starting to understand why hospitals/surgeries are so expensive...

[CosmicCowboy]

Gonna get a new knee next month. My goal is to get it done on a Wednesday and be back at work on Monday. Should be interesting.

But the new levels of defensive medicine since the last time I had a scheduled surgery is amazing.

First I had my appointment with the cutter. Maybe 8 pages of paperwork there. X-rays. bone on bone both knees. Yep. Definitely a candidate.

Then he sent my GP the laundry list:

Full physical
Full blood panel
EKG

Second cutter visit another 4 pages and I had to physically bring any medications I was taking for inspection. More X-rays. Another interview with the PA. Another interview with the doctor.

Then I had to go to the hospital the surgery will be performed at, fill out another 8 pages, actually get "admitted" with a wristband, then get a blood draw and match.

Every single step, every person I talk to I have to give them my name, DOB, and SS#.

Talk about a sweet setup for identity theft...

Then I got called by an imaging center this afternoon to schedule a CT scan. WTF? Dudes gonna be looking at the bloody bones themselves...what? Is he gonna look over at the CT scan and verify it's the right bloody bone?

Anyway, I have been amazed at the level of staff required to deal with the paperwork. i normally interact with 6 at the doctors office and had to interact with 3 at the surgery center just to get blood drawn. It's like check and double check.

[ElNono]

I bet they charged you at least an "office visit" every time, besides of the services provided...

[CosmicCowboy]

I bet they charged you at least an "office visit" every time, besides of the services provided...

Of course. Why wouldn't they? Hell, I was there today for two hours...

[leemajors]

Good luck getting back that fast, my former mother in law had both done in Nov/Dec last year and was walking around within a few weeks of each. Definitely quicker recovery than it used to be. My dad had both his done over a decade ago and it took much longer.

[FuzzyLumpkins]

lol Cosmic is a fatty.

[CosmicCowboy]

lol Cosmic is a fatty.

????

How did you deduce that Sherlock? There are several in the political forum that have met me and can confirm you are wrong.

[TeyshaBlue]

CC aint a fatty. He's a large guy tho.

[TeyshaBlue]

And good luck with the surgery. :tu
Be sure and post while you're high on meds! :lol

[ElNono]

Of course. Why wouldn't they? Hell, I was there today for two hours...

It's the token charge these days, even if you don't see the doctor...

[ElNono]

My dad has Ti replacements on both knees (didn't do them in the US, BTW), but he was walking great afterwards.

[FuzzyLumpkins]

It is becoming a familiar story. While the number of annual knee replacements has doubled in the last decade, the number in people under age 65 has nearly tripled. Experts have puzzled over this surgical trend. Some attributed it to aging baby boomers trying too hard to maintain active, weekend-warrior lifestyles. Other researchers blamed it on aggressive marketing of the procedures.

Now figures from a new national database of knee replacement patients strongly suggest that obesity is the most likely reason for these surgeries in younger patients. For Mr. Carroll, who was six feet three inches and 284 pounds before his procedure, obesity was likely a factor in his knee problems.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/11/11/adding-pounds-then-new-knees/

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Do want to wish you luck, CC. Going under a GA is scary stuff and invasive surgery is nothing to take lightly.

[boutons_deux]

defensive medicine? :lol

That's the propaganda, it's REMUNERATIVE medicine.

for-profit BigMedicine sees every patient as an ATM.

The GA I had for hernia operation caused serious constipation since GA shuts down ALL the muscles. healthy heroin addicts biggest problem is chronic constipation, not heroin.

The surgeon told me about the constipation in our post-op meeting, but NOT on the pre-surgery preparation paper.

If I ever need GA again, I'm gonna empty completely a couple days before and stay on a juice diet. I also could have used some hillbilly heroin for 2 days post-op. SHIT, that hurt.

[CosmicCowboy]

constipated, huh?

That explains a lot.

[CosmicCowboy]

constipated, huh?

That explains a lot.

FWIW my surgeon talked about constipation as a possible side effect.

[boutons_deux]

constipated, huh?

That explains a lot.

it was episodic, unlike your chronic mental constipation

[TeyshaBlue]

Narcotics cause constipation. This is not news.

[Sportcamper]

Good luck getting back on your feet Cosmic…:toast
All of those visits are charges on most insurance plans…Most of my co workers have thrown in the towel & have gone with Kaiser…

When you are able, Get fitted for an expensive bicycle with wide tires & low gears…Great leg exercise & easy on the knees….

[Winehole23]

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/11/11/adding-pounds-then-new-knees/well, at least you had good reason to be completely wrong.

[boutons_deux]

"obesity is the most likely reason for these surgeries in younger patients"

too many calories plus the quality of the calories, too much carbs, which are systemically inflammatory.

[CosmicCowboy]

Dang. Just filled a 30 day scrip for Celebrex at Walmart...freaking $350 !!!

I see I can buy them in Canada for $120.

Only thing is, I'm gonna pop my out of pocket deductible this year with this surgery probably so everything else will be "free" the rest of the year (not counting my premium). Might have to fib and get a viagra scrip for some power pumpin.

[tlongII]

Dang. Just filled a 30 day scrip for Celebrex at Walmart...freaking $350 !!!

I see I can buy them in Canada for $120.

Only thing is, I'm gonna pop my out of pocket deductible this year with this surgery probably so everything else will be "free" the rest of the year (not counting my premium). Might have to fib and get a viagra scrip for some power pumpin.

Wow. With my insurance a 30 day scrip for Celebrex costs me $90.

[CosmicCowboy]

Wow. With my insurance a 30 day scrip for Celebrex costs me $90.

I know, but the insurance is paying the rest.

My copay was $60 but I asked what the total cost was.

I think Pfizers Celebrex proprietary patent finally runs out this year or next so there will finally be some generic equivalents.

Right now there is nothing else like it.

[CosmicCowboy]

CC aint a fatty. He's a large guy tho.

1%er large apparently. My knee is bigger than the off the shelf XXL knee joint so that's why they did the CT scan today. They have to build a custom knee joint. Same exact design, just bigger.

[SnakeBoy]

Right now there is nothing else like it.

Does it really provide more relief than naproxen or ibuprofen to justify the cost?

[FuzzyLumpkins]

well, at least you had good reason to be completely wrong.

:lol Shep Smith

[Wild Cobra]

1%er large apparently. My knee is bigger than the off the shelf XXL knee joint so that's why they did the CT scan today. They have to build a custom knee joint. Same exact design, just bigger.
Who wants 'off the shelf" anyway?

Damn. I'm glad I have no problems with my joints... at least not yet. Hope I never do. I also hope they finally worked all the bugs out for such replacements.

Good-Luck.

[CosmicCowboy]

Does it really provide more relief than naproxen or ibuprofen to justify the cost?

Yeah, it's probably the top shelf NSAID on the market as far as the trade off between pain relief and side effects. I had been going the ibuprofen route but long term that can really fuck up your stomach.

[boutons_deux]

hillbilly heroin, wonderful, fast-acting, total relief, but so wonderful can be addictive, for short term intense pain (root canal), unbeatable.

[boutons_deux]

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a699022.html

[tlongII]

Does it really provide more relief than naproxen or ibuprofen to justify the cost?

Yes. It's a miracle drug imo. I am in constant pain without it.

[mrsmaalox]

Be sure to take a Sharpie and write "DO NOT CUT" on your other knee.

[leemajors]

Be sure to take a Sharpie and write "DO NOT CUT" on your other knee.

qft

[DUNCANownsKOBE]

Wow. With my insurance a 30 day scrip for Celebrex costs me $90.

:lmao wow your insurance fucking blows

[tlongII]

:lmao wow your insurance fucking blows

You ever get a scrip for Celebrex?

[Wild Cobra]

Wow...

Over $200/month normally.