Saturday, April 9, 2011

Knee Update

     The results are mostly in from the knee surgery here in Mexico.  For the most part it is good.  I mean, here it is almost two weeks past the cutting and the mending seems well under way.  I am walking, all-be-it with the steadying influence of a crutch, but each day is a little better than the day before.  Today I may have been encouraged to go a “bridge too far,” but survived the trek to downtown Mazatlán and back (via both bus and taxi).  Over the course of the last two weeks the process has been mostly good.  There was a miserable first night but after that it has been better by far.

     The doctor has been great in explaining what is going on at each stage and when I said it hurt he had solutions immediately ready.  Initially I had figured to be out of commission for a lot longer than has been the case.  The cost has been manageable in that it was near what was expected.  Well, the doctors fee was slightly higher than initially expected but I think really still within reason.  Here’s a break down of what has happened so far:


                                      Pesos                     Dollars (12:1)

Taxis                               790.00                            65.83
Bus                                    20.00                             1.67
X-ray                               400.00                            33.33
Blood Test                       340.00                             28.33
Dr. Olmeda                   25500.00                          2125.00
Nurse                             1500.00                           125.00
Anesthesiologist              4500.00                          375.00
Clinic                             4400.00                           366.67
Prescriptions                   1503.00                           125.25
Crutches                           353.00                            29.42

          Totals                 39306.00                         3275.50


     So, if this is close to the end of the expenses that’s a pretty good indication of the final on all this.  I will report back later on the final, final but for now this should be a clear enough picture.  This does not include the extra cost of staying still in Mazatlán to get all this done, but I would have been somewhere!!

4 comments:

DMC Friend said...

Getting a good result is almost priceless. I let mine get to the point that I could only make it wlaking about a block before having to hole up for a while. Without overdoing it, just keep working on getting more flexibility. It takes a very long time for all of the swelling to go away.
It sounds like you are well on your way to complete recovery.

beisbolfan2007 said...

Luckily medical science has progressed a looooong way since my first knee surgery way back in the 70s. After that one, I had to wear a knee brace -- ankle to hip -- for 6 weeks.

So glad that you're healing well!

Suzy said...

That does sound like a fantastic recovery! I hope it keeps going in the same way.

Brad said...

Hi Chris - sorry to hear about your knee. Getting older isn't for sissys. Susan and I figure with all the dancing we do we will be facing something similar down the road. Take care of yourself and we will keep you in our prayers.