$12,000 Knee

I’ve done a quick check and as of today I’m up over $12,000 in total charges for the knee. That includes all visits, referrals, films, etc….and just received the surgeon’s charge. Outstanding should just be the facility and anesthesia fees.  I predicted a $25,000 total bill and I’ll be close once follow-ups and PT visits are included. 

Through a mutual party I have a recovery race underway. My second surgeon’s follow-up was late this past week. This was to be the one that really told me how I was coming along–14 days post op.  I’m losing the race…..surgeon said I was at just under 100 degrees of flex; that matched against the goal of 130.  Drat. On the upside the set of bandages was removed permanently; Dr. said healing is fine and no need to keep covered up. He said the swelling was also healing nicely and that it would generally be necessary to ice only after stress/PT/exercises on it. Hooray! He also ok’d getting off the single crutch but didn’t cave on the monolithic brace. That thing is like an exo-skeleton; I’m holding out hope I get to trade it in somewhere for a few $$; cannot imagine any instance I’d ever need it again. Apparently I’m not quite at 100% straight/flat with the leg resting and I should be. Guilty as charged: I keep skirting and not locking down the brace to 100 degrees at night….or sometimes I even rip it off in the middle of the night when it wakes me up. So I’ve started following instructions to the letter now. Tired of the brace; even though I keep it set at 70 degrees of flex when I walking around it’s still uncomfortable. 

Overall this follow-up was more disappointing than I’d expected; elated to ditch the crutch; bummed about keeping the brace until the next follow-up in a couple of weeks. Stay tuned for a PTupdate!