Well for things like hand surgery I have always been told---go for the best, not the cheapest.

I have private insurance and It's been an uphill fight many the time trying to get appropriate treatment.  Seems like  bean counters are now practicing medicine.  I will say that they seemed to have finally realized that subsidizing my diabetes meds is a *GREAT* way to help prevent expensive long term issues.

Way back when; after our last child; I went to get fixed and was told it was all on my dime; but they would pay completely for a high risk pregnancy for my wife in her mid to late 40's that might be 100 times more expensive.  Penny wise and Pound foolish!

Hi Jph, I had a big cut in my hand from CT surgery, you say you want a scar but be careful to not let it build up scar tissue around the wound as it will impede the full range of movement of your hand. I had to have ultrasound treatment to reduce the scar tissue on my hand. crazy huh. I am just so greatful I am from and live in a country that has nationalized healthcare! 

For those not in the US, "VA" means "Veterans Affairs". It's supposed to be government run health care for veterans. The VA has recently been in our news for it's abysmal treatment of it's patients in a number of locations, long waits, poor service and so on. This IS nationalized health care.

I really shouldn't complain about "long term" stuff cause I really am a lucky olde fart...I mean no BP problems..no diabetes..no COPD..nothing like that..yeah I get a gout flair (hey it's a bit twingy but a couple of pills and that's done with) every now and then when I eat something I shouldn't (I love a good bowl of menudo but man...it doesn't love me...) and my thalasemia is under control but that's IT as far as health things..  What got my knickers twisted was the fact that they dragged this on and on and there was no reason for it.

Couple that with the fact that they are taking time away from someone else who really NEEDS the PT  so a PT tech can watch me make a fist twice a week? Oh that is just wrong. When I was getting fitted for that splint last week..there was this young (well to me he was young)  man (had to be a marine by the way he was conducting himself)  in his early 30's I'd say..he had 1 leg and 1 1/2 arms and he was trying to get use to using the prosthetic arm.. He was having trouble...GIVE MY TIME TO HIM..He's the hero..he's the man who wasn't as lucky as I was..Sure I got banged up a couple of times and blown up once..but I am still up and about...Here's a man that has had his life forever changed because he loved this country so much that he put it all on the line... I tell ya I am not one to show emotions but seeing him..it broke me down...( I'll be fine with this hand besides I'm not really listening to the Drs much..I am keeping it clean and dry but hey life goes on)......just give him and all the others like him the care he needs so he could live some sort of normal life...We owe them that much at least..

JPH

Just an update...The sutures are out and I am 100%. The scar while visible isn't as gnarly and ghastly as I would like it to be but "I can live with it" as it is. The Dr said I should be able to get back to full time stuff after the Independence Day weekend and that isn't none too soon. As it is I am pretty much out of stock on my website and now that folks have their tax refunds coming the orders are coming.. At least I am starting off clean and fresh...just that now I am going to have to get my hairy hiennie to Scotland and get meself cloned...geeze..  Well busy is better than NOT busy if you ask me...

JPH

Fantastic !! Glad to hear your 100% again.

You just put a BIG smile on my face Jim! 100% this soon is really good news. Forget getting cloned, the Japanese are starting to turn out pretty useful humanoform robots and they'll have them dialed in long before  "mini-you" is grown enough to see over the anvil.

I'm almost twitching waiting for the first pics of your post op blades! Now quit lollygagging about and get busy!

Frosty The Lucky.