Modern Medicine, physical Effort and a loving Touch

I yesterday wrote a comparison of my surgery in 2004 and my surgery last week. Today I would like to write a bit more about the reasons, about doctors and medicine, brothers, friends and nursing wives!

Obviously, the main reason why my recent surgery was so much more pleasant is that medical science has advanced so much in the past ten years! No, not even ten years! Yashendu had the same surgery done, also for the second time, in 2008 in Germany. Even in those six years, there has been a lot of difference and I am already recovering much faster than he was then!

It is obvious, there are thousands of researchers around the world, trying every day to find ways to improve the methods that doctors use on their patients. Nevertheless unfortunately, not every patient has a benefit of that research! Just a year ago, my best friend Govind had an accident and for months, his doctor had ordered him bed rest without any physical exercises. He is able to walk nearly normally now, although it took him quite long to reach this state. I asked my physiotherapist how come there was such a big difference.

His reply was very logical: it depends upon the surgeon and his views and ideas. It is an old school thought that the patient, his muscles and the freshly operated limb first needs lots of rest and should be moved as little as possible. According to modern practice however, you should start – at least in most or many leg surgery cases – physiotherapy on the first day. The body has an amazing ability to heal itself and even without doing much, you will recover to about 80% anyway, it will just take time, just like my friend. With help however, proper exercise and activity, your recovery can be much quicker and up to 95% or even more! And those 15% do make a difference in daily life!

Apart from the many aspects in which medical science has improved in the past years, I see one more reason why I am actually enjoying my recovery process: I am in the lovely nursing care of my wife.

Not that I didn’t have anybody to take care of me last time! My brothers were there, my sister and mother cooked for me with much love, my father came by to have a talk from time to time, just as he does now, but of course the care, touch and love of your beloved is still a different story. We are actually just having a nice experience in this time.

It is quite enjoyable to have her help me get up or sit down, raise, press or hold my leg during the physiotherapy exercises, massage the muscles and wash me. Don’t be mistaken, though, she enjoys it just as much! And of course Apra also comes by several times throughout the day to play, read or paint on my bed.

So with better medical possibilities, less pain than last time, quick healing prospects and the most loving care that I could get, I remain of good spirits and enjoy this time.