More banging on about the shoulder

[den]

Good news! It's not urgent! I can have the operation here in Dubbo as day-surgery. I see the orthopedic surgeon in April to work out dates etc.

Bad news: it's not urgent, so I go on a queue that will exceed a 12 month wait. I can dip into my private insurance to reduce the wait time but I'll take a financial hit with premiums. Or I can get it done free under Medicare but have to wait on the long queue. Either way, I will have to put up with the dodgy shoulder for some time.

Comments

[acelightning]

Can you at least get temorary care for your shoulder from Medicare? Things like a sling to take the strain off of it, painkillers to make it bearable, that sort of stuff? I'm pretty sure your Medicare is a whole lot more useful than mine. (Although mine paid for most of the nonsense that happened in hospitals and emergency rooms since last summer.)

[den]

The painkillers I take, paracetamol and ibuprofen, are pretty cheap thanks to the Pharmaceuticals Benefits Scheme (part of Medicare) and are OTC without a prescription. I don't want to take codeine or opiates because that will kill the pain, and I'll do more damage. So far the multiple doctor visits, the MRI, physio, and x-rays have all been free (ie no cash payments - I paid with my taxes) under Medicare. I hate to think what the MRI cost without that.

It doesn't hurt all the time - I can drive the car without an issue, and get dressed, and eat. Showering is a bit difficult because I have to bend my shoulder outside the comfortable area to wash the left side of my body, and drying is a problem for the same reason. I can't sleep if I roll onto my right side.

[acelightning]

You're still better off than most Americans - certainly better than I'd be if I weren't old enough for Medicare.
At least a large number of potential candidates for President next year are vocally in favor of a "single-payer system" of health care, the thing civilized countries like Australia and the Netherlands have.

I hope you get everything sorted pretty soon, and I hope you start getting better the instant it's all taken care of.