April 2, 2023, marked a pivotal moment in Inga Derenkaitė’s (35) life, resulting in her confinement to a wheelchair and the need for two painful surgeries, followed by equally challenging rehabilitation.
“I refer to the day we flipped the car to be my second birthday. Although I survived the accident, I soon faced the devastating reality that I could not feel my body below my chest,” reflects I. Derenkaitė while recalling the tragic event. For Inga, the real nightmare began after the crash: following a nine-hour surgery, she was given the heartbreaking news from the doctors that she would never walk again. Before she could fully process this information, she realized that not only could she not walk, but she had also lost control over her fingers, abdominal muscles, and waist.
“The next phase ahead involved a 100-day rehabilitation program at Santaros Klinikos. After a month of therapy, it became evident that a structural fracture had occurred, making it feel as though hell was starting over, leading to yet another surgery, followed by a lengthy and exhausting rehabilitation,” Inga recounts her experiences.
Inga vividly remembers the first time she settled into an electric wheelchair; it felt as if she was saying goodbye to her independence forever, resigning herself to complete reliance on her life partner. In those early months, she truly struggled with even the simplest tasks – sitting up, dressing, or eating – without her husband’s help. However, as time went on, Inga discovered various techniques that empowered her to navigate her new reality and reclaim a degree of independence. Yet, the thought of ever rising from her wheelchair seemed like a distant dream, attainable only through a miracle – until she and her partner walked through the doors of the SANUS AXIS spinal clinic in Vilnius.
“After receiving disheartening predictions from doctors and enduring lengthy rehabilitation programs with little success, I naturally had low expectations. All I hoped for was to gain a bit more independence and become physically stronger. However, Sergii Ratushnyi, a manual therapy specialist at SANUS AXIS with extensive experience in physiotherapy and rehabilitation, approached my situation with a much more optimistic outlook than my own. He imparted some unforgettable words: ‘It is my duty to do everything I can to ease your life.’ Little did I know that my life would undergo a profound transformation within just a few months,” Inga describes on her first visit to the SANUS AXIS spinal clinic.
At the clinic, I. Derenkaitė’s rehabilitation used advanced medical equipment and techniques from the well-respected manufacturer, BTL Industries. Remarkably, after just a few initial treatments, the persistent upper body pain that had been bothering her disappeared, allowing her to stop taking pain medication altogether. Each rehabilitation session lasted about 1 to 1.5 hours, and by the end of the first week, Inga began to notice significant improvements. After several more weeks of therapy, she regained control of her waist, was able to pick up fallen objects, cook meals for herself and others, and dress independently.
“I can confidently say that in just 2 months at SANUS AXIS, I accomplished far more than in the 6 months I spent at other facilities combined. Now, I am attending the spinal clinic regularly – 5 times a week – and I have the incredible opportunity to rehabilitate with the only R-GAIT gait rehabilitation robot in the Baltic States, along with other specialized equipment. I still remember the first time I stood up from my wheelchair and walked 1 kilometre with the R-GAIT. I exclaimed, ‘It is a miracle!’ The SANUS AXIS team just chuckled and said, ‘It is not a miracle; it's science, experience, and hard work,” Inga shares.
Today, the woman can stand for longer than a minute, manage her household independently, put on her shoes, and get into a car with minimal assistance. She now drives herself to the SANUS AXIS clinic for her rehabilitation sessions. To healthy individuals, this may not seem like much, but for Inga, it represents a tremendous achievement.
I. Derenkaitė reflects that looking back on her journey and recognizing her achievements, she not only has hope for returning to a fulfilling life but also feels motivated to collaborate intensively with the specialists at SANUS AXIS to regain all the abilities she lost in the accident.