PATTY ADACHI FROM CHICAGO USA
BABY
BOOMERS REBORN IN INDIA
More and more baby boomers are finding new life in India.
Used to enjoying active lives, still independent and
adventurous, many are finding themselves suffering from
arthritis of the hips that is so severe, they are in
constant pain, walking short distances becomes difficult,
and standing for more than five minutes becomes painful.
Life comes to a halt.
In the U.S., the solution is total hip replacement (THR).
But there are drawbacks. Total hip replacement uses
both metal and plastic parts, and it’s the plastic
that wears down from strenuous activity over time. Because
THR might only last ten years, doctors advise people
to wait as long as they can before performing THR, making
people face years of increasing pain and increasing
inability to live their lives as Once the hip has been
replaced, people aren’t able to return to the
activities they loved: – skiing, mountain climbing,
dancing – because they don’t have the same
range of motion and because of the need to avoid another
operation. And for the many people who don’t have
health insurance, the cost is between thirty-five and
sixty-thousand dollars. Even people who have health
insurance find themselves paying up to $10,000 in deductibles.
So, many baby boomers are finding a solution in India.
For as little as $5,000, you can have a brand new hip
and return to the same level of activity as before.
Developed in England, hip resurfacing is a much better
solution for people with basically strong bones than
total hip replacement. The operation is far less invasive.
Instead of cutting off part of the thigh bone, as in
total hip replacement, the worn-out cartilage is replaced
with all metal parts that last longer than plastic.
People recover months faster, have the same mobility
as before, and are able to return to all the activities
they loved.
At Sri Ramakrishna Hospital in Coimbatore, a city in
southern India, Dr. Balasubramanian is helping baby
boomers regain their lives. He provides free consultation.
You can send x-rays or e-mail digital x-rays, and if
your bones are strong enough, he’ll let you know
within a day of receiving your e-mail. $5,000 is the
cost of a complete package developed for overseas patients.
$5,000 will cover surgeon’s, assisting surgeons’,
and anesthesiogist’s fees; all preliminary tests
(blood, EKG, chest and hip x-rays, etc.); all medication
and costs of a typically seven-day stay in the hospital.
You get to stay in the deluxe suite. This is a suite
that is like a small apartment. It’s air conditioned,
has one or two extra beds for family members or friends
who come with you, has potable water, a refrigerator,
microwave, facilities to make your own coffee or tea,
and a private bath. Almost best of all, you have 24-hour
Internet access! The entire hospital staff is incredible
– accessible at all times, helpful, warm and friendly.
Dr. Balasubramanian visits you several times and day
and will answer any questions you have. He’s a
wonderful man who is quite jolly – he loves to
joke and laugh, and will sit and chat and answer all
the questions you’ve got.
Bilateral hip resurfacing
For people who have severe osteoarthritis in both hips,
and who don’t want to have to make and pay for
a second long plane journey, he will perform bilateral
hip resurfacing, with about a week between operations.
The cost is about double, with a slight discount. In
either case, you should plan on staying eleven days
after surgery before taking a long plane ride home.
For overseas patients travelling alone, have no fear!
Staff members will meet you at the airport, take you
to the hospital, arrange and make reservations for your
recuperation after leaving the hospital, and take you
back to the airport.
For more information, Dr. Balasubramanian has
a website: www.hipresurfacingcenter.com.
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