Prachi Gondi - Dr. Abhay Kulkarni

On 24th August 2011, I was involved in a two-wheeler accident where as I was falling I heard my knee pop. On first inspection, Dr. Abhay Kulkarni, said that there was no acute injury and he recommended physiotherapy and also a brace to be worn at all times. I was happy that the diagnosis was not as bad as I thought it would be and also that the doctor was advising the least invasive approach. However, after two weeks, there was no improvement in the knee and the MRI revealed a complete tear of the ACL in the right knee.
This is when Dr. Kulkarni recommended that I get the reconstruction surgery done as the knee was very unstable and could end up causing more damage if left untreated. I had my inhibitions about the surgery and about the doctor but I am very happy that we decided to go ahead with the surgery with Dr. Kulkarni. He was very patient in answering all my questions in the pre-op and post-op phase of the surgery. He always took the time out to answer even the smallest questions and was also accessible on the phone. He also reassured me that post rehabilitation I would get back to my yoga and other activities.
On September 24, 2011 I went in for the reconstruction. The surgery itself went off smoothly. I was back home in 3 days. This was the toughest phase of the recovery. However, I followed Dr. Kulkarni’s advice to the “T” and and worked hard on the physiotherapy. Slowly but surely the knee started getting better.
By March, I had started doing Yoga again although at a beginner level. With the help of my yoga teachers, in a matter of a few months, I got back the strength in my knee. As per the doctor’s advice, I continued to do the knee strengthening exercises at home and visiting the physiotherapist once a week.
Finally, in October of 2012, a year after my surgery, I started running. Very slowly at first as I did not want to hurt the knee. On November 30, 2012, I ran my first 5K which felt like such a big achievement given what I had been through over the past one year. I continued to run and to strengthen my knee and I am happy to say that on December 21, 2014 I successfully ran a half marathon in 2hrs and 21 minutes.
On Janurary 18, 2015 I ran the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon in 2 hours and 22 minutes and ran it again the following year in 2 hours and 12 minutes.
I continue to run and do Yoga. I am now a teacher at the Iyengar Yoga Institute in Pune. My knee is back to normal and I would gladly recommend Dr. Abhay Kulkarni for any of your orthopaedic needs.