My Walk to Wellness ~ Part 3

Put your heart, mind, intellect and soul even to your smallest acts. This is the secret of success. ~Swami Sivananda

It's been more than a week today since I had my first procedure in a 3-step treatment for my ostheo-arthritis which has been causing me tremendous pain, discomfort, and inconvenience for almost two years. The relief that I've been experiencing the past several days has been overwhelming and dramatic. Consulting Dr. Isagani Leal, Director for the Center for Musculoskeletal Science-Asia (CMS-Asia) has been a pleasant and encouraging ride! He came highly recommended by a friend whose husband was a patient of the good doctor. His website (http://www.cms-asia.net/) describes how patients with my condition are treated and that gave me a whole lot of hope even before I went for my appointment. I am averse to hospitals and anything that closely resembles a medical facility. My experience so far, has been far from pleasant. Unfortunately, ineptitude and apathy seem to be the general norm in these places. Sounds unfair but I'm sure a lot of people would agree with me. But ever since I started going to CMS-Asia for procedures and therapy this past week, I am beginning to be hopeful for the medical care industry. Located along West Avenue in Quezon City (Philippines), CMS-Asia is at the 2nd floor of Hollywood Square; it's facade is unassuming and does not give one the idea of the state-of-the-art medical equipment and relaxing therapy rooms that it houses. Dr. Leal obviously understands what medical CARE means and this understanding reverberates in his facility and most importantly, in his staff. His humble demeanor and warm personality dispel any anxieties that a patient may have.

Flanked by two Isaganis - one is the love of my life; the other one has allowed me to live life pain-free! As you enter, you are warmly greeted by receptionists Raiza and Steph. Raiza answers calls and handles accounts while Steph attends to schedules and facilitates appointments. They're probably the Center's self-appointed cheer squad as you hear "good-lucks" and "congrats" and "ingats" from them as you go to have a procedure or leave after one.

And then there's Dr. Leal's right-hand - Dr. Eric Yraola. In charge with diagnostics and initial queries, Dr. Eric is young and amiable. Conscious of discomfort or pain which injections may cause, he tries to distract you by engaging you in a conversation about a topic totally unrelated to your condition. Any report of pain or unexpected discomfort is attended to or reported to Dr. Leal immediately, for his attention. Dr. Eric, I understand, is being trained as Dr. Leal's understudy for the procedures at CMS-Asia.

My procedures for my condition require that I undergo therapy as my leg muscles have started to tighten and atrophy for lack of use. Hot packs, acupuncture with kuryente and stretching are administered on me very ably and skillfully by the rehab/OR-nurse, Christian and the Center's acupuncturist/nurse Myka. Both are friendly and their bedside manners are yet to be matched by a lot of older, more seasoned medical professionals (as far as my experience goes). Each step is done with care and concern, no short-cuts, always with reminders and cautions. Despite the daily routine (my therapy has to go on for 2 weeks), each act would always be accompanied with the usual explanation or warning, never presuming that the patient has already understood the steps and procedures. Due to the number of patients that they attend to every day, they sometimes handle up to 3 patients at a time but each patient experiences the same quality of treatment and service as the next one.

Christian, as he recounted to me, was a former patient at CMS. A slip-disc and a bike accident required that he undergo therapy. When his Mom asked Dr. Leal if Christian could continue with his duties, Dr. Leal offered him a traineeship at the Center. Eventually, he became a regular staff at CMS-Asia. Cheerful and a natural encourager, Christian obviously loves what he does and is good at it! I am fortunate that the road to my recovery has been relatively flat and with very little road blocks. I am grateful to my family and friends who have unfailingly taken care of me and looked out for my welfare. I must say, though, that Dr. Leal and his team have made my walk to wellness really a breeze, so to speak. Their warm reception, caring attention and encouraging manner have definitely helped me heal and recover faster than expected. Thank you, CMS-Asia!

My Walk to Wellness - Part 2

In July of last year, when my condition became unbearable, I decided to consult an orthopedic doctor. He had my knees X-rayed and showed me that there was very little cartilage left. He then told me to lose weight. "Kahit 5 pounds lang, malaking bagay na yan." Of course, I knew that if my weight was a major consideration to alleviate the pain, I ought to be losing about 30-40 lbs! He prescribed Glucosamine and pain killers (Celebrex!) - both to be taken for a month. I took the vitamin but took Celebrex for less than a week. Af far as that went, I knew that it was a bad deal. Naturally, the relief was temporary. Now I know that that going to that doctor was a mistake as Ostheo-arthritis ought to be checked and treated by a Rheumatologist. Thinking about it now, he ought to have been more responsible by referring me to one! I did not go back for a follow-up check-up as I felt that he was not effective, based on his prescriptions. He did not even bother to call me up and asked how I was doing after a month. Well, for that matter, I guess a LOT of doctors don't care and would just wait for the patient to go back to them. After some time, I consulted a rheumatologist who told me the same thing - lose considerable weight! I then tried to seek relief from a friend who is into Beam-Ray treatment. He told me that it merely got rid of whatever bacteria and germs that were affecting my condition. He advised me to check my diet and intake and told me to take various vitamins. I have lost almost 20 pounds since last year, still no relief. It couldn't be the weight! And then the seemingly impossible happened! I had the chance to meet again the friend of a friend two weeks ago. One look at me and she was insistent that I should see her husband's doctor. I looked up Dr. Isagani Leal, the only musculoskeletal doctor in the Philippines. His website claims that with the proper procedure, Ostheo-arthritis may be reversed, depending on certain conditions - extent of the knee condition, age, health and others. I got an appointment one week after I called up the Center for Musculoskeletal-Asia or CMS.(www.cms-asia,net) Meeting Dr. Leal was something else. Knowing that he's the ONLY one in the country who can do the procedures, I expected some high-brow doctor, distant, perfunctory. To my pleasant surprise, he's a fellow Mindanaoan (from Kidapawan, Cotabato), speaks Visayan, is humble and light-hearted and very skilled. His demeanor toward patients is one that all patients expect of their doctors. This good nature and great service are radiated in the CMS staff who are courteous, friendly, encouraging and just looked happy to be doing what they were doing. He explained my condition and the treatment that I would need thoroughly. I was excited, until I learned how much it would cost! The amount was something that one prepares for, not forks out readily - well, at least in my case. I was ready to go home and schedule it some other time when I shall have put together my resources. But, as the saying goes - when God puts you through it, He sees you through it! God indeed sends us angels and they're called FRIENDS! Yesterday, I had the good fortune of undergoing the first of three steps of the treatment that I need to take. I had my right knee treated first as it had more damage than the left. After 2 hours in the OR (minor procedure, local anesthesia), I was able to flex my knee without experiencing pain. Of course, it could be due to the anesthesia. I was told to expect the anesthesia to wear off in an hour. I tried to flex my knee again after an hour and yes, the pain was indeed gone! I am at present recuperating and allowing the healing to continue. No walking yet and putting undue pressure on the knee. I move around with a walker and "swing" to get from one point to another. The next step will be done on Monday, then leg therapy to address my leg muscles that have started to atrophy. The third step is due two weeks from now. I am very hopeful about this whole thing as Dr. Leal assured me that I should be walking painlessly by next week, even before the main treatment! Well, at least with the right leg. I still have not gotten over the painless feeling. I guess my brain is still wired to expect pain every time I move my leg. To say thank you to friends who have helped me get this treatment, to my family for supporting and encouraging me and to Dr. Leal, somehow does not seem enough. All I know is that this is a second lease at living life fully and that my eternal gratitude to the Lord and to all those who stood by me and accepted my condition and rallied behind me, should be manifested in what I do and how I do them. To be less than what I should be would make me the biggest ingrate there was! To God be all praise and glory!

My Walk to Wellness (Part 1)

"In order to change we must be sick and tired of being sick and tired." ~ Author Unknown

For almost two years now, my mobility has been hampered by Ostheo-arthritis. Unfortunately, genetic pre-disposition could be the cause of this early onset as this is a common ailment among the elderly. My doctor said I have the knees of an old woman! Simple activities such as walking, standing, going up and down stairs, getting up from or sitting on a chair require too much effort and take longer than usual. I do not mind so much the length of time involved as much as the pain that I experience every time I move my knees. Even shifting my position while lying down would be very painful and uncomfortable. It's very humbling - I am dependent on my family and other people to assist me with the simplest of things and it frustrates me no end. It's embarrassing - I'm too young to have this condition and people can be rude by staring at me when I walk with an awkward gait or am pushed around in a wheelchair. It's very limiting - I can't go to certain places where there are no facilities for the disabled like wheelchair, elevator, lifter or ramp. It's frustrating - I can't do the things that I love or need to do. Cooking would be torture as I could not last 5 minutes without needing to sit down. I am a trainer and it annoys me to have to lecture sitting down. (I am thankful for the skill to sustain my audience's interest despite this condition!). There's still so much that I want to do but somehow, this ailment would discourage me from pursuing my plans. I've consulted doctors and underwent treatment, to no avail. I've taken all the vitamins that the doctor would say I need and tried to lose weight to somehow ease the pressure on my knees but....I must admit that there were times when I'd cry in desperation and frustration and succumb to spells of self-pity but I would always try to bounce back so as not to fall into the trap of accepting what I thought would be my fate. There are options out there that claim to be able to relieve me of my pain but most entail costs and could have adverse effects. These would make me all the more frustrated. I have entertained the thought of how to adapt to a life in a wheelchair. It would be the easiest, cheapest albeit the most painful (literally and figuratively) option. All this time, I would have my ever-supportive husband Gani encourage me to believe that help is on the way, that God will make a way and that I will get better. Most times I believe him, but there have been times that I felt resigned to the situation that I'm in. I am embarrassed for him as I think he's too young to be saddled with a wife who moves about like a very old woman. The wedding vow - in sickness and in health, could never be more apt as I experience Gani's care and concern. But as in all things, there is an end to everything, including my pain.