Update on hubby's total knee replacement....

Colleen

Colleen

Senior Member
Location
Pennsylvania
Latest update: This morning I contacted our insurance company because we've been waiting for their "blessing" (authorization) so hubby could get an injection in his left knee. The Ortho doc wanted that done before he goes in for TKR on his right knee on Friday. The insurance told me there is no request for that injection, so someone didn't follow through. No surprise there. I also asked if they had an updated authorization for the TKR on the 27th which was moved from the 30th. Again...no paperwork! I know from working with surgeons, that an approval for the 30th doesn't mean it will be paid for if it's been changed to the 27th! I contacted the gal at the hospital that schedules and had to leave a message telling her that our insurance will not pay for his TKR on the 27th if there isn't an authorization approved. I'm waiting for her call back. OY VEY!!!
 

Colleen said:
Latest update: This morning I contacted our insurance company because we've been waiting for their "blessing" (authorization) so hubby could get an injection in his left knee. The Ortho doc wanted that done before he goes in for TKR on his right knee on Friday. The insurance told me there is no request for that injection, so someone didn't follow through. No surprise there. I also asked if they had an updated authorization for the TKR on the 27th which was moved from the 30th. Again...no paperwork! I know from working with surgeons, that an approval for the 30th doesn't mean it will be paid for if it's been changed to the 27th! I contacted the gal at the hospital that schedules and had to leave a message telling her that our insurance will not pay for his TKR on the 27th if there isn't an authorization approved. I'm waiting for her call back. OY VEY!!!
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I know what you're going through. My wife is in the process of having her knee treated and she'll be getting knee replacement surgery in the spring. Every day we get a new stack of bills. Our healthcare system is FUBAR.

Good luck, @Colleen! (y)
 

I know some with delayed surgery and other's the doc rushed them in about 18 months before the person anticipated having it done. Both got good results and were quite mobile with in a month. Know others where the docs want to try everything but. The body is never the same after major surgery regardless of therapy rehab. At least there is time to think/for alternatives unless options exhausted.

Good Luck
 
Kaila said:
Thinking of your husband, and of you, today, @Colleen
Hope it all goes very well.
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Thank you so much for asking! It's been a long day. We had to be at the hospital and registered at the surgery unit by 7:15am. They took him back within a couple minutes of registering but I wasn't allowed to go back with him. They've restricted everyone. By 9:30am, I was getting worried because he hadn't been taken from pre-op to OR. They give you a number when you register and there's an electronic board that you can check the number and see how he's "progressing". It said he was still in pre-op. The receptionist came out and said they had an emergency in the OR and everything was backed up. He finally went in at 10:30. At 12:30pm he was in recovery. I wasn't allowed back there, either. I got a call on my cell from the recovery room nurse about 1:30pm and she said he would be going up to his room shortly but I couldn't see him until visiting hours at 4PM. I drove across the street from the hospital and had an In N Out burger and came home, which is about 20 miles from the hospital. Fed the kitties, got the mail and here I am until 4 PM. I could tell he was still out of it and hurting when the recovery nurse let me talk to him for a minute. I'm sure he won't remember it. I think it all went well but he'll be coming home tomorrow...I think. They will be getting him up soon to walk. Poor guy!

BTW...I found out that the emergency they had in the OR was from a car accident and they had to do surgery on a young girl to remove her spleen :(
 
It's nice to read your update about how your long day went, Colleen, and that your husband is finally in the recovery stage.
You and he have waited for a long time, to get through this step, today.
 
I had both my knees replaced, the right one at the hospital in Sun City in 2004 and the left one in Sun City West in 2006. Both have been fine ever since. They do get you out of bed as quickly as possible. A few weeks later I was able to drive the golf cart. The rehab after the surgery is very important. Outpatient rehab worked fine for me.
 

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