Doctor, Doctor, Give Me the News

This really is turning into the year of the physician for me.

I went to see my orthopaedic surgeon this morning.  The tennis elbow that I developed during my racquetball trournament earlier this year is not going away.  I have been doing the stretches that my ortho suggested last time I had tennis elbow.  They help, but it's just not going away, so I decided it's time to get a little help.

He didn't get out his big needle and try a cortisone injection.  He said that they're finding out more and more that tennis elbow is usually more than inflammation of the tendons.  There are usually micro-tears in the tendons as well.  Cortisone will help with the inflammation, but not so much with the healing process of the tears.

He referred me to a physical therapist for ASTYM therapy.  They use hard acrylic tools to break up scar tissue and promote blood flow to the painful area.  I had ASTYM done on my ankle with very good results, so I'm hoping that this will take care of my tennis elbow.  The ortho recommended 2 treatments a week for up to 6 weeks.

If the ASTYM doesn't fix the problem, then it's likely that I'll need an expensive MRI and an even more expensive surgery.  Oy...

My health insurance plan pays for the first $2250 of medical expenses for the year.  I had a routine physical, for which they gave me a $100 bonus, so the first $2350 plus the cost of the physical exam will be covered.  I have about $850 of that left, and they still haven't billed me for the Lithotripsy yet.  Then next $2250 comes out of my pocket 100%.  After that, we go to a 90/10 coinsurance.

Normally, this plan is ideal for my family.  It costs less than the traditional insurance plans, and even if we have one major health expense (like a kidney stone, for example), we don't have to pay very much out of pocket.  This year, it's going to cost $2250 plus 10% of what's left over.  *ouch*

There IS a maximum out-of-pocket, so maybe I should get both knees replaced and have shoulder surgery, and see what else I can have done this year.  Might as well...  It only costs time, and pain, and therapy and more pain and...  Never mind.  All that pain scares the willies out of me.