The next thing I know I was back in my room and it was 10am. I was still under the anaesthesia so I was drifting in and out of sleep. The next thing I know it 12pm and the doctor is asking me to stand up and apply full pressure on my right leg. I was skeptical but did it and felt so much better than before the surgery. All I felt was the tug from the stitches. I of course got lunch. They could not release me from the hospital without a proper lunch. I had a tiffin lunch and it was really good.

2 hours later I was released and walked right out of the hospital without a limp. A friend I met 2 days prior on my village trip was kind enough to pick me up and give me a ride home from the hospital. Sharmila is the kindest sweetest person I have ever met. Without any hesitation, she was willing to pick me up and take me home after only meeting me two days prior. 

I truly feel incredible and I am so glad that I faced my fears and got the surgery done. I can not imagine what it would be like if I did not get it done. I am a little sore with the stitches and I am trying to retrain my brain to walk normally without a limp because I can now fully extend my knee. I saw the doctor on Monday and he said everything looks good and I can continue with my regular routine but no exercise yet and if my knee starts to hurt to just slow down. I get my stitches out next Monday, Feb. 18th and each day it should get better and better to the point that I will not remember I ever had a limp. It is such a nice feeling. Onward!

P.S.- This all could not have been made possible without John. He was truly incredible throughout the whole ordeal. He listened to me contemplate surgery, he became my physical therapist and helped me build the muscles around my knee, he took care of the kids and the house and made it seem as if it was no big deal. The ease in which he took on all the extra tasks made the option for surgery very easy. He truly is the best!