Impressed With Va Doctor

[COOL BREEZE]

I went in for a routine appointment today and I was really impressed.(and I am a very hard person to please) I didn't see the regular doctor-soon as they asked the question how are you feeling today - gave them the 9 for pain scale-a different doctor showed up quickly-one that was doing urgent care appointments. Explained that I was in terrible pain from my neck-radiating all over entire body-nerve damage possible. The tricare still hasn't approved the MRI. She ordered complete xrays-neck and entire back, not just the neck(the base doctor said we aren't going to worry about the back pain, that is hard to treat and most of the time that doesn't work). They only did 2 xrays, the VA took 15. Also prescribed pain medicine which the base never did,(imagine, going without a prescription for pain) and all the labs- and a MRI. Also she gave me an emergency follow-up appt. for next tuesday to see how I was doing.Normally those take a month or so(or does that have to do with being 50%) The VA doesn't have to wait for an approval for any test. And an $11.50 cash travel pay for each appointment. Also appointment for a surgeon. Plus that dreaded shock test for nerves(ouch) Doctor said you aren't getting out of this test. My wife said you better watch out, they are gonna kill you. Well, if they do obviously you well be quite rich. Since I can't get treated by the military properly, I am counting on the VA. I haven't had them treat me for anything major yet. The only bad thing is the doctor said based on my symptoms it could be surgery-just wait. This will be their opportunity to redeem themselves for past terrible experiences. Other than VA compensation exams, and a pill for foot pain thats it. I made sure I submitted a request for copies of all exam results and the doctors write up. This is something that I do for each visit. I never post anything positive, so this is a first . I am hoping for a good out come as this also was an issue that was left at 0% for the last rating decision

[john999]

Getting proper treatment is not always easy in or out of VA hospitals. I do find when I use medicare and my private insurance I can get a MRI in a matter of days. The local VA has really great MRI machine, but getting the chance to use it is rare. It is always about cost and how to cut them. I do believe the VA puts cost above all other concerns.

[Wings]

Getting proper treatment is not always easy in or out of VA hospitals. I do find when I use medicare and my private insurance I can get a MRI in a matter of days. The local VA has really great MRI machine, but getting the chance to use it is rare. It is always about cost and how to cut them. I do believe the VA puts cost above all other concerns.

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I currently need an MRI, and looks like I am going to have to fight to get one--I only have VA medical insurance. Why are they so expensive? How much do they cost? ~Wings

PS Cool Breeze, Stay the course!!

[john999]

A MRI in the USA usually costs in excess of 1000 bucks. In Japan they cost about 300 bucks. Why is that since it is the same technology? Everything costs more here in America. Pills cost more and medical care costs more. So much for free enterprise.

[Computer Tech]

I've gotten MRIs on my knees from both the VA and my medical provider but I did have to wait about two months for the one from VA and a couple of weeks from my medical provider. What was strange was that neither did both knees, the each did one fortunately both knees got done. I only go to the VA for problems with my knees which are service connected, I'm not impressed with Physical Medicine mainly because they keep telling me that the problem with my knees is that my quads aren't developed but I do like my PCP at the VA. Another advantage with the VA is that they are nation wide whereas my medical provider isn't of course it's hard to complain about free medical care with no co-pays.

[COOL BREEZE]

What is so strange, I had this appointment on Thursday when the doctor told me all the things that she was going to order for me, had the xrays and labs. So me being the cool breeze, I made a call to the MRI LAB at the VA friday to see when my MRI was scheduled. Naturally the answer was what MRI. So, the referral that I just downloaded off the TRICare for the MRI is looking pretty good. No wonder the doctor said to do whatever gets approved 1st. Why, if I tell her the base did it well they accept that and treat me. This gets confusing. I'll wait till tuesday for my appointment and tell her I still haven't got the approval yet, when is the VA going to do it. Not planning on telling that I got it. By the wait, getting 2 MrI, is that dangerous to have more than one. I know I just had a double xray done in 2 weeks, the VA took over 15 xrays with no protection-thought you had a special coat or something to protect-VA tech said it wasn't necessary. My thinking was the VA was going to be quick, but after all the feed back here I am sadly mistaken. I bet tricare tells the VA they ordered one for me.

[caubulldog]

The Va Health care I have found is straight up political.My primary started at the main hospital for us and made some friends.After two walk ins in two months cause I could no longer deal with the pain he had me a mri and ortho appt same day in three weeks which I find fair because in South Louisiana where I live most private ortho doctors are booked thrity to 40 days out for new patients.Now I could get a mri at a private place really fast but the VA mri is the one which found the cause of my pain which currently is joint impingement in my right knee. I am taking shots every three months which keeps me working under a restricted profile of very limited standing or stair climbing so boss made me a trainer for the new pups entering my line of work and I get my pain meds direct from my primary cause my ortho would not order anything for pain except injections. I recently went to the VA er expecting zero as usual and to my utter amazement found something that worked amazingly for my condition. Two steroid injections with a toradol shot and oral steroid pills. I was pain free for a good while. I made copies of that doctors notes to carry with me in case of another flare up because that is the first series of shot pill combination that gave me pain relief without any pain pills or muscle relaxers. I keep it on me at work with my profile.