I have been asking for knee replacements for over a decade, but my insurance companies have always told me I was too young (I am now 62 and have had arthritis since I was 28). I think they just didn't want to pay for surgery.
My current insurer, HSA Health Plan, which I have through my wonderful employer Sunwarrior, took a totally different attitude and encouraged me to contact Dr. Manning and consider the St. George Surgical Center for surgery, where they have cost-control agreements in place. I was frankly skeptical it could rival IHC, but I visited the surgical center and was very impressed. It is truly a hospital, just scaled down to a few O.R.'s and beds.
Dr. Manning offered me a consultation appointment within 1 day of my request, unheard of among specialists. (The guys at IHC can take up to 2 months for a consult, and then I have only seen a P.A.) He spent 1.25 hours with me and my husband, reviewing my x-rays, my past treatments, and knee replacement options. He showed real models of the replacement device and answered every question we could think of. He gave serious thought to my request to be considered for double replacement (both knees at once) and together, we decided against that, which I now know was a wise decision. He counseled us on the risks and how to minimize them, such as cutting back on some food supplements that may act as blood thinners until after the surgery. We scheduled the surgery at the St. George Surgical Center for just 2.5 weeks later, right before Christmas, so my visiting adult children could help take care of me.
The Center staff was caring, smart, and kind. I had no after-surgery anesthesia headache or lingering grogginess. Dr. Manning did an excellent job on my right knee and now, after just 5 weeks, with help from rigorous physical therapy at Southern Utah Spine and Rehab, I am walking without a walker or cane. I can already bend it to 125 degrees and my limp is improving. (I limped before the surgery, too.) I'm not ready yet, but later this spring or early summer, I hope to have him replace my left knee also. For the first time in many years, I have hope of riding a bike again, hiking trails instead of just flat, paved walkways, and tackling more ambitious house projects. Thank you to my insurance company, the St. George Surgical Center and its staff, and Dr. Manning! read more