Four years ago, at age 40, Sapna Punjabi was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Though life changed in many ways due to growing disabilities, it could not quash her spirit. Read her courageous account.
Ever since my childhood, I have been very bold, easygoing, bubbly and confident. After I completed my studies, I joined HCL Technologies. I was overwhelmed to join an Indian multinational IT firm. HCL not only added to my list of friends but also found me my soul mate.
Over the years, I decided to expand my sphere of activity and do something for the betterment of society. I taught English in a kindergarten school and started a club for senior citizens called Abhi Toh Main Jawaan Hoon. My club got me great recognition in the blink of an eye. This was indeed a moment of pride for my family and friends.
All this took a sudden turn 4 years back and life has not been the same ever since. In March 2015, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. This autoimmune disorder has changed my life in many ways. Initially, it was a very difficult for my family and me to accept that I was going to fight this battle for years or maybe forever.
Early Symptoms
My symptoms started with just numbness and heaviness in my left leg leading to inability to lift my leg while walking. I thought it was just a knee problem caused by a fall that had occured some months earlier. Because of the discomfort, I visited an orthopaedic doctor who started me on some medication. Subsequently, I was asked to get certain X-rays done. To our surprise, all the X-rays were normal and showed no injury anywhere. My consulting doctor kept changing my medication on a weekly basis but there was absolutely no improvement in my condition.
One morning I noticed my left arm was working comparatively slower than usual. Since I was scheduled to visit my orthopaedic the same day, I went and spoke to him about it. On hearing me, he immediately said that he needed to speak to my husband. He told my husband that it seemed more like a neurological problem, than an orthopaedic one.
My husband consulted a few friends and we reached out to a known neurologist. My first visit to the neurologist was a day I would never forget. As soon as I walked inside his consulting room, the first words he said on seeing me walk were, “there's a tumour pressing the brain/spine". On hearing this, I was shaken, but still waited till he could examine me completely. On completing his examination, he asked my husband to get an MRI done on an emergency basis. We rushed to the MRI centre immediately.
Since I was always scared of closed spaces, an MRI didn't seem like my cup of tea. I was petrified to even have a look at the MRI machine. Seeing me in that state, the doctor at the MRI centre spoke to me, comforted me and assured me that my husband and daughter could accompany me inside the room while it was being done. The whole process took two hours and by the end of it, I was relieved to be out of the machine.
Diagnosed with MS
We were asked to wait for a while for the report since it was done on an emergency basis. As we waited, fingers crossed, the doctor called us into his room. That's when he said that my report showed MS (Multiple Sclerosis). He said that it was a very rare condition amongst Indians. The next day, I visited my neurologist with my reports and he confirmed MS and said, "you have to live with this because there is no cause, no cure for MS.”
I was told to get hospitalised since there was a battery of tests to be done along with my treatment. On hospitalisation, I was started with methylprednisolone/methylprednisone intravenously and a few tests were done to check the extent of the disease. When discharged, I was given oral steroids, usage of which was ceased soon after.
A few months later I faced another setback. I saw that my fingers of the left hand had completely curled, and my hand folded, like it was in a sling. I panicked, we rushed to the neurologist and he mentioned that what I was facing was a relapse.
Later, due to personal reasons and grudges with the doctor, we stopped treatment with the above spoken neurologist. A few people mentioned about Ayurveda, and in some hope we tried it, but all efforts in vain. My husband and my 20 year old left no stone unturned in the hope that I would get cured someday. Every doctor we visited only said that rigorous physiotherapy would help me recover, but would take long.
Recovery with Physiotherapy
In March 2019, I consulted yet another doctor at a reputed hospital. I was admitted and another set of tests were conducted during that time, and treatment for the same was started. I was prescribed medications and rigorous physiotherapy to reduce muscle spasticity. I visited the hospital thrice a week for physiotherapy, 40 minutes of which was occupational therapy and 40 minutes of physiotherapy. My leg muscles had become so weak that walking was becoming difficult and tedious for me. I started using a wheelchair. I had become dependent and comfortable with it and used it for a couple of months.
The continuous therapy and encouragement helped me regain my lost confidence. Earlier, I always needed somebody to accompany me everywhere. But slowly I started getting independent. It took me nearly 6 months to stop my reliance on the wheelchair and walker and shift to walking with cane/stick. I began to move on my own with the stick. You can also see the video below.
Hope alive
Today, it’s been 4 years of my diagnosis and still the hope doesn't die. I tie a splint on my left hand to avoid my fingers curling. One of the biggest challenges is to dress up and wear my clothes. As my fingers have curled up, it gets difficult for me to put on my clothes. My daughter and husband help me get ready everyday.
Since my mobility has been affected in a big way, I find ways to keep myself busy. I love cooking so keep trying new stuff, write short articles once in a while. I may be limited in my movement but that doesn’t stop me from enjoying life every single day. I go for parties, move around with friends and do enjoy life just the way anybody else does. I have a very supportive family and the only message I would share is that "Do not get stopped by anything that comes your way."
It's been a rollercoaster ride for me. Every new day has a new challenge to face but I enjoy every minute of it.
Listen to Sapna here
