Knee surgery costs?

**Shorty_J** · 01-29-2017, 06:16 PM

Originally Posted by XXX-er

I think you should try and be optimistic that the pro's can help you pretty quick

In spite of all the long wait horror stories you hear about in the news my dad had brain and cancer surgeries pretty quick in the Canadian system and I think the key was that his general practitioner seemed to know the right people who could get him in

and the fact you are not working means you could be available any time they have a spot come open

I'm trying not to be hopeful or pessimistic... but the only first hand story I have to base things on is a friend who did his mcl and ACL and got surgery about 11 months after the injury... then rehab after that.

He was a little younger than me and very active.

I'll wait until my appointment to know the full picture but I was just looking into my options now. I have time on my hands.

**MagnificentUnicorn** · 01-29-2017, 06:32 PM

I would try RICE and invest in a good hinged knee brace, then wait for your appointments.

**Shorty_J** · 02-02-2017, 01:24 PM

Complete knee dislocation.

ACL MCL and PCL.

He sees maybe 2 knees a year that are this bad.

Surgery for sure, possibly more than 1 surgery.

**Bosco** · 02-02-2017, 01:28 PM

Ouch, I feel for you. I thought I had it bad rupturing both ACL's in back to back years (Squaw Valley and Jackson Hole).

Good luck to you. I hope it all works out.

**cmcrawfo** · 02-02-2017, 02:01 PM

Average wait time for semi urgent knee surgery in the calgary region is listed as 3 weeks.

If you are being seen in banff they have already triaged you as non urgent (as that's the type of procedures that generally get referred there). That average wait in your region for a non urgent knee procedure is 35 weeks.

**cmcrawfo** · 02-02-2017, 02:03 PM

Originally Posted by Shorty_J

Complete knee dislocation.

ACL MCL and PCL.

He sees maybe 2 knees a year that are this bad.

Surgery for sure, possibly more than 1 surgery.

The upside to this is that you will likely be triaged up as semi urgent

Vibes. and best of luck.

**Shorty_J** · 02-02-2017, 02:09 PM

Originally Posted by cmcrawfo

Average wait time for semi urgent knee surgery in the calgary region is listed as 3 weeks.

If you are being seen in banff they have already triaged you as non urgent (as that's the type of procedures that generally get referred there). That average wait in your region for a non urgent knee procedure is 35 weeks.

Where are these stats coming from?

I chose to be referred to banff because I was told they would be faster when I was in the banff hospital at the time of the injury.

And I called the acute knee clinic in Calgary and they told me they are referring surgical work to banff wherever possible because the wait in Calgary is significantly longer right now.

I'm not saying you're wrong... I'm just wondering how I could have heard something so different.

**cmcrawfo** · 02-02-2017, 02:11 PM

http://waittimes.alberta.ca/

wait times for all surgical procedures, and most diagnostics, in all canadian jurisdictions are available online.

as for everything elses they told you .. I don't know.... sounds legit.

**adrenalated** · 02-02-2017, 02:13 PM

If you really did your PCL, the cost estimates listed here are WAY low. That's a complicated fucking surgery.

An ex-GF of mine did her PCL and LCL and the hospital and surgeon billed well over $100k.

**Alpinord** · 02-02-2017, 02:17 PM

Originally Posted by Shorty_J

Complete knee dislocation.

ACL MCL and PCL.

He sees maybe 2 knees a year that are this bad.

Surgery for sure, possibly more than 1 surgery.

Sorry to hear this. Hopefully they can get you repaired sooner than later. Good luck!

How did all this damage happen?

**Shorty_J** · 02-02-2017, 02:21 PM

Originally Posted by cmcrawfo

http://waittimes.alberta.ca/

wait times for all surgical procedures, and most diagnostics, in all canadian jurisdictions are available online.

as for everything elses they told you .. I don't know.... sounds legit.

I didn't know about that... thanks... I'll check it out.

**Shorty_J** · 02-02-2017, 02:22 PM

Originally Posted by adrenalated

If you really did your PCL, the cost estimates listed here are WAY low. That's a complicated fucking surgery.

An ex-GF of mine did her PCL and LCL and the hospital and surgeon billed well over $100k.

Yeah... I've abandoned any hope of paying for this myself.

But fucking hell.... $100k!?!?

**Shorty_J** · 02-02-2017, 02:26 PM

Originally Posted by Alpinord

Sorry to hear this. Hopefully they can get you repaired sooner than later. Good luck!

How did all this damage happen?

Thanks.

Carving hard turns on a groomer... lost a ski but the G-forces of the turn had me moving laterally. Went off the run on the right side and smashed into the trees really hard/fast with my upper thigh... lower leg kept going with the momentum.

It's possible some of the damage was when the ski popped off or when I tried to self arrest or re-direct myself away from the trees when I saw how fast I was heading towards them... But I don't recall feeling any pain until after impact so I suspect it was like I described it above.

**cmcrawfo** · 02-02-2017, 02:29 PM

There are lots of private surgical centers in Canada. If you are considering paying, I would look in country first.

http://www.centrichealthsurgicalcalgary.ca/

http://www.comoxvalleysurgical.com/

http://www.cambiesurgery.com/

http://www.kamloopssurgicalcentre.ca/

http://okanaganhealthsurgical.ca/

http://www.timelymedical.ca/

**Shorty_J** · 02-02-2017, 03:04 PM

^^^ thanks... I'll look into those.

**MagnificentUnicorn** · 02-02-2017, 03:13 PM

Consider yourself lucky you didn't lose your leg with a knee dislocation

**cmcrawfo** · 02-02-2017, 03:36 PM

Originally Posted by AaronWright

Consider yourself lucky you didn't lose your leg with a knee dislocation

But then he would have had surgery right away.

**MagnificentUnicorn** · 02-02-2017, 04:48 PM

Originally Posted by cmcrawfo

But then he would have had surgery right away.

And he'd probably be back to skiing sooner with a prosthesis.

**Shorty_J** · 02-02-2017, 04:58 PM

Originally Posted by AaronWright

Consider yourself lucky you didn't lose your leg with a knee dislocation

Yeah I guess so.

Also lucky I didn't hit my head at that speed or I'd probably be dead or a vegetable.

**ticketchecker** · 02-07-2017, 06:19 PM

Just going through bills from ACL in 2015, total was $31k. I ended up owing about $4900 and I have good insurance from a large US company

**indyjones** · 02-07-2017, 07:16 PM

With a bump ankle in Canada, I've done both. U.S. (Gave me price up front and a 25% cash discount whatever that was) in Kirkland WA and cambie surgery center in Vancouver. The latter costs can be very reasonable compared to US (particularly with exchange now)....and of course try and make it an out patient if possible

**splat** · 02-08-2017, 07:09 AM

Originally Posted by Shredhead

Fuck the US, you'll get reamed. Check out India.

Even better, check the Indian hospital in the Caymans.

**Shorty_J** · 02-22-2017, 10:30 PM

Update:

MCL = grade 3 tear
ACL = grade 3 tear
PCL = grade 2-3
LCL = some damage identified on the MRI but not graded by the surgeon.

I have probably the best surgeon in the area in Dr. Heard in Banff, so that's good. The MRI confirmed all the damage he assessed manually, but also showed some potentially good signs in that the ACL and PCL are relatively intact bundles even though they are torn of the femoral side, and the MCL is a femoral tear as well and not a tibial tear (which is apparently much trickier). So there's potential for a lot of that to self-heal in the proper brace.

So I'm in this massive PCL stabilizing custom brace until March 23rd when I have another appointment where he'll re-assess based on what stability I have at that point... and decide then whether or not surgery is required and of what nature.

With that much damage, if surgery is needed I'm now 100% certain I can't afford it in the US anyway... so now I wait with swelling in my pants, but not the good kind.

**John_B** · 02-22-2017, 11:37 PM

Well the only bonus seems that the path forward is clear. Good luck avoiding/minimizing surgery. I'd never thought of the advantages of where on the ligament it was torn.