Monday, February 2, 2009

Save on Knee Replacement Surgery Abroad

By Michael Dunage

Have you experienced crunching or pain during walking? If that is the case, then your doctor might recommend knee replacement surgery. If your insurance policy is inadequate to cover the cost of this procedure, then what do you do? It is known that the U.S. has one of the highest costs for knee replacement surgery and you will have that amount in savings if you are in need to get the surgery locally quickly.

A simple answer. You could consider receiving your knee replacement surgery abroad. There are several top destinations that people are traveling each day to receive knee surgery, such as India, Turkey, Mexico, Philippines and Costa Rica. There are several reputable medical tourism websites to contact that can help you to coordinate the medical travel arrangements abroad, etc.

Medical tourism companies are good at arranging flights and receiving the best deals through inside contacts. They also make it possible for you to save up to seventy percent off the U.S. cost of knee replacement surgery. An attractive destination for this knee replacement procedure is India. It is understood that a group of the doctors there actually developed a procedure known as knee resurfacing and it only became approved by the FDA in the U.S. a few years ago. The hospitals are state of the art and in line with the U.S. hospitals and facilities.

You can head to a major city in India and be received by an English speaking personal assistant. The specialists in India has vast amounts of experience performing knee replacement surgery procedures abroad. Many are board certified and have past formal training in the U.S., U.K. or Canada. These doctors have completed hundreds or thousands of knee replacement surgeries.

Besides seeing the doctor in the orthopedic clinic for your knee surgery, India hospitals are worth touring before you have your knee replacement surgery abroad. India surgical suites are extremely modern and are equipped with knee prosthetics that are the same as in the U.S. and anesthesia machines and medications which are also modern and the same as is used in the U.S.

Prior to surgery, you will probably stay in a nearby hotel and then be transported to the hospital to meet with the surgical team and doctor before receiving your knee replacement surgery. You will be provided with a patient assistant that will care for you throughout the procedure. Then the nurses will administer the IV's to get you all ready to receive your knee replacement surgery. Mexico has a similar treatment program to India.

The Philippines is another great vacation spot. There are sight seeing attraction in and around the city. If you have the time, it might be worthwhile to check them out. Shortly after your arrival, you will be taken to meet with your surgeon who will be perfoming the operation. Many of the surgeons are board certified and have received specialized training in the U.S. The prosthetics and technology used are of great quality and the same as in the U.S.

The arthritic knee is removed in the surgery and a metal and plastic one is placed where the original one. The postoperative pain is reasonable in this kind of knee surgery. Philippine hospitals offer pain medication for you after surgery and have physical therapists who get you back on your feet shortly, making plans for your trip back to the U.S. - 16650

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