If nothing else, this experience has taught me how important a new healthcare system is for this country. I have visited a primary care doc, spine doc, two chiropractors using different techniques, physical therapist, had a nerve block by a radiologist (I think) and as a last resort I hit the pool for water aerobics yesterday. (I might add, that is was a lovely group of women and I brought down the average age by about 30 years, proving it's never too late to be active).
I'm sick to death of trying to figure out the right avenue to get better and I believe to my core that the healthcare system screams for a more logical way to help a patient make informed, cost effective choices . We are lucky to have good health insurance, but I can't imagine what I've cost the system in the last three months even though it has been a reasonable expense to us.
So what's the upshot? I'm feeling better, but really have no idea why. I'm an impatient patient, so I've used lots of connections to find a variety of unrelated treatments. It's a good thing to have family in the healthcare world (sister who's a doc, husband in hospital administration). It is critical in our system to take matters into one's own hands to find the right treatment.
My issue is obviously tiny compared to the many people out there who have serious illnesses and/or don't have health insurance. This experience will make me a much more informed voter when it comes to healthcare reform. I am motivated to understand what can be done to make it better in small and big ways.
I'm also less crabby (my family is happy about that) and relieved to be feeling better and able to get back to my life.
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