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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: xcvator on May 08, 2017, 01:17:26 PM
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What to do ?
In Mid February I wrecked my right knee ( now need a total knee replacement ) and have been in extreme pain ever since with it and swallowing a pack of panadol a day. A course of cortisone tablets helped for a week or so, but then back to the pain, this was followed by a guided cortisone injection that took about a week to take hold, that was on the 27/4 . Now I'm still in a fair bit of discomfort/pain and house bound so what should I do ?
1/ Wait maybe 2 years to get it down on the free list ( yep that's right 2 years )
2/ Wait another 10 months and get it done on my health benefits ($500 p/m + pain killers )
3/ Get it done now, privately if I can find a surgeon that will take private patients ( about $25,000 )
Now we can scrounge up the cash for option 3 but it will knock a huge hole in retirement funds and if any thing goes wrong (ie; an infection ) the cost could balloon out astronomically
cheers Keith :cheers:
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2
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Have you already retired?
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If you haven't already, can you get a referral to a pain specialist? They may be able to help you manage the pain better in the short/medium term, allowing you to do option one or two.
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Keith,
Why do you have to wait 10 months under option 2 ? If you have the private Health insurance, you should be able to get it down now ?
MarkVS
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2, and see if you can get better pain medication.
Keith,
Why do you have to wait 10 months under option 2 ? If you have the private Health insurance, you should be able to get it down now ?
Waiting period?
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Have you already retired?
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Yes
Keith,
Why do you have to wait 10 months under option 2 ? If you have the private Health insurance, you should be able to get it down now ?
MarkVS
Waiting period, never had health insurance and at 70 it aint cheap
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I guess you're gonna hefta wait a few months.
Public system sux the biggie always getting pushed back by more critical (read:paying) cases. and paying for it yourself defeats the porpoise of having health cover. 🐬
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Option 2 Keith.
If you can find some one to help you with the pain management.
Should be able to get it done now.
Thanks to political interference in the past, you won't.
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4. Make enquiries at larger regional centres re waiting lists at the public hospitals. Visiting orthopods sometimes have short waiting lists and you may get in quicker through the public system that way. We used to get quite a few patients from Brisbane having hips done in Mount Isa as the waiting list was short. Worth a try.
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he doesn't need help with the pain management, he has his still going!
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Amputation would be cheaper.
Go play on the train tracks and the public system will pick up the tab and all done quickly.
No need to thank me, its my job.
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What to do ?
In Mid February I wrecked my right knee ( now need a total knee replacement ) and have been in extreme pain ever since with it and swallowing a pack of panadol a day. A course of cortisone tablets helped for a week or so, but then back to the pain, this was followed by a guided cortisone injection that took about a week to take hold, that was on the 27/4 . Now I'm still in a fair bit of discomfort/pain and house bound so what should I do ?
1/ Wait maybe 2 years to get it down on the free list ( yep that's right 2 years )
2/ Wait another 10 months and get it done on my health benefits ($500 p/m + pain killers )
3/ Get it done now, privately if I can find a surgeon that will take private patients ( about $25,000 )
Now we can scrounge up the cash for option 3 but it will knock a huge hole in retirement funds and if any thing goes wrong (ie; an infection ) the cost could balloon out astronomically
cheers Keith :cheers:
Keith,
Depending on what damage you have done, there is the option of an injection of Synvisc-One. This will pad out the joint, and works well with OA. It is not Medicare rebatable....
Some GPs will inject it into the knee joint but also a lot of orthopedic surgeons or even sports doctors.
From memory it is about $1000....but may well give you some good relief while you wait the 10 months for health insurance to kick in!
Cheers
Karl
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Amputation would be cheaper.
Go play on the train tracks and the public system will pick up the tab and all done quickly.
No need to thank me, its my job.
With friends like this, who needs an enema? ;D
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If going option 2 I would triple check there is absolute certainty that you are eligible after the 12 months, I knew someone who signed up to get an OP after 12 months only then to find out (I'm not sure of the reason) that he had to wait another 12 months.
I'd also maybe give a couple of the surgeons a call to confirm what price it would be privately (including anaesthetists etc) sometimes they will do it a bit cheaper with a little bit of sob story, ie pain is almost unbearable, can probably only just afford it, will wipe out most of what you have but don't know if you can wait for the public system etc. You can then weigh this up against keeping on paying your private health insurance, out of pocket costs etc which will probably be at least half of the $25,000 by the time all is said and done.
How much of a financial hit the difference is, only you can really weigh up, but if it's likely to just be a bit less you leave when your time is up, just spend the extra and enjoy the times it buys you.
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Is just pay the cash, you could lose that on the stock market overnight mate.
Or option 4 medicinal wacky tobacy
Health insurance plenty say it's expensive but in instances like the pain your in Keith it's not when you get it sorted quickly
Swannie
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If going option 2 I would triple check there is absolute certainty that you are eligible after the 12 months, I knew someone who signed up to get an OP after 12 months only then to find out (I'm not sure of the reason) that he had to wait another 12 months.
yea something like the pre-existing conditions fine print?
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Ring around.
I've never had health insurance either.
Surgeons are no different to anyone else.
They like cash.
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2
Pre-existing condition may not be covered.
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Some people are getting into that surgury tourism I think they call it. They combine a trip to Thailand with a trip to the surgeon. Might be able to score a nice set of boobies of your own to play with too. :laugh:
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Some people are getting into that surgury tourism I think they call it. They combine a trip to Thailand with a trip to the surgeon. Might be able to score a nice set of boobies of your own to play with too. :laugh:
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Some people are getting into that surgury tourism I think they call it. They combine a trip to Thailand with a trip to the surgeon. Might be able to score a nice set of boobies of your own to play with too. :laugh:
I'll pay that! :cup:
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Some people are getting into that surgury tourism I think they call it. They combine a trip to Thailand with a trip to the surgeon. Might be able to score a nice set of boobies of your own to play with too. :laugh:
or pay for the surgery working as a Lady boi when he gets back ;D
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Ya'll supposed to be feeling sorry for me and being helpfull :'( :'( but you're acting like myswag degenerates, ladyboys and boobies talk just isn't helping my situation I've already got a stiff leg , another 1 is just not going to be helpful at all
:cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
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Ya'll supposed to be feeling sorry for me and being helpfull :'( :'( but you're acting like myswag degenerates, ladyboys and boobies talk just isn't helping my situation I've already got a stiff leg , another 1 is just not going to be helpful at all
:cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
Hope its' the middle one!
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In all seriousness I was going to mention try OS but people beat me to the punch.
Vietnam would be another place to research for surgery.
Cheers, Chris :cheers:
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If you're 70ish I would pay the cash upfront and get it done ASAP. Sitting at home and doing minimal exercise would not be great for your overall health, physically and mentally. Sounds like you're already going bonkers after less than 2 months, imagine doing this for another 10 months, then recovery time. Bugger that...
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Could always go to a university hospital, they might be able to use your surgery for instructional purposes, might get it done for a discounted price . ;D
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Ya'll supposed to be feeling sorry for me and being helpfull :'( :'( but you're acting like myswag degenerates, ladyboys and boobies talk just isn't helping my situation I've already got a stiff leg , another 1 is just not going to be helpful at all
:cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
So, based on that information, a lady boy with a nice set of boobs gives you a stiffy is what you're saying.
Couldn't make up ya mind on which team to "bat for", so decided to make it a 50/50 each way bet.
Do ya friends know tranny's turn you on...... LMAO.... :D
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Dephends what damage has been done, if it was just an arthroscope and clean out it would not be that expensive, and would not be a cure.
I have top hospital cover but still would go overseas, most of the continuing education in orthopaedics is in India.
Thailand facilities are excellent.
Friend of mine ground all his teeth down and had to have them all crowned, $55,000 was the quote in Brisbane
He went to Kuala Lumpur and had it done by the same dentist that comes out here to lecture at the UQ for $5,000.
Did perfect job.
Mynance
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You have a budget for living expenses. In guessing you're a self funded retiree. Make it a financial decision and work out what it costs to sit about waiting and popping pills as opposed to trimming the budget and pulling some capital forward to get it sorted now. You're 70, I dont know what your general health is like but just be aware of the busses waiting around the corner, older you get the more busses lining up to knock you over. Get it sorted and get on with retirement with a smile.
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Dephends what damage has been done, if it was just an arthroscope and clean out it would not be that expensive, and would not be a cure.
I have top hospital cover but still would go overseas, most of the continuing education in orthopaedics is in India.
Thailand facilities are excellent.
Friend of mine ground all his teeth down and had to have them all crowned, $55,000 was the quote in Brisbane
He went to Kuala Lumpur and had it done by the same dentist that comes out here to lecture at the UQ for $5,000.
Did perfect job.
Mynance
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Interesting. Kev could go all Maggie Smith and set himself up at The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel for recovery.
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Keith,
As a retiree, and having seen you in pain at the national meet, you need to be making a quality of life decision. This time of your life is all about enjoying yourself to the Max.. And you havent been since Feb.
Some of your options are putting a value on your(and families) quality of life/happiness. You cant do that....
Mark
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Look, I've just had a total knee replacement 7 weeks ago and I feel for what you are going through. All I can say is that my life was becoming pretty unpleasant because of my old knee and I really had to do something about it. Now understand if you have the operation your life won't get any better quickly, it has taken me the best part of six weeks before I started to feel better about things and it would probably be the same for you but it will get better. The operation is a piece of cake for modern surgeons, it's the rehab that takes the time and effort. That's the easy part, I know you have other issues re cost etc. All I can say is that you really have a clear decision. If your life is becoming miserable with pain and discomfort you owe it to yourself and your family to do something about it ASAP. Life is not about pain and misery, especially as we get older. From what you have said it seems that with a bit of financial sacrifice you can probably make it happen, if you can then do it. What is retirement worth if it is lived in pain and immobility?
I just wanted to say that you have had some really good and thoughtful responses and you had had some garbage posted as well. Forget about the overseas nonsense. Have a look at the lifestyle in some of these Asian countries. Do you really want to go there and let them cut you open? And let your post be a warning to others, going into retirement and older age without comprehensive private health cover is a very bad thing. People should not place themselves at the mercy of the public health system if they can help it, it's a tough lesson to learn and you have probably learnt the hard way.
Good luck whatever you decide to do and I hope things turn out well for you.
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Well, the bullets been bitten, saw my orthopaedic surgeon this morning and I can apparently get a half knee replacement instead of a full replacement, much quicker and cheaper to do than a full job, maybe only 3 days in hospital as opposed to 7 to 10 for the full one, but still about $15000 :'(
Booked into the Frankston Private Hospital on the 8/6/17 , I'll give you the gps co-ordinates and Melways reference a bit closer to the time so that you can visit me and bring lots of get well pressies
cheers Keith :cheers:
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Heres hoping for a pain free / trouble free outcome for you Ex .
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Well, the bullets been bitten, saw my orthopaedic surgeon this morning and I can apparently get a half knee replacement instead of a full replacement
Is it going to give you the best result though?
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Good Luck with it Keith, hope the result is better than ok.
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Not too late for a 'Go Fund Me' page.
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Is it going to give you the best result though?
How would I know, ??? this is apparently the "new age" sort of like key hole surgery, you can only be guided by the surgeon and this guy is the protege of the surgeon that did my left knee 6 years ago and that's been faultless :cup:
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Good luck with it Keith. Hope it all goes well for you.
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Great decision. Let me know as soon as you are mobile and we can give that banker a run.
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but still about $15000 :'(
At least this bit checks out now
spending the kids inheritance as fast as I can
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Well, the bullets been bitten, saw my orthopaedic surgeon this morning and I can apparently get a half knee replacement instead of a full replacement, much quicker and cheaper to do than a full job, maybe only 3 days in hospital as opposed to 7 to 10 for the full one, but still about $15000 :'(
Booked into the Frankston Private Hospital on the 8/6/17 , I'll give you the gps co-ordinates and Melways reference a bit closer to the time so that you can visit me and bring lots of get well pressies
cheers Keith :cheers:
A stone throw away for Bruce and i ole mate we will bring the beers :cheers:
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And I'll give them a ring and tell 'em all about your special needs liquid diet.
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Good decision Keefy.... :cup: :cup:
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Cheers guys and girls for the good wishes and messages , they are much appreciated. Having made the decision I'm feeling much better about it , just counting down the days now
cheers Keith :cheers: :cheers:
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While your going to be under the anasthetic Ex, get them to bung out a kidney and flog it off to some rich bastard for ya .. Should wake up to a nice tidy profit to fund your travels with then ..
Ohh and you do know why they all wear masks and caps in the theater rooms, dont you !! .. " So you cant pick one of them out in a police line up if they something wrong " . ;D
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Keith thank you for posting this, if nothing more than as a reminder to people that relying on the public health system is a risk. I recently had a knee reconstruction and if I had gone public it would have been a 12 - 18 months wait with pain (knee was quite unstable) and the likely possibility of further damage. I did have to wait 3 months before my surgeon would ok the surgery to let some of the other damage subside but I did rehab during that time and now 7 weeks post surgery I'm hammering along, still a lot of work to do but I can now even handle the wayward coles trolleys which I couldn't do before the op. So after I got the go ahead I was booked in two weeks later.
Private health insurance is expensive but when it comes to quality of life it is so worth it.
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Keith thank you for posting this, if nothing more than as a reminder to people that relying on the public health system is a risk. I recently had a knee reconstruction and if I had gone public it would have been a 12 - 18 months wait with pain (knee was quite unstable) and the likely possibility of further damage. I did have to wait 3 months before my surgeon would ok the surgery to let some of the other damage subside but I did rehab during that time and now 7 weeks post surgery I'm hammering along, still a lot of work to do but I can now even handle the wayward coles trolleys which I couldn't do before the op. So after I got the go ahead I was booked in two weeks later.
Private health insurance is expensive but when it comes to quality of life it is so worth it.
My sentiments as well. I reckon you made the right choice Keith. Hope all goes well. None of us know when we have to hang up our cue and we should be living our lives to the fullest. I have private insurance and it saved me a fortune with the wives heart issues and 2 operations for myself. I reckon within the next or 2 I,m gunna be looking at knee surgery...both clicking like buggary!!.
Good luck and keep smilin.