It's kind'a sad---or downright infuriating----depending upon how easy it is for you to get downright infuriated.
In the beginning-----I'm hurting---bad enough to go the doctor----a hot-shot youngster Orthopedic Surgeon known as "The Hip Guy"-----and another one---a hot-shot older Orthopedic Surgeon known as the "The Back Guy"----so named by "The Hip Guy"---who also named himself. Now the reason----the first reason I'm hurting is because arthritis has displaced or otherwise fubared the cartilage in my left hip---such that the joint is "bone on bone" (according to The Hip Guy). And that sounded scary enough to get my attention. Further attention was required because it seems the cartilage between 2-3-4 vertebrae in my lower back was "diminished" some----and when it got to be diminished a lot, there would be too much room for the vertebrae in my spinal column, and some (one or more) vertebrae could become displaced. Oh, and by the way, if/when it became displaced, it's very likely to displace some of the nerves that run through all this stuff-----and you will be dead----------never mind that after 85 years on this planet you pretty much ought to be dead----probably should have been dead long before this. But that's not the problem.
The problem is the time spent getting educated about all this by The Hip Guy----and The Back Guy's assistant (PA) only to finally----FINALLY come to realize neither one of these folks is the least bit inclined to carve you up and fix you. And that's because when Old Farts get put to sleep for such carving, they don't wake up----a hell of a mess.
The remedy, such as it is, is known as Pain Management. It is practiced by two different MD types-------Anesthesiologists (with X-Ray machines to guide long needles) and what my Primary Care guy labels as "a bunch of Pill Pushers"-----this latter group to be avoided at all costs. And I wasn't so sure about these guys with X-Ray machines and long needles either------but that turned out to be no problem because my insurance (Medicare Advantage, such as it was) would not approve Pain Management procedures----three times in a row!!!
Here's a short course in medical insurance for Old Farts: In the beginning there was Medicare------and it was good. Then there was Medicare Supplement (just exactly what the name says)------and it was good. Then there was Medicare Advantage which started out okay, but was soon terribly abused, such that Medicare was no longer the primary (and calling the shots) but secondary, and pretty much not calling the shots-----and pretty soon folks like the NEW YORK TIMES are telling stories (true stories) about bad guys in insurance companies---declining benefits. My remedy was to fire the insurance company involved with my Advantage program, and go with Medicare alone---all by itself----with no back-up---or Supplement----or anything else----and pick up the tab for anything Medicare doesn't cover out of pocket. So far, I'm out of pocket $24.25.
AND-----yesterday I underwent my first Pain Management Procedure (X-Ray machine to guide the long needle)----and I damn well KNEW it was not going to work----and had damn well known it for months----PAINFUL MONTHS!!!
They said it would likely be 3-4 days before results would become apparent. It was 3-4 hours-----------and I'm a happy camper----an old happy camper, but happy nonetheless!!!
Ralph Tremaine
In the beginning-----I'm hurting---bad enough to go the doctor----a hot-shot youngster Orthopedic Surgeon known as "The Hip Guy"-----and another one---a hot-shot older Orthopedic Surgeon known as the "The Back Guy"----so named by "The Hip Guy"---who also named himself. Now the reason----the first reason I'm hurting is because arthritis has displaced or otherwise fubared the cartilage in my left hip---such that the joint is "bone on bone" (according to The Hip Guy). And that sounded scary enough to get my attention. Further attention was required because it seems the cartilage between 2-3-4 vertebrae in my lower back was "diminished" some----and when it got to be diminished a lot, there would be too much room for the vertebrae in my spinal column, and some (one or more) vertebrae could become displaced. Oh, and by the way, if/when it became displaced, it's very likely to displace some of the nerves that run through all this stuff-----and you will be dead----------never mind that after 85 years on this planet you pretty much ought to be dead----probably should have been dead long before this. But that's not the problem.
The problem is the time spent getting educated about all this by The Hip Guy----and The Back Guy's assistant (PA) only to finally----FINALLY come to realize neither one of these folks is the least bit inclined to carve you up and fix you. And that's because when Old Farts get put to sleep for such carving, they don't wake up----a hell of a mess.
The remedy, such as it is, is known as Pain Management. It is practiced by two different MD types-------Anesthesiologists (with X-Ray machines to guide long needles) and what my Primary Care guy labels as "a bunch of Pill Pushers"-----this latter group to be avoided at all costs. And I wasn't so sure about these guys with X-Ray machines and long needles either------but that turned out to be no problem because my insurance (Medicare Advantage, such as it was) would not approve Pain Management procedures----three times in a row!!!
Here's a short course in medical insurance for Old Farts: In the beginning there was Medicare------and it was good. Then there was Medicare Supplement (just exactly what the name says)------and it was good. Then there was Medicare Advantage which started out okay, but was soon terribly abused, such that Medicare was no longer the primary (and calling the shots) but secondary, and pretty much not calling the shots-----and pretty soon folks like the NEW YORK TIMES are telling stories (true stories) about bad guys in insurance companies---declining benefits. My remedy was to fire the insurance company involved with my Advantage program, and go with Medicare alone---all by itself----with no back-up---or Supplement----or anything else----and pick up the tab for anything Medicare doesn't cover out of pocket. So far, I'm out of pocket $24.25.
AND-----yesterday I underwent my first Pain Management Procedure (X-Ray machine to guide the long needle)----and I damn well KNEW it was not going to work----and had damn well known it for months----PAINFUL MONTHS!!!
They said it would likely be 3-4 days before results would become apparent. It was 3-4 hours-----------and I'm a happy camper----an old happy camper, but happy nonetheless!!!
Ralph Tremaine
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