Hey Gina...

I've been away from PT and found this thread as I was wondering how your surgeries went. I work for an Orthopedic Surgeon and he specializes in knee and hip surgery. I don't think a day goes by (even weekends) that he doesn't do a total hip, total knee and/or MANY arthroscopies. I've been there about 2 months and as his Medical Assistant and scheduler, I've learned a TON about this field, especially the above procedures I mentioned.

I have a question, why was your arthroscopy done in a hospital? I know in the area you were in are just as 'high-tech' as we are down in Southern California, we do ALL of our arthroscopies in Out/Patient Surgical Centers. Even with insurance restrictions (I get to do that as well), because its a Surgical Center its covered and preferrable to do such typically (if not always) out-patient surgeries. These procedures are quick if you have the right surgeon - I think my doc can do the actual procedure in less than 15 minutes - depending on WHAT the diagnosis is.

Did you have a meniscus tear that required the arthroscopy? Did your fall (I think you had a fall, right? Owie, poor thing, that's all you need, right?) cause that blood clot because you fell so early after surgery? Sorry if you've already answered these questions a million times, I just forgot.

You do really need P/T. I know you told Catty1 that you don't qualify for the Medicaid, but don't you qualify for some sort of Federal or State funded insurance program because of your deafness? (Or is it hearing impared? I'm sorry if I used the wrong term.) I know that in all states if you're born with one arm, you get assistance medically, I would imagine not being able to hear would be a greater disability and would warrant a governmentally funded health insurance program.

If your current insurance plan is not allowing treatment outside its area, like if you have an HMO or a EPO and can only use certain docs and hospitals, you can tell them that while traveling you've injured yourself further and have no way to safely transport you back to the HMO/EPO region. I'm positive people get sick in places other than their homes and their insurance is set up for those issues.

Anyway, back to your arthroscopy. I know you had that, those are fairly simple, quick proceedures. With P/T, you can be 100% pain free in 2 weeks! I'd say about 50% of our patients didn't even need the P/T, just some anti-inflamatories after the day after surgery narcotic pain meds (only taken for 1-2 days) and they come back in for suture removal/wound check and for the doc to check weight bearing, range of motion, etc. And I can't tell you how easy they make it look.

So I was really puzzled when I saw you had so much trouble. Did you have a abnormal diagnosis where it was more involved? Why did you have to stay in the hospital? (Like you, I HATE hospitals, I'd MUCH rather be home! )

Anyway, like I said before, I was just checking in and was curious sinse I now work in the field.

I hope you're feeling better each day and can figure out a way to get to P/T if that's what your Doc wants you to do.

Hugs, Kelly & Kits