Immobilize

 

While a number of nation-wide scams depress the budding medicos and the young doctors looking forward to post graduation, the weather around gets thick and gloomy with confusion and fears. The present situation is reminiscent of the COVID period when suddenly all board and competitive exams were cancelled as the nation went into a state of lockdown and the students into a state of confusion which lasted for months. While some might believe that a postponed exam means extra preparation time, but only the hard working, dedicated student who prepares for months giving up on all else, knows how much of a mental toll this brings.

When one is preparing for an examination with nineteen extremely volatile subjects, some of them while working full time jobs, it takes a lot of effort and determination. If one fights such a hard battle, only to realize at the eleventh hour that the examination system itself is broken, the hopeless feeling is probably indescribable with words. While confusion clouds the mind, mindless posts fill social media and news channels host useless discussions and debates the helpless student loses the urge to study, which may create a set back on a strongly built preparation. Or when an unfair examination provides unfair results, months of earnest preparation seems to be wasted. How does one deal with it then?

Final year of med school, though extremely hectic, enriches one with interesting ward experiences and insights about clinical practice as well as life. One such subject probably is orthopedics which teaches one about how to deal with twisted, complicated, displaced fractures. One first does clinical tests and then radiological investigations to understand the situation and get a clear picture. Then the orthopedic surgeon makes a diagnosis and treatment plan for the patient. Similarly, when life gives one such a severe blow that breaches through all layers of protection and creates a deep wound, that throws one into a complex, twisted situation one needs to investigate, get a clear picture with a clear head and come up with a plan to manage the situation.

Moreover, the mainstay of treatment of most fractures is to reduce and immobilize, which may be performed through various modalities. Similarly, when dealing with a deep blow one should learn to protect oneself, probably not get into situations which can further disturb or infect the wound. This is because any wound needs time and care to heal. When fighting a lonely battle, this immobilization is difficult to achieve as the mind flies to social media posts or group chats which cause further anger and disturbance to the mind. But no matter what, one must remember that in times of confusion or sorrow, we must turn to the right set of people. So, find the right people around you, people who are probably just around you and will not be found in social media, news channels or group chats.

Lastly, not only in terms of cancelled exams or shattered dreams, whenever any blow breaks a person, or a bone. Not all of them heal the right way- some never heal (that is they go into non-union), some heal the wrong way creating a permanent deformity (that is they go into malunion) and lastly some blows result in severely infected wounds which result in amputation. What do we do with such wounds? Well, then we accept, rehabilitate and build a life around that deformity, a life that needs a little more courage, more perseverance and determination to live. But it is our life and our battle after all, so we just live it anyway.