AFTER ENDURING 8 YEARS OF PAIN, TWO SISTERS CHOSE TO UNDERGO KNEE REPLACEMENT TOGETHER
A few years earlier, he had been battling severe hip arthritis that had left him almost immobile.
For nearly eight years, sisters Ms. Amita Prabhavarkar (aged 63yrs), and Ms. Anita Prabhudesai (aged 68yrs), lived with constant knee pain that gradually took away their independence. A walk to the market, climbing a flight of stairs, attending family gatherings, or even stepping out of their home became increasingly difficult. As the pain worsened, they slowly stopped doing the things they once loved, accepting that this was simply a part of growing older. But one person refused to let them give up, their brother.
After undergoing a total hip replacement under Dr. Anoop Dhamangaonkar, Consultant Joint Replacement and Orthopaedic Surgeon, S. L. Raheja Hospital, Mahim – A Fortis Associate, his life changed dramatically. He was back on his feet, walking comfortably and even dancing; something his sisters had never imagined possible. Seeing their brother regain his mobility gave them the confidence they had been missing. He encouraged them to consult Dr. Dhamangaonkar, assuring them that they did not have to continue living with pain.
The sisters subsequently sought treatment at S.L. Raheja Hospital, Mahim – A Fortis Associate, where detailed investigations revealed advanced osteoarthritis in both knees. While surgery was the recommended treatment, they had one request that reflected the bond they shared; they wanted to be admitted together, stay in the same room, undergo surgery on the same day, and recover side by side. Their wish was honored.
63-year-old Amita Prabhavarkar, a homemaker, underwent simultaneous bilateral total knee replacement, while her 68-year-old sister, Anita Prabhudesai, also a homemaker, underwent a total left knee replacement. Admitted on 9 June 2026, both sisters underwent their procedures successfully at S. L. Raheja Hospital, Mahim – A Fortis Associate. They shared every step of their hospital journey, from pre-operative counselling to physiotherapy sessions – encouraging one another throughout rehabilitation before being discharged together on 12 June 2026.
Ms. Amita Prabhavarkar recalled the emotional journey, saying: “For years, we planned our lives around pain. We stopped going out because every step hurt. Watching our brother walk so confidently after his surgery gave us hope that maybe our lives could change too. We wanted to face this journey together, just as we have faced everything else in life. Recovering side by side made us stronger. Today, after eight years, we can walk comfortably, step out without fear, and look forward to doing all the things we had stopped because of pain.”
For Dr. Anoop Dhamangaonkar, Consultant Joint Replacement and Orthopaedic Surgeon, S.L. Raheja Hospital, Mahim – A Fortis Associate, the case was about much more than replacing worn-out joints. Hea said, “Joint replacement is not merely a surgery, it is an opportunity to restore someone’s freedom from pain and help them reclaim their life. Nothing compares to the happiness of seeing a patient who has struggled for years to walk confidently again. This family’s story also reflects something deeply rooted in our society: the strength of family support. One sibling’s positive experience inspired two others to seek treatment, reminding us that encouragement from loved ones often becomes the first step towards healing.” Today, both sisters are back on their feet, walking independently and rediscovering the life they had slowly lost over the past eight years.
Their journey is a reminder that chronic joint pain should never be accepted as an inevitable part of ageing. Sometimes, the courage to seek treatment begins with seeing someone you love take that first pain-free step.
