Should I go to physio if my knee is swollen and a likely-ACL injury?

[19brendan81]

Paul Miniter is a surgeon, I was referred to him by Wilson Lo. As your probably aware Wilson works for the Raiders, and Dr Miniter operates on them (Phil Graham, Lincoln Withers and William ZIllman this year alone!!!) so thats a pretty good resume as far as im concerned! I did my injury in November 07, had my operation 10 months after that. Miniter is experienced, friendly and a professional. Ask Wilson for a referral to him. My recovery has been outstanding, which is probably part luck, part due to me being in reasonable nick before the op, and part becuase I had a quality surgeon. Im 7 weeks after the operation at the moment, and running on a treadmill.

Re waiting times. Due to several reasons, mainly me refusing to believe my knee was injured, I never went and saw a doctor about it til march this year after it collapsed twice during a game of oztag (this is how I snapped it in November - playing oztag). I got in to see Dr Miniter in April, and he diagnosed the ACL rupture on the spot. He apologised for being busy and said he couldnt fit me in for an operation for 6 weeks. This wasnt a prob as I needed time to save the money. When I was ready, I rang and booked about a month in advance and off I went.

Costs were as follows.
Miniter - 2250 (got 850 back), 1400 out of pocket
Anethesist - 650 (got 200 back) 450 out of pocket
Assistant - 450 (got 150 back) 300 out of pocket
Hospital excess 500 out of pocket
Physio 23 out of pocket each visit, total so far 140 out of pocket

How did you do your injury?

[et0003]

He may be getting you to se the Physo to ensure that her is flexability and movment in the Knee for two reasons 1/ in the op they need a certain amount of movement to do the surguary 2/ with the added flexability you may be able to maintain musle mass as the quad will reduce in no time with little use....
At the end of the day I am sure that the Doc know best and dont worry about the cost as more now may be less later.

[HorseChicky]

Physiotherapists will help and suggest ways to make your knee or what ever better. My physiotherapist actually had me running with a torn ACL. I was doing well except when I tried to get on my horse and ended up underneath her. She just stood there (luckily) I had an operation last year and now I am fine and running with my horse....well that was until I fell off my friend's horse, at almost a gallop.

[singtingn]

Hi 19Brendan81,
Thanks for the info - on who to see and the costs. 7 weeks after the op and you're on treadmill, that's pretty good. I'm not sure how damaged my knee is but I even find it hard to manage the release of my clutch (i drive a manual car) and hence don't even drive now, and I can't bend my knee a lot.

The amounts you indicated - are they already minus the private health rebates you get? Sorry I'm not very familiar with this stuff... only just got a private health cover a few days ago. If i'm not on private health and went on the private surgeon waiting list, how much more would I be paying compared to somebody who had private health cover?

I injured my knee in skiing. It was crazy... i was trying so hard to control it that when I finally fell my legs ended up in this impossible position and my knee went pop.

HorseChickey,
It seems strange that your physio would get you to run with a torn ACL. I can't even stand properly on that leg.

And thanks all others for the kind advice. Will let you know how it goes.

[HorseChicky]

She managed to help me to build up the muscle around the knee so I was stable enough to run and stuff, just not able to twist. The doctors were amazed because it is not normal for people to do that.

[kjwilkin]

That's a lot to be out of pocket. I had no gap with my knee surgeon. My anaesthetist bill was only $100 after my health cover and medicare.

[singtingn]

Hi all,
since I don't have private health cover at the time of injury, I'll have to either go public or pay a lot if I went with private surgeons. How much should I be prepared to pay? My sports physician advised around $5000 - though I'm not sure whether this is if I went on the private or public list. And do the fees charged by different surgeons vary a lot?

[eelgirl]

Hi singtingn, I tore my ACL 7 weeks ago, and my physio has probably been the most helpful out of all the treatment I've been seeking. I saw him first and he told me he was confident I'd done my ACL, then the physician said he thought it was just a minor medial tear... after the MRI they found I have completely torn my ACL, compression fracture to the tibia and sprained my medial (that healed in about 4 weeks)...

As far as I can tell, physio is important to help you with your range of motion before surgery, because you want to get the knee out as straight as possible to aide the post op recovery. Don't just sit there, make your muscles work, otherwise they will be buggered.

I'm still not booked in with a surgeon because they have been giving me mixed advice (I'm sure it's because I'm a public patient), but the Physio has been a god send with advise and help.

[kjwilkin]

Hi there,

$5,000 is probably about right. There are schemes where you can borrow money for medical treatment including surgery.

Even if I didn't have private health insurance I would never go public. You just don't know the quality of surgeon you are going to get. I would speak to your sports physician and perhaps get a list of a couple of good knee surgeons to go to.

Hope this helps.

[eelgirl]

You actually see the same surgeon, except you just go on the waiting list. This will vary depending on what hospital they treat at.

I have been referred to 2 different surgeons, but I am a public patient, both surgeons I saw both had a 9 month waiting list, so I was gearing up to take the money and have the surgery. I rang another surgeon today to get his prices, that I had been recommended to but the physician thought he was only private. Turns out he does treat publically and has a 3 month wait. So this will hopefully save me a lot of money.

From the ringing around I've done in Sydney, surgeons charge about $3000-4000... Medicare give you about $800 back... Then you have accommodation, theatre fees and an ACL kit, which depends on the hospital (I've been quoted about $4000 for Hills Private)... Then you have the surgical assistant and the anaethetist.

All up, I would have to pay up front about $9,000, with medicare and sports insurance (they will cover about 85% of my hospital costs)... I would probably get about $4000 back.

Remember this is in Sydney, so I'm not sure if the fees vary depending on the area/demand??