The Ordeal

It was not the unlucky 13th day (incidentally it is today), but it was certainly the 13 minutes past 7 p.m. in the month of December, when I had started from my workplace for homely abode, but I landed in a hospital.

Somebody rushing through the newly opened service lane dashed my bike from left side. For few moments, I was not in my senses. When I collected myself, I realised the gravity of those horrible moments- three stitches on my left eyebrow and two crepe bandages on my legs, apart from bruises here and there all over my body. One of my colleagues from the office, who brought me there, was standing before me.

Every alternate days, bandages were changed for two weeks. I breathed a sigh of relief, when both bandages and stitches were removed. But the very next day, my left leg was full of pain with swelling. My doctor prescribed strong painkillers, and pain subsided; but the problem continued and started aggravating.

My wife started feeding and guiding me like a kid, and my kids got relieved from being tutored, despite my presence.

In the meantime, my well-wishers came to know about the accident. Some of them thought that it might be a normal year-end phenomenon of utilising the leave that would lapse at the close of the year. Some of my relatives thought it was merely an excuse for not attending the family ceremony at Varanasi.

When the genuineness of the case was established beyond doubt, my colleagues started calling me either telephonically or in person to express sympathy and to suggest how to come out of this tangle in the easiest and quickest possible manner.

Somebody advised me to seek second opinion of some renowned orthopaedic expert. When I expressed confidence in the treatment of my doctor, another friend warned me that saving money on doctor’s fees might prove counter-productive.

Under the tremendous pressure from my family and friends, I went to another physician and an orthopaedist. While visiting three doctors every alternate day with one leg in the lap of my wife or some friend, I used to apprehend what would happen, if my second leg also got injured on the way.

But the real problem cropped up when I came across diametrically opposite advices. While the physician advised me to start some leg exercise, the orthopaedist prescribed crepe bandages with no movement. How could a layman like me decide which medical opinion was the best one? Somebody had an answer, “Consult another doctor.” My apprehension was that I would be left with fourth opinion, and my job would become more difficult.

I therefore, chose a midway approach, adopting something from each prescription. But then a more knowledgeable friend came to my house, though belatedly, with his homeopathic prescription and proscription- 4 globules each from Ledium, Arnica and Rhus Tox three times a day, with no garlic, onion and toothpaste during the period of treatment.

On my query that it might interfere with the functioning of allopathic medicines, which I was already taking, he assured me that Ledium would ensure smooth functioning of both types of medicines. I started taking these medicines as well, but couldn’t do away with my toothpaste.

After four gruelling weeks of mental and physical agony, I started walking on my feet. I gave due credit to all the doctors, as each of them claimed that but for his advice, I would not have been cured. My homeopathic friend also talked highly of the miracles of his medicines. I don’t know which one was effective (or may be combined effect), but I finally felt relieved that I was out of that ordeal.

–Kaushal Kishore