Re: Operation Costs - Feeling a bit sick
 

Sandra, what is causing the sciatica? Having had it for over 2 years I can sympathise. I had physio for a while and then I moved on to a great chiro.
Surgery seems an extreme option for something you could maybe get fixed another way.

Re: Operation Costs - Feeling a bit sick
 

Cannot offer any advice but i hope you get it sorted soon :fingerscrossed:

Re: Operation Costs - Feeling a bit sick
 

Your probably right mate, my dad didn't research his op costs as much as he could have done. It was more a case of oops I need this op, I need it now, I'm stuck on a yacht in Langkowi in the Malacca Straits. Options were Thailand, or fly back to U.K or Australia. Phuket was 200 Nm the others were a high risk flight.
The surgeon that did his op had performed the same op on the King of Thailand so he felt in good hands.

Re: Operation Costs - Feeling a bit sick
 

My similar op with Dr Ralph Mobbs in Sydney cost something over $6500 30 months ago including anaesthetist, assistant, etc plus a few hundred for the pre- and post- op consultations so we are probably in the same ballpark.

The Medicare refund was around $2100 and the insurance paid $1170 so the final out of pocket cost was roughly $3700, if that's any help?

Re: Operation Costs - Feeling a bit sick
 

A slipped disc that has calcification formed on it pressing on the nerve. So the operation will be to remove the build up.

I have been seeing a psysio regulalry as I wanted to explore all options but this just gets me through the day at work there is very little else I can do as it just flares up.

Re: Operation Costs - Feeling a bit sick
 

Private in a public hospital is another option however the consultant and anesthetist gap will be the same which is where the pain is. Fully public means the surgeon may not be fully qualified ie a registrar rather than a consultant. Private in public gives you choice of doctor.

Public waits depend on the local hospital.

Re: Operation Costs - Feeling a bit sick
 

Complete bummer. Not much you can do about that with physio I imagine. So hard when you're faced with an op. Hope you manage to get it sorted. Sciatica is so debilitating.

Re: Operation Costs - Feeling a bit sick
 

Thank you everyone for the feedback I really appreciated it.

I went back to the GP this evening and had a list of questions and options to explore. I was assured I had one of the top neurosurgeons, in fact the GP was surprised I had him and he thought the lists for this guy had closed for the year. My willingness to take any cancelled appointment paid off.

The GP did not think I would get a public operation for a long long time - in fact the comment was Buckley's chance! As I thought this would mean me staying on injections and a risk of the current nerve damage increasing and little chance of reversal of the current numbness.

The private hospital is only costing $50 for the night as it is on my private medical provider list.

The GP agreed I could shop around but I would unlikely to get such a top notch consultant and I would possibly not get enough information before my operation date on the 22nd November.

So thanks everyone; I am much happier I am making a more informed decision (still a costly one :eek:) but it will happen by a well recommended surgeon and in a timely manner.

I just think in future I will be putting more savings away as well as paying the private medical. This year so far with this operation and all the psysio I will be getting over 60% of what I have paid back. Me and the rest of the family have had dental and optical so not unhappy with the private medical support. Possibly would be a bit happier if medicare rate cost per procedure kept pace with real time costs but they don't so not going to dwell on it.

Lets hope this one works and I am not back for a total fusion and whinging about the costs for that!!!:fingerscrossed::rolleyes:

Cheers Sandra

Re: Operation Costs - Feeling a bit sick
 

You certainly sound much happier about your decision than you did in your OP. You are also very fortunate to have got one of the best for your surgeon.
Wishing you loads of luck with it all & let us know how it goes:fingerscrossed:

Re: Operation Costs - Feeling a bit sick
 

Fingers crossed for you, Sandra - I've struggled on and off with sciatica since my first pregnancy and its something that (along with other back issues) has blighted my mother's life since the 70s - she has had fusion and that's lead (possibly indirectly) to other problems so if I sincerely hope this operation sorts you out.

Good luck x x

Re: Operation Costs - Feeling a bit sick
 

sorry to hear about that sandra.I have a similar prob and i always ge tthe gp to refer me to a private specialist (4 the initial consult as its quicker) but one that also does public,i pay for the initial consult then they transfer me to their public list.Im now waiting to have back op,its the 2nd time ive got to this stage ,last time the nerve released itself the week b4 they called me 4 my op.
Good luck

Re: Operation Costs - Feeling a bit sick
 

Sorry to hear you have a similiar issue Donna

How long were you on the wait list for the disc surgery before it was scheduled. What are they planning to do in the surgery. The calcification build up on my disc is not likely to recede and further discussions lead me to believe I would be living like this for a long while if waiting for public.

Are the waiting lists the same in Queensland as NSW?

Re: Operation Costs - Feeling a bit sick
 

Waiting lists vary from hospital to hospital, let alone different States.

There was one thing I needed that the PA Hospital was 3 years, and the local Redland Hospital was only about 6 weeks.

Re: Operation Costs - Feeling a bit sick
 

[QUOTE=Sandra;8946550]Sorry to hear you have a similiar issue Donna

How long were you on the wait list for the disc surgery before it was scheduled. What are they planning to do in the surgery. The calcification build up on my disc is not likely to recede and further discussions lead me to believe I would be living like this for a long while if waiting for public.

Are the waiting lists the same in Queensland as NSW?[/QUOT

i too have the calcifaction and bulging discs,last time they were going to shave a piece off ,i had to wait 6ish months to get to the top of the list.Not sure what they will suggest this time,its gradually getting better ,but its taken another 10 months out of my life this time and i really dont want to go throught the same thing next year etc.am waiting for an appointment to come through at the mo .
fingers crossed 4 u.
not sure if we have the same waiting time ,i think its graded on severity.x
And i hear u on the boob reduction ,in fact when i see the specialist im gonna see if the weight of them has anything to do with my lower back problem