Between a Rock and a Hard Place

[xcvator]

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

[Bird]

2

[Roo]

Have you already retired?

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[db]

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.

[MarkVS]

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

[tryagain]

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?

[xcvator]

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

[Roo]

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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[Cruiser 105Tvan]

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.

[plusnq]

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.

[Bird]

he doesn't need help with the pain management, he has his still going!

[Jeepers Creepers]

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.

[cowwee]

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

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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[UIZ733]

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? 

[tryagain]

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.

[Swannie]

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

[Bird]

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?

[Kangaron]

Ring around.
I've never had health insurance either.
Surgeons are no different to anyone else.
They like cash.

[Terry W4]

2

Pre-existing condition may not be covered.

[Champin]

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.

[Nomad]

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.

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[UIZ733]

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.

I'll pay that! 

[Rumpig]

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.

or pay for the surgery working as a Lady boi when he gets back 

[xcvator]

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

[UIZ733]

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

Hope its' the middle one!