Lucknow: From struggling to get up and walk within the confines of one’s home to the confidence of walking down the ramp, the transformation was celebrated as scores of total knee replacement patients reclaimed their freedom at a special programme on Sunday.
Sharing their journeys at the event called Ruk Jana Nahi, organized by Apollomedics Hospitals to mark the completion of 500 robotic knee replacement surgeries at their centre, the patients spoke about how one decision changed their lives for the better.
Patient Stories Highlight Life-Changing Impact
Take the example of housewife Madhu Gupta from Aashiana. For years, she dismissed her pain as a side effect of ageing. Managing her plight with painkillers, she did not realize how her approach was pulling her towards a partially disabled life. “As I recovered from the surgery, I realised I had reduced my physical and mental age... I also regretted not taking this decision earlier,” she said.
Retired Indian Revenue Services officer Ajay Dixit recalled how pain in his knee turned his passion for golf into agony. “I can’t imagine my life without golf... but the pain was distancing me from it. Post-replacement surgery, life is as normal and agile,” he said. He also advised people to take their post-operation exercise and physiotherapy regime very seriously.
In all, 400 patients attended the event, and most of them described their decision as a second chance at life and a ‘mantra for independent living’. The highlight was a live Kathak performance by a patient who resumed classical dance after being forced to give it up due to severe knee pain.
Robotic Precision and Growing Demand
“Robotic procedures are increasingly becoming the preferred option due to greater precision, reduced blood loss, faster recovery and longer-lasting implant,” said Dr Sanjai Srivastava, chairman of orthopaedics, who led all 500 surgeries. He also informed that their centre added the MISSO robotic system recently.
MD and CEO Dr Mayank Somani said that the demand for robotic knee replacement has expanded beyond urban centres, with patients from smaller towns and rural areas now actively seeking the technology. “This milestone celebration was not just about technology, but about restoring patients’ freedom to walk, dance and live actively again.”
