First meeting with the Delhi Doctor, Dr. Chaudhary

A view from the Street of the SHARNAM HEALING clinic, Delhi

February 21, 2011

The entrance to the clinic is nondescript. It is housed in a rag-tag assembly of three to four story apartment homes. I'm guessing the clinic is a residential apartment converted to suit the purpose of healing patients.

My appointment is at 6 pm. I get there with my dad (good to have a second opinion, right?), and we almost turn around when we look at the uninspiring setting for the clinic. But we climb up a flight of stairs, figuring we've come this far, so might as well meet the doctor before turning back.

Knowledge is always better than ignorance.

The reception area is small. There are two patients waiting. We wait as well. The small desk that I'm guessing is the receptionist's is vacant. From the reception area, there are several beds visible on which patients are getting treatment. Someone in charge takes notice of us, and comes out to inquire what we want. When told, he nods his head and tells us to wait.

We wait.

Turns out the doctor hasn't reached the premises. He shows up at 6:25 or so, and we are ushered into his office forthwith.

Dr. Chaudhary is young, in his mid-thirties. He's soft-spoken and has a very matter of fact attitude. I tell him I've torn my ACL. He asks me for my hand. My wrist it turns out. He holds his finger on my vein to feel the pulse.

Actually, he's reading the pulse. I've heard of doctors in India who can tell your life history just by putting their finger on your pulse. Apparently, he's doing something similar. He reads my pulse for a good two minutes.

Then he tells me that I have a completely torn ACL, a tear in the meniscus, and a torn MCL. This pretty much corroborates the MRI scan I'd had in USA, except that the MRI scan report said the meniscus is seemingly intact. (I know from the previous knee surgery that the meniscus is visually re-checked for tears during surgery, so maybe Dr. Chaudhary's correct about this too).

Then, without missing a beat and in the same confident, soft-spoken manner he says it will take 15-20 days of treatment to heal me.

Which means what exactly, I ask.

Which means the ACL will regrow and re-attach itself.

Well, that's what the word was about his special technique, treatment and skills. Twenty days, max, to undergo his treatment, and see if what he says can and does actually happen.

Will the ACL heal, as he promises? I decide to take the plunge.

Sign me up, I say! When can I start?

I can start right then, it turns out. But I decide to come in the next day.