Swimming lessons

#128 post

First let me get the 50^th birthday out of the way. For me it is a great milestone – for anyone who has lived 18, 262 days (600 months or 2608 weeks) in our age and times especially with no one around is a stupendous achievement. I was telling my friends that this time translates to over 1.57 billion seconds and to have been a visitor to this planet for this length of time is some grace at work. There are good days and bad but what makes living a miracle is we get an opportunity to better ourselves. Living is like a puzzle or a Gordian knot which we try to unravel; it is a never ending exercise and the pleasure of living comes from experimenting new approaches to old knots, being daring and courageous even in jail situations as the mind tries  to reach a modicum of peace.  This year Ashish Bansal called, so did Ranga, Arun Kailasam, Neetu, Lakhina,  Lalit Matai and Vivek apart from whatspp greeting from Deepak, Anu, Mani Sir, Shabd and so many really. That they remembered to greet me on this occasion felt good

            Last week I signed for a one month swimming course at Raj Sundar Palace which is a 3 star hotel in Adyar, opposite the famous Sathya studios. It is 4 feet depth and 15 metres pool which is ideal for me to walk for a knee therapy that SPARRC insisted upon. First day, I did 15 laps taking breaks after every 3 laps; next day I did 25 laps before settling to 30 laps in 40 minutes with breaks every 7-8 minutes. That I am in water for 40 min is good enough for me.

            The fee for using the pool is Rs. 2,700 and I tried to bribe the swimming coach for coaching me by saying, “I will pay you extra.” He batted straight, “Please approach the counter, the rate for coaching is Rs. 2,700 for 15 sessions.” I said, “I will certainly sign up for it after this one month of walking in water.”

            I learnt this very important lesson in the pool that I frequent between 7 and 8 pm daily. They were a group of very loquacious girls in their teens making a hell of a lot of noise in lifestyle English vocabulary, “Did you hear that Ed Sheeran song?" And then go on sing a couple of lines or “how do you do the butterfly stroke?” or “Is the Honda City your car? I saw your driver smoking beside it." to "I can't do bubbles in water for more than a few seconds" to cracking a joke that befuddles the swimming coach and reduced to asking, "Please explain so that I can also join in your laughter, "(poor fellow knows only Tamil) in English.  Say a team of 4-5 girls aged between 15 and 18 who are so full of themselves and a tribe that talks in shrill accented American accent that starts to grate the nerves (maybe some of these girls could be here on a vacation from America, they certainly looked rich and without pretense). First day I bore in silence, second day I couldn’t control myself telling a noise maker, “I know you girls speak in fantastic English but please have a heart. There are others in the pool and your decibel levels are disturbing us.” From then the noise did come down a couple of decibels and they grow silent each time they see me passing by in the waters. I heard one of them whisper to the others, “That was rude.” Next day, I greeted them as though nothing happened and they had the grace to wish me back.

            Then there is a Social Media manager from Ananda Vikatan, a Tamil weekly. He is a North Indian with a lot of smiles and I banter with him while advertising my blogs, “You must read my thinksathya blog posts.”

            Day before yesterday a grandfather was teaching his two grandsons to swim with all those tubes wrapped around them. I heard a little 5 year bleat out loud, “Thatha, you please mind your own business and allow me to mind my own.” The young brat must have been irritated with those non-stop volley of instructions on staying afloat or padding with the arms in water. This was so natural that I couldn’t resist a laugh.

            Then there are two boys – say 9 year old and a 14 year old and they swim right across my path when I am walking. I try to shoo them away; these kids have no concern for others. It is then I realized that a swimming pool is a good theatre for observation. The 4-5 teen girls who were too noisy were decent, at least they knew that they were erring with their antics. They smile at me when our eyes meet. In contrast these two boys in yellow caps were plain selfish. I likewise sport a morose face when I am crossing them as I walk in the waters.

            Two days back there was a Christian family – a robustly built mid-30s man and his two sons aged 5 and 8 while the wife watched from the sidelines. They kept talking loud, “Mama, I can swim now without those pads” or “Dada, the little one is struggling” and the commentary was non-stop to a nuisance. With passing years I realize that a young parent is the worst in a public place for their capacity for noise making is infinite. When I meet such gross people, I am taciturn and sport a morose face almost sniffing air and contorting my nose for a stiff upper lip attitude. Yesterday we got talking as the man said, “I am a physiotherapist in Bangalore. I could sense that you are walking in the pool for your arthritis.”We spoke more and pretty soon we were smiling and bantering for a great lesson: Give time and patience and people around you blossom. There was now a good flow of bonhomie.

            Then there is a 70 years old retired doctor lady and she advised me, “Take long strides and try reverse walking, it will be good for your knees.” There is a lesson here: smile at familiar faces, greet them and they open up to you.  

            I have 27 sessions in the pool and I have finished 8 days in a row. I tell myself: If I go 27 out of 27 then I am god, I will be happy with a score of 25 but anything less, it would reflect poorly on my self-esteem. I am going to Delhi on 18^th May for a week and on my return I intend signing for the 15 days coaching class before I decide on a three months package or something like that. Life gives you enough learning if you care to observe and be open. Besides swimming, I got myself a 32 inch Smart TV and now can play my youtube files in the mobile phone straight to the TV. Life is interesting at this moment though I am yet to turn the corner as it were - my life could do with some josh but what the hell this noise from the swimming pool serves the day. 

SPARRC & STRIDES

#112 Post

This post should be interesting for I have some outside events to report and analyse; most of the time I keep psychoanalyzing. 

SPARRC INSTITUTE

Dr. Kannan Pugazhendi is regarded as a maverick doctor who gives excellent results for knee pains. I consulted him a fortnight back and it was some experience: he just pressed my knee muscles and the calves and the spine and kept rattling names like “this muscle is weak; that needs strengthening” as his assistant kept taking notes. Dr. Kannan sees over 100 patients in three hours and no patient gets to open his mouth for a ONE MINUTE examination. The consultation fee of Rs. 700 is worth its weight; soon his team take over and advise for “Therapy and Rehab” sessions.

            This man sees patients at Alwarpet centre while I do the therapy sessions at Besant nagar centre. Rs. 25 k for 24 sessions is value for money; I would have been happy to pay twice that sum.

            Venkatesh is my physiotherapist and he is hardworking. He spends an hour massaging my abdomen, knee and calf muscles where I am reduced to agonizing oohs and aahs. At times it gets so painful as I ask him to stop; the muscles are treated as Thangam my cook kneads wheat for making chappatis. He explains this mode of treatment, “Sir, there are muscle trigger points which we are trying to relax. This way the pain comes down in a couple of sessions before we teach you strengthening exercises for each particular muscle.” At the end of each session there is ICING the whole structure and I definitely feel an improvement in my knees.

            Venkatesh went on leave and the therapy sessions are done by females. This is a real back-breaking work. They press the fingers hard on the skin, at times using their elbows to add pressure at those conjoint points. I feel nothing but gratitude. Truth be told, Suganya is better masseur than Venkatesh; she has an intuitive sense of the pain points and goes attacking them with pressure and elbows that reduce me to biting my tongue to suppress a yell.  There was another very young therapist, Protima, who said, “Sathya, your muscles are now free but your mind is not registering the healing.” She added, “You are used to a limp walk, try lifting your knees for each stride.” I followed her advice as she taught me how to walk. I had really forgotten the gait and good news is my knees are on the mend.

            I walk to the beach and regulars at Eliots say, “You sure have a funny gait with a half limp and half bends, It sure is sexy for a visual.” As for me, I recommend SPARRC to anyone with any kind of pain. They sure are effective as hell. Besides very decent people. 

STRIDES CONSULTING

            I had a three days Soft skills training at St. Joseph Engineering College at OMR and it was a fantastic experience to watch other trainers in action. Over three days, I attended the sessions of 13 trainers and I learnt an ocean of a lot. I am glad that this company is kind enough to put me on as a SHADOW where my job is only to watch others in action.

            One learning I had was “Soft skills is a career and of course you will be impacting lives but  that should not be your primary focus at this first year engineering students level, this is a career for you. Your objective should be to get a good feedback at the end of three days.”  I can aim for glory at the corporate level or when the audience is matured where there is scope for daring experimentation.

            I must thank Priscilla Joseph for her kindness in taking me under her wing. I am so fortunate to attend the sessions of high quality trainers that I feel a sense of liberation and feeling right. Now I am mentally prepared for this role.  Strides Consulting has enriched me both on content and delivery for an very important insight: there is no such thing as a perfect content or a preferred delivery style. You walk your way through and the course content will take you to the destination.  It is such a pleasure to see tongue-tied students open up and speak so fluently on a public platform on day-3. Another insight is: You need a team of trainers, the lonely bird does not get the contract. This is an interesting space; you only get paid for "working on for the day" and you are free to work for anyone on idle days for a daily labour kind of feel but what the hell, there is never a dull moment on the WORK days. 

            On Monday when I came back from the day’s labour of 9 to 6, my head swooned in dizziness. I am used to fever, cough, knee pains but this head dizzy spells got me in a panic. I kept vomiting – threw up the entire dinner in the closet – and felt the Yama was riding his bulls in the vicinity. The next morning when I told Venkatesh of these faints, he said, “Sir, it might be due to high BP or even vertigo.” He took my blood pressure and said that at 150 it is a bit too high, “Sir, avoid salt and oily foods.” That morning assurance felt divine and timely, He really is gifted with a good mouth and a great heart. Thank you, man.

Miscellany

I am fortunate having Pandian as the buyer of my apartment. He said, “Sir, I don’t intend moving in. You can reside here as long as you wish by paying market rate rentals.” I told him,” Thanks man, I don’t intend staying for more than 6 months here.”

            I will turn 50 by April end and I wish to celebrate it in a new home. I don’t want to purchase any apartment and I feel it is better to live on rentals. I am investing over a crore in mutual funds and equity market and hopefully these can fetch a 15% return on year to year basis. As for as my next residence, I am planning a Abu Dhabi visit for December (hoping that I will be jogging fit by then) for a job search. Sabeesh, my ex-colleague at Adline, said, “Sathya, I will arrange you the best bed space in town and near your favourite Sangeetha restaurant.” I must make 50 k  in Chennai but I am doubtful. If Dubai shows an empty harvest, I plan to settle down in Bangalore for 2019. I don’t think I will miss anything leaving Besant nagar except the friendly expertise of my cook, Thangam Mami. She truly was as reliable as a clock in the last 8 years and I plan to give her a good purse as a parting gift.

            And as for me, I am happy with life. I am slowly winning caring friends like Neetu, Lalit and Ashish Bansal. There are quite a few who care for me from my IMT circles. TH Iyer mama supports me unconditionally and he says, “Sathya, mad fellow, don’t leave Besant nagar at any cost. This is paradise on earth and I like to see you daily at the Beach.” Then there is Dhamma Mani Sir, Deepak called from Dubai to advise on investment basics and so many really. Yesterday was my dad’s 29^th death ceremony and both my mother and Viji were here. I was telling my sister, “Of the three, I am the smartest and most intelligent. Even if I die today, I have a body of work that will be read and respected by the next generation.”  She nodded heartily as I said, “If I ever have a publishing contract for an autobiography, what a tale that would make. Very few know how to heal childhood traumas and bipolar and I have done that. It’s a story that could be of interest to millions of readers. I will pitch for a contract in Europe or USA and trust me I will die both rich and famous.” I also replaced all the guitar strings and it sounds divine as I spent at least an hour on it. The fingers leap across the frets with a new found expertise. Sathya is great, Sathya is genius much like my heroes Sherlock Holmes and a very real Alexander the Great.   

Post Script: I must work on a blog on "Alexander" which I have been putting off for over a year now. Another must be on Sherlock Holmes, Granada Series which had Jeremy Brett in the lead. Actually I grew up on Arthur Conon Doyle's works, Star Trek and so many beautiful things in my school days. Doordarshan was splendid those days with Lucy Show, Yes Minister that I go nostalgic even today. Someday I must also attempt a blog on Vadivelu, a Tamil comedian I admire a lot. 

My Ortho troubles - Part 3

One of the disciplines I bring to blogging is LABELS so a story can be added to existing ones without background explanations.  But let me do a précis here even if you miss the LABEL at the bottom of the page:  In May 2017 my knees had reached the outer limits of endurance and went on strike. I consulted an orthopaedic and he gave me no satisfaction jumping to “Total Knee Replacement” for a solution. I hate surgical options and I am certain that I would refuse one even if my existence depended on it; I had one heart surgery in my life and that is more than my mind can go through again. The second part of “My Ortho” post described my experience with Dr. Ramnarayan who recommended a simple daily chore of “hot water dabs with Volini thrice a day” with a promise that my knees would dramatically improve. That was towards the end of June, 2017. Now we are on track for Part-3 as the story progresses on the timeline. 

            July and August I went through the regime of “hot water dabs thrice” with a discipline of a soldier. On most days, I would get it on par but even on lean days, I never went below twice. This exercise became as regular as daily baths and three square meals. I knew that I cannot take a day job or if fortune knocked at my doors with a Dubai job; my knees were not up to it. So I had to address this crippling arthritis with a sense of urgency and purpose.

            The daily dabs with Volini got them alright. There was a marked improvement and I could move about a ONE kilometre distance without much discomfort. But by the end of August, I instinctively realized that I needed something more.  Enter Sukumaran.

            I have known Sukumaran, a master healer, who uses acupuncture, Ayurveda and Siddha for healing stubborn ailments and even chronic ones.  I first consulted him when my depression was at its peak last year in June and this man really cared treating it with an unmatched dedication. What’s more he did not even charge me a penny for his expertise. 
            Now a year later, I called him with no higher motive than a simple thank you: “Sir, how are you? I am still alive and kicking. I feel healed of those nagging depressions in decades thanks to your efforts and my chance discovery of Mindfulness.”  I met him with sweets in the last week of August, 2017 and an excited self-congratulatory ring when he observed, “Sathya, your knees are really bad. I will treat you but this time on cost basis. “ Sukumaran had recently rented a new premise for the clinic and he needs money to pay those bills. 

            He explained, “There is a herb which must be plastered to the knees. I guess in ten sittings you will be able to run and spirit.”

            I said, “Perfect.”

My only irritant is the distance for Annanagar is in other end of the city. As for his expertise, I knew he is a healer without comparison, nonpareil. How many times have I seen, right before my eyes, treat cases successfully when the surgeons mess-up at Apollo Hospitals? Sukumaran is a third generation healer in traditional medicine; his solutions are always simple – like using turmeric or basic herbs or acupuncture points – and he gets amazing results. He seems to have two or three options for each disease.

We started in the end of August when his assistant Ibrahim – another character I am well acquainted from the 2016 phase – said, “Sathya, the medicines will cost Rs. 7 k a daily massage at Rs. 300.” I knew these rates were very reasonable and I did not waste a second signing up. 

I said, “Sukumaran Sir, I will pay 10 k straightaway. Please see to it the course of treatment fits into this budget. I really can’t stretch beyond this.” I had a retainer sort of arrangement with a Delhi firm and it was so frustrating that I walked out in the middle of July despite the uncertainty. Point is, financially I am down to my knees, whatever little drizzle of earning even that had dried out. 

So effectively the treatment began in the last week of August.  Ibrahim was the person who handles the timings and appointment and I was livid when the appointment on 1^st September for my third session was cancelled. It is like this: for a 4:30 pm appointment I have to start at 3:00 pm and the bus would almost do a pradakshina of the city. One trip to Annanagar and your day is gone; you come back home dog-tired and an exhaustion that spills over to the next day.

I even thought: Why all this way to Annanagar? Recently Sparcc Clinic was opened in Besant Nagar and they have built of a reputation of successfully treating stubborn arthritis. So my mind always tossed around: Sukumaran at 5 k was alright but at 10 k meant that Sparcc was closed to me. My savings were wafer thin and I had already spent over 30 k on the water motor and knees in the July – September time period.

I spent that week most miserable debating in my mind whether I should ask Sukumaran for the advance back. Always a dicey thing considering how much of a support he had been last year.

But when I met him on Monday, 4^th September, I was convinced that he is the one who can set my knees right. The treatment consists of massaging my underfoot with an electric massager and it tickles the hell out of me. This part is usually done by Ibrahim while Sukumaran would mix a herb after it has been grinded to a paste and wrap a bandage once it had been smeared in the knees. I came back much chastened and congratulatory that I did not erupt.

There is something about Ibrahim that sets off a human mind to explode. They cancel the appointment and he’ll put the blame on me!!! “Sathya, you should have called before starting out.”  

But one of the gains of MINDFULNESS is that I am able to recover after an emotional hurt and I am also able to hold my anger than burst out. But seeing Sukumaran’s cool demeanour the next day, I warmed up immediately.  Later even S agreed, “Ibrahim is  a pain and every patient complains about him.”

I said, “Be careful Sukumaran Sir. One fellow like that and that's more than enough to drag your name to dust.”

The following three weeks were regular- Monday, Wednesday and Friday- I would take a bus from Besant Nagar and visit his clinic near Anna Arch. It is a squalid neighbourhood in one of the busiest junction points of the city.       

I would leave home at 3:00 pm, reach the place at 4:15 and spend half an hour on the polymer bed there for a massage and a herbal paste wrapped over tightly on a cloth, back to the bus stop at 5:00 and back home by 6:30. I HAD to rush to catch a bus before 5:30 for once the evening peak hour office crowd starts then the journey is not 90 minutes but over two hours and choc-o-block. In India who is not used to being crammed worse than sardines packed for export?

We got friendlier too in these sessions. Sukumaran is very quiet person and uses his words carefully. He is one of those chaps who speaks each word as though they are charged on a word basis over a telegraph line. He is friendly but a bit intimidating too like one of those military men. But we get along. Those days I was super heavy on documentaries and I would bombard him with tales of Alexander the Great or on China. He is all praise for me, “ Sathya Sir, you come from Besant Nagar so punctually that it is a treat to have you as a patient. Very rarely have I seen a patient who complies with every instruction and is always ahead of me for the consultation.”

Besides "herbal bandages" I was taking those herbal tablets thrice a day – four in number each time – and my knees were growing strong. I started to visit the Beach on alternate days and even friends at Eliot’s assured me that my strides were getting a lot straight and firm.

Three weeks and 9 sessions went without a scratch. I would have a coffee or a samosa bite on the way. I was pleased with the way my knees were coming around until 22^nd September. I reported to the clinic and it was locked. I called Sukumaran and he instantly apologised, “I completely forgot about you. I am taking my kids for Dusherra holidays and going out of town. Can you please come tomorrow?”

I was too upset to respond, instead said, “I am too tired now. Let’s meet on Monday.”  Twice in the course of this month I was bitter and mentally railing against Sukumaran for cancelling the appointment abruptly. 

The next two weeks Sukumaran never came on the line despite half a dozen calls. I even thought: it’s is okay even if the treatment has reached a dead end. I have definitely profited. Sukumaran even prescribed allopathy medicines for a patch of white skin on the face and a potion for my swollen finger.  Both the face and the finger showed dramatic improvement. So in every which way, this was a satisfactory transaction though I would have wished for a better end.
Sukumaran called yesterday, 4^th October, at 6:00 in the morning, “Sathya Sir, can you come today at 10:00 to the clinic?”

I went.

There are some people you can never take offense to.  He treated me and I did not mention this two weeks unexplained break. Sukumaran also advised me on my tooth problem too, “it may need a cap. I will put you on to my contact at Savita Dental College and they will do a free treatment.” S’s personality is such that the moment he smiles at you, you forget these inconveniences of missed appointments and missed calls and ready to make peace.   

I came home yesterday and this thought never left me. Sukumaran is 1976 born which makes him seven years younger to me. I wish I can develop such a personality – he is too composed and tranquil and he deals with the world on his terms. Once he said, “This clinic is just to pander to my hobby and help people. I don’t make anything at all.” He has a day job as a pharmacist and he says, “I earn a salary of 55 k and I don’t want to operate this clinic full time though I am sure I can earn much more.”

I advised, “We live in times where a stable source of income should not be put in jeopardy. Two hours in the evening should be fine to pander to a hobby.”

To anyone reading this blog, I can attest: Sukumaran can treat any ailment in the body. I have seen him do wonders. What medical science cannot do, he cures them with consummate ease. I have seen him handle women’s issues and stubborn knees and even set right a damaged neck. He is a natural healer with three generations skills in his blood.

On a rare moment Sukumaran became human and cribbed, “I cured a patient who spent 12 lacs in Apollo Hospital on a damaged liver. I treated him and now he is up and running. My whole treatment cost 38 k and even then some people find it hard cough up.”

I tell him, “Sukumaran Sir, you are still young. If I was any good as a marketing man, I would have built a chain of hospitals for you. But still, I am sure someday someone will.  You are a genius healer.”

As for me, my knees are almost back to 70% operational efficiency. S tells me, “Take those medicines for 3 months. We only have couple of bandage sessions more and in the meanwhile do some thigh strengthening exercises. I am sure you will be back to your jogs before the year ends.”

All I can say is INSHALLAH. I have no doubt in my mind that my life is blessed considering the quality of people who engage and befriend me. From mercenary Dr. Velayutham in May or human Dr. Ramnarayan in June and a genius in Sukumaran in August, God's grace does seem to have a linear pattern. 

Unethical Doctors in Chennai

I am a confirmed case of osteoarthritis.  The problem is so acute that I limp visibly and attract public sympathy on the road. It is quite another matter that I hardly venture out.  I consulted Dr. Velayutham in May and June before getting fortunate to consult Dr. N Ramnarayan.

            Dr. V insisted on “Total Knee Replacement” and prescribed medication for a month. I went to the nearest pharmacy “CapZ N Tabzs” on Devanathan Street, Mandavelli and procured those; it is always better to buy the medicines at the clinic’s place for it is readily available unlike coming to Besant Nagar and searching them.  But within a week, I found an alternate way of treating my swollen, immobile knees and at once these tablets had no utility.

            I kept these old medicines for a while before junking them. There was Flavojoint 500mg and that’s priced at Rs. 394 for a sheet of ten. I had 2 sheets, nearly Rs. 800 worth and I took them to the pharmacies in Besant Nagar asking: Though I have not purchased them here, can you please exchange it for a Horlicks or anything? Couple of them said: this Flavojoint is not usually prescribed; better take it to the pharmacy where you purchased.

            The tablets lay on a shelf for a month before I exerted myself on this account.  Last week, I took a bus to Mandavelli and straight to “Capz N Tabnz”. 

            The assistant at the pharmacist said, “As a policy we don’t take sold medicines back. But wait for the owner.”          

I waited for 10 minutes before another patient came with Dr.V’s prescription – he practises in the next lane – with “Flavojoint – 500mg”. I immediately knew that this doctor and pharmacy worked as a team; this ortho fellow the best saleperson of Sun Pharma for this expensive medicine. I thought: such dishonesty and so unethical.

            The owner came and I made the usual pitch: this is medicines worth Rs. 800. I purchased it from your shop last month. Please take it back, I have changed my doctors and on a new course of treatment.

            He looked at the aluminium foil tablets for expiry date and shook his head, “It’s not possible.”

            I tried one more plea, “How about a Horlicks or whatever. Anyhow I have to junk them, give me one-fourth the value and I am done.”

            The owner was foolishly short-sighted for this is a fast moving drug for him. But he said to a tone of finality, “After GST it is difficult to exchange.”

            I came out of the shop with frustration writ large, found the next municipal garbage can and junked the twin aluminium foil sheets. My heart cried: there goes my Rs. 800 down the drain. My mind cried, “Cheat of a doctor and callous pharmacy.”

            Later in the week I got to meet Mr. Srinivasan, my maternal cousin’s husband, at his posh Karpagam Garden residence. We got talking on doctors and I said, “This fellow Velayutham is a crook,” and described the Flavojoint 500 mg experience.

            Srinivasan said, “Dr. V’s father is a brilliant orthopaedic; this is the useless son spoiling his good reputation.” He then proceeded to give me his take on unethical doctors. He explained: Each time, a dentist advises root-canal treatment for a filling, I know he is dishonest.

            I smiled, “I know those kinds.”

            He continued despite my interruption, “Last year, a dentist advised me root canal and I asked him which canal.  Panama canal or Suez??”

             The sarcasm could not be more dripping and straight. If I was a doctor at the other end, I would have died if a patient spoke to me like this. But then we live in a shameless world.  

            “Another sign of a dishonest ortho is he advises “Total knee Replacement” at the first base; I hate cardiologist who recommend “by pass” surgery and ophthalmologist “Cataract” before exploring other avenues. There are doctors who are waiting on pounce on such easy goat prospects.”

            I said,” These doctors bring a bad name to the entire profession. Dr. N Sundar Bose did not diagnose my tuberculosis way back in 1998 despite being told and that led to my heart surgery six months down the line.”

            Srinivasan said,” Sathya, that’s incompetence. Here I am talking about unethical ones who prescribe surgery options for no rhyme or reason except fatten their wallets.”

            I concluded, “These doctors are no better than Vinayaka Electricals. Bugger each time he comes to change a tubelight, he will replace the entire casing.”

            Srinivasan laughed, “I know Vinayaka, corrupt as hell and a synonym for dishonesty in Adyar.  For replacing a Rs. 50 tubelight that guy will furnish a bill for Rs. 500.”

            I said,” In my life I have respect for Dr. Devi Shetty and his team. Also Sankara Nethralaya. I think Chennai is full of dishonest and unethical doctors. Say 75%”

            My cousin’s husband said,” I would place the black sheep at 40%. There are honest doctors but one-in-two would be my estimate for Chennai.”

            As for me, I said: I am going blog this experience and if anyone were to read about Dr. Velayutham and Caps N Tabsz, let them be forewarned. The medical profession fails because it does not weed out such scamsters. 

My Ortho troubles - Part 2

There is nothing better that makes for objective narration of an event than chronology with specific dates. First attack of intense debilitating pain felt in the third week of May that forbade me from daily walks, I consulted Dr. Velayutham on 25^th May and then X-rays and blood test review on 7^th June which the previous post goes heavy on.

            The next 10 days I am in house-arrest venturing out of the house for absolute necessities. T H Iyer mama is a caring friend and well-wisher as he wrote on the mail: Sathya, miss you at the daily walks.

We arranged to converge at Vishranti on 17^th June. He was there with his eldest son from California, Mani, as we he stabbed into a hot vadai and coffee.  As we bade goodbye Mani said: Sathya, tomorrow the FOSWL talk is on “Chronic Pain”. Why don’t you attend and maybe something in it for you?   

This invitation showed my guardian angels and providence was in good working order as it proved later.

            The next day, Sunday, I got into a bus to Yogalaya for an auditorium hall behind the famous Anantha Padmanatha temple in Gandhinagar. FOSWL is the abbreviation for “Friends of the Same Wavelength” a community initiative of T H Iyer mama where a dozen or more people gather every month, a speaker is invited to present on a topic and we pose questions over biscuits and Tropicana. Normally I give FOSWL meetings a wide berth (given my rapidly declining social status) but a talk by a neurosurgeon is irresistible for a man reduced to Arthritis and Dr. Velayutham.

            The talk by Dr. Ramnarayan was just the thing I was looking for. In the course of a 45 minute presentation, he spoke on how everyday body postures and chronic pain are related. The back must be in the shape of a double “S” as he showed the slides to avoid back aches. He showed slide pictures for “sleep postures” (never on a prone position for it affects diaphragm breathing), use of head rest while driving, even to the height of pillows and best mattress for sleep.

            Dr. Ramnarayan is a tall spectacled man in mid 50s as it appeared to my eyes.  Within 15 minutes of listening him, I felt that this man knew the human body at an intuitive level. Best of all he is on the side of the patients.

            During the talk he said: 90% of operations are avoidable and it mainly for commercial reasons than medical.  The pharma industry and medical practitioners work in cohorts to boost their profitability. Another insight floored the 10 of us present on the other side: Dr. Ramnarayan opined 30 minutes of daily walking is good enough; yoga, cycling, swimming cause more harm than any good.  That’s why Nike spends over a billion dollars in advertising to promote jogging which is actually bad for health.

            This led to a lot of uproar and counter questions from the audience and the Doctor explained: I am not giving a personal opinion for many studies have shown this. Say your cholesterol is 250 and you start a fitness programme of daily gym. In the next 3 months the cholesterol reduces to 150. But stop the gym or yoga or swims for a week and all the gains are lost, you are not back at 250 but it is 350 now!

            The doctor asked: “How many practice yoga regularly?”
              Couple of hands went by. The Doctor asked: What happens if you take a break of 3 or 4 days? Do you feel fresh or fatigued?  This only means it is a placebo effect! Walking is something you can fit into your busy lifestyle and it is more than sufficient for a human body for an exercise.  Frankly all these yogas and gyms have only benefitted Ramdevs of the world; it’s no more than a social thing to boast to your friends and colleagues.

            At the end of the talk, I sought out the doctor for an appointment.  He dished his visiting card and I met him couple of days later at Mint Hospital where he consults in the evenings.

            It was on Wednesday, 21^st June I waited for the doctor on a 5:30 pm appointment.

            We shook hands as he spoke of the FOSWL presentation. He looked at the all the X-rays and blood tests and said: Don’t mind my saying so, yours is sports injury related. This is not natural wear and tear of a 48 year old.

            I said: Yeah, I used to jog miles for years before the knees buckled.

            Dr. Ramnarayan explained: Cartilage is nothing but a soft tissue around the bones.  It is a protective covering nature has provided against bone abrasions.

            I nodded to register understanding. Doctor said: The cartilage is a tissue as soft as woman’s nipple.

            He then narrated a couple of innovations he brought to the field of neurosurgery: At Apollo my patients walk out of a brain surgery on their feet the next day. The other surgeons’ patients need a week’s recuperation before discharge.

            He also narrated a procedure for brain haemorrhage and clogging he innovated in the UK.  It was a bit too technical and bounced off my head. It went something like a portion of a nerve was cut from the brain and stored in the stomach and later refitted.  The entire UK team applauded me on this technique for it is cost effective, even an orthopaedic can perform for simplicity. I prescribe only simple solutions and they work.

            On my knees he prescribed a “tablet” and “apply volini gel thrice a day, have hot water dabs after ten minutes. You will find considerable relief within a month. It takes 3 months for the cartilage to grow in 75% of the cases. Then I will teach you thigh strengthening exercises for a complete cure. But if it does not work, we’ll look at other options including surgery. “  

            Listening to him I felt half-healed. I have been following his advice conscientiously and as he forecasted the knee pain is down a small extent. Chancing on Dr. Ramnarayan is indeed a miracle, he is a maverick in a field where business men doctors rush to advice “Total Knee Replacement” surgeries.

            As for me, I came home and dumped Dr. Velayutham’s medicines.  I feel the knees are coming around nicely and maybe cartilage grow in the knees. 

           Now each time I feel like sucking a nipple in my fantasy, let me wake up to reality and kiss my knees!!! 

My Ortho troubles - Part 1

I used to run 3 miles a day untill 33. The year was 2003 when one fine cold winter day at dawn I felt a stab of intense pain shot like an arrow at the knees during the run. It didn’t go away; the following days I found running more than a bother. I went to Adyar Orthopaedic run by Durgabai Deshmukh Mahila Sabha. One X-ray at the centre and the doctor pronounced, “Osteo Arthritis” and your running days are over.

            That really felt a death knell sentence for I used to derive a huge amount of self-esteem from these daily runs.  

But I am a determined fellow. Instead of running, I would walk 6-7 kms a day, still meet the same old friends in Theosophical Society, the knees would still protest but they did not get much sympathy and attention until the pain got acute and a persistent stab. Then I would run to a Kottakal Arya Vaidya Sala near Cozee then a couple of years later to Venkatnarayana centre at Kutchery Road then IMPCOMPS at Thiruvanmiyur and even Ayush. Meaning I knew Western medicine had limited treatment options and any massage of any Ayurveda stream would suffice – there will be a let up in pain before I got those daily walks back. I intuitively realized that my knees would not get any better except reduce the pace of deterioration by these sporadic interventions.  Come of think of it, ageing is this mindset of coping with limited resources as most of organs start to slide.  The eyes demand a visit to Sankara Nethralaya, dental issues starts in the forties, my heart cried foul when I was 29, and now my knees at 33. I am strong as a bull and take it in stride.  And my sisters say how fortunate I am not to make friends with Diabetes and Hypertension at 48! Talk of relations and friends and misplaced humour!!

It was in February this year that I felt the knee pain graduate to a new territory. Pain comes in various sensations. There is a chronic one and it will stop bothering you once you get used to it.  Then there is a sharp and tingling pain; you take a stride and it feels like a knife stab. Then I progressed to a pain where the initial few steps feels as heavy as an elephant, limp for a dozen strides before you carry the weight of your body without wincing. Actually the worst of arthritis it makes you geometrically stiff; you are reduced to an unwieldy luggage that need dragging and shoving.

I should have read the symptoms but I am a prized stupid fool. I continued walks to Eliot Beach (I gave up on Theosophical Society 3 years back for it’s farther) on 4-5 km stretches before the knees threw in the towel completely.  By May 2017 there reached a stage when I just couldn’t take a step.

I spoke to friends around to source orthopaedics as I felt Ayurvedic massages will not serve for the damage looked real and deep. My cook Thangam (whose wisdom level is on par with Sarada mami) said: There is an Ortho in Mandavelli. He is very good and comes cheap. So I booked an appointment and met Dr. S. Manikkavelayutham.

The clinic is on a narrow lane off Devanathan street is crowded much like a beehive.  My appointment at 6:30 pm kept getting pushed past 7:30 and my patience wearing thin. After 7:00 pm, I keep reminding the secretary every 10 minutes before I was announced to the doctor.

            Dr. Velayutham is a short, well-fed, plumb, healthy man in mid-forties (my age-group) and didn’t look particularly bright, more the austere and morose. One look at my knees he said: EFFUSION and then said: Lot of deformity as I lay supine on a bed this man kept for his consultation patients.

            I was beginning to buy in his mood, I saw both the limbs bent like a bow as we both examined in our own ways. 

            The doctor pressed a few knee muscles, shook his head, said, “Looks very bad.”

I asked: Is it curable or not? Treatable or not?

He said: I have to see the X-rays and the blood reports.

But I don’t let go easily, “I am sure with your experience, what do you make of it? The reports will only give a name and extent of damage.”  I can be annoying when I want to be.

The doctor did not like my flippant attitude, “What is your name?” as he begins to write the prescription. He once again shakes his head, “Sathya, your knees is not like a car spare part. That you can junk it and buy a new one! This is a living organism. We will try different approaches and see what fits. 95% of ortho issues are treatable and 5% beyond us.”

I finally get it,” I do all these tests and then you will decide on the next course.”

He waved me for a curt dismissal saying: Finally you get it. Pay Rs. 300 and try these medicines for 10 days. The pain will come down. Do these tests and meet me.” 

I did not really enjoy the conversation but I thought: let’s give this man a chance. Like a good boy I got the medicines and did all the X-rays and blood tests. After 4 days of taking the tablets I felt the pain subside that I even went for a 5 km walk on Eliot’s beach. The next 4 days were excruciating and walking even inside the house was monumental.

On the tenth day armed with reports I met the Doctor. I said brightening to a cheerful smile: Your medicines worked. But I was foolish. I walked to the beach on the third day and since then the pain has been unbearable.

Looking at the X-ray he says: Your knees are gone. You need surgery. You are still 48 and some distance to go.  What does your job entail? The days of walking 4 kms are gone; I’ll be happy if you can manage under 1 km a day.

I ask, “What then are my options? I am not a car spare part to be replaced”

Doctor does not encourage my humour. Still morose and grave he says: Total Knee Replacement Surgery. 3 lacs per knee and you need for both. 

I ask without losing nerve: Can we control it by way of medicines?

He said “the pain and swelling can be managed by painkillers and antibiotics but it won’t help in the long run.”

I said: I had one heart surgery in my life and I am fed up.  I don’t want to go through the trauma again.” Especially as the doctor talks about imported steel bolts and nuts and raping the mind’s sensitivities.

I tell him, “Let me try Mindfulness. If the pain is in the mind then some sort of affirmations will work. You see I am great believer of Eckhart Tolle.” I am a moron and should be shot at dawn. I am so full of enthusiasm that I drag in the German philosopher needlessly within two statements of meeting a stranger. God save my friends from me!

Dr. Velayutham responds with contempt: Your cartilage is gone and damaged beyond for any mind related affirmations to work here. This is physical damage. By the way, I want to talk to your wife.”

I say cheerfully, “I am a very happy bachelor and do all the talking to me.”

The doctor is insistent, “The surgery is needed in your case. You can take a second opinion with these reports.”

I tell him in a tone of finality: In that case I will reduce 10 kgs, take a walking stick or even be reduced to a wheel chair. No surgery when I am alive and able to make my own decision.

Dr. Velayutham writes a prescription for a month, “These are painkillers. Meet me after a month of MINDFULNESS and these tablets. Let’s see if you can go around surgical options.”

He asked for Rs.300 which I felt was not needed for it was just a review. I forked out a crisp Rs. 2000 rupee note which the doctor examined minutely than the knees. He explained, “I was checking for anything written on them. Such soiled notes are invalid” giving me much need information but not helping doctor-client bedside manners.

I walked out feeling dazed and hating life. Dr. Velayutham may be 100% right in his advice but somehow I felt bitter and rode roughshod over. The doctor may as well be treating cows and goats. He didn’t look the kind to involve patients in conversations. Besides there’s horde of waiting patients and the train running 30 to 60 minutes late for each one of them.  Everyone makes money save a poor content writer!

As I limped out of the place I thought: lame for life. LANGDA in Hindi kept coming up though I don’t go easy on the language.  My life situation read “pushed to a corner” but the mind didn’t lose any of its gaiety. There must be some way out of this.