It was a fine Saturday morning of August 2010 and everything was going great till I got my consciousness and was lying in the bench of DDA sports complex Indoor Stadium Dwarka. I last remembered when I jumped for a smash and landed in an uneven floor, 2nd court from right with twisting my knee. I cried in pain and felt like lower portion of my leg got separated from my left knee. I slowly opened my eye to check if I still have my leg intact. Luckily it was, and I was convinced that I screwed it big time.
Not knowing what to do, friend dropped me home. I was only able to stand with one leg, and the immediate thing came to my mind was to see a doctor. I visited the Hospital nearby (don’t want to name it for its so-called reputation) and they said its nothing alarming and could be a sprain and asked me to take a pain killer and wrapped a crape Bandage and let me go. I came home with a hope that everything is fine. I was not convinced because, was not able to walk without support and the pain was severe.
After 2 days with struggling pain, I visited another Ortho (he was best while treating my multiple wrist and fingers fracture two years earlier) at one of the renowned hospitals in GGN. He recognized me as we had built a relationship with my earlier injury. The outcome of the interaction was as if I have been pushed to death. He explained it’s something to do with ACL (Anterior cruciate ligament) and drew some picture to explain me in detail. In next 10 Minutes I was lying in a stretcher and he brought a syringe to take out some fluid from the knee joint for testing. As if I was suddenly out of hypnotization and shouted what the hell are you doing? He explained that he wanted to test (don’t remember the test name) and suggesting a knee surgery. He even explained without operation, I would never be able to play(any kind of sports which involves movements) in my life. And I still remember the day I was scared to death. For a person like me it is equivalent to pronouncing a death sentence. Almost ran out of the hospital in a fear that he would operate if I stay there for next 15 mins. I prepared myself to go through the knee operation, as Sports is an integral part of my life and without which I could not imagine one.
Mentally sick, depressed and was afraid of my life. There were three things in particular which bothered me a lot. Will not be able to participate in any sports activity, will not be able to ride bike and will not be able to play with my little angel (2 months old daughter). With desperation I almost called each and every self-called expert and friends I knew who had gone through the same experience or are doctors by profession including Homeopathy to see if there was an option left without a surgery.
Finally God heard the true prayer. While interacting with a friend, he suddenly forced me to visit a doctor. I was not very keen because could not have taken one more rejection. He kept on insisting me to visit Dr. Rajat Chauhan of Back to Fitness, not sure where he read, heard about him but I never heard his name before. I had no choice but to try my luck. It was far from Dwarka to drive with my injured Knee. Still I was eager to see someone who can help me with. Internally I was looking for one person in this world who can tell me that this could be cured without a surgery and found none Till I met Dr. Rajat. My Friend got an appointment and informed that it’s difficult to get an appointment hence asked me to be there before time.
Without any hope and to keep my friends words, I reached 15 mins earlier and he reached there too. Next moment we were at the reception of Back to Fitness. Ambiance looked like a 5 Star Hotel lobby or a spa station from there. Very neat and clean and things were arranged perfectly. It did not looked like a Hospital and was more insecure thinking what would be the outcome with such an ambiance. Different thoughts ran through my mind, probably a massage center?, a high profile doctor ?, or someone with a high qualification who would be experimenting on my case. Suddenly a gentlemen appeared and asked us to enter Dr Rajat,s Room. And no one was there in the room, so without any choice we kept waiting.
Suddenly a man appeared and introduced him as Dr Rajat with a smile, probably the only time/occasion I have seen him in his formal attire (else sportsman outlook). I narrated the whole story with the earlier prescription with all the ACL drawings, X-rays and MRI Scan suggestions. He quietly heard my story, but his body language suggested it was a minor injury and he was ready with his suggestions before even I completed my narration. He nodded quietly and asked me to lie down on the wooden bed which was stationed at the back. I started feeling something positive, because he did not utter anything negative with the case history. He tested with few knee movements up, down, side movements and asked for few sit ups with the support of the back on the wall. In the process I was habitual of wearing the brass knee cap for support while walking. We came back to the chairs to have further discussion. He was cool and composed and ready to provide his inputs.
Nothing to worry was his first sentence which directly uplifted my entire sprit however I had my own doubts on the sentence, as no one till today spoke these words which I was expecting from everyone I reached in last 10 days. He went ahead and said if you want to go ahead with whatever tests you want to as suggested by other doctors, however it is a case of 20-30% LIGAMENT TEAR. The only way is to build thigh and calf muscle around and it i is very much curable. Best part was it does not require a surgery. I asked these questions again, will I be able to run again? Will I be able to ride bike? he nodded his head with a strong YES. I felt like hugging him tight and thank him for all that he said. I was mentally sick till then and suddenly felt like running around and dancing. Felt like someone shared my burden. He said no need for any medicine and not Injection. Suggested to take out the Brass Knee Cap and do physiotherapy. I felt happy with the professional approach to receive the same to my email in pdf format.
I only visited once for relaxing the muscles, where Kunal Vashist helped me and learned the exercises to be practiced at home. I never looked back since then !!! I followed all the possible events, activities organized by Rajat including the social media. Just to meet him and say Thank You. I have suggested every individual I met to visit Dr Rajat for any ACL related issues. It was hard to imagine without the support of Dr Rajat on my injury of what I am today. I would love to meet him personally someday and say Thank you for the new life you have provided.
(At present I am not in to active sports due to my other injuries (Neck and back which developed recently) along with my earlier injuries (ankle, shoulder), however I am not afraid of it any more. I know where to reach out to for any help)
