After Claudia's last wellness visit with the pediatrician, she was referred to an orthopedic doctor because her toeing-in issue had not resolve itself from her last appointment....
I scheduled an appointment with the ortho doctor, waited for weeks for the appointment and then finally made it to the office for a 2 minute exam. The doctor said that Claudia needed leg braces to help straighten out her feet and legs. Left the office with a RX for the leg braces and a list of offices that could order them for her.
I took Claudia to one of the orthopedic places that was recommended by the doctor. As we waited in the waiting room, Claudia fell and nicked her head on a chair. After what seemed like a lifetime of Claudia screaming,we made it into the exam room. A rather heavy- set older man wearing suspenders came in to take Claudia's measurements. This guy looked like he had just stepped off his tractor after a full day of harvesting. Claudia was already upset due to the head injury and Farmer Bob came into the room leaving his appreciation for younger children at the door. "Remove her shoes and britches," he tells me. I remove her shoes and britches and he measures her feet and legs. I put her britches and shoes back on and left the exam room.
The receptionist tells me they will call when the braces are ready and "Oh, by the way, you've not met your deductible and the cost for the braces is $597.00". Yippee. That's the same as two tickets to Arizona to visit Brian's Grandma. Thanks for ruining out next vacation.....
We waited a few weeks for the braces to arrive. The ortho place called and I set up another appointment to have her fitted. That appointment was yesterday afternoon. Freezing rain yesterday..... I feel sick and dizzy and don't want to drive yesterday.....
Prior to arriving at the office, I explained to Claudia that she was going to be fitted for leg braces to help straighten her legs so she wouldn't trip over her feet anymore. She told me she never trips and wanted to know if the braces would look like William's shin guards he wears for soccer. She also added that they better be pink or purple or she wouldn't wear them.
William, Claudia and I arrived at the office, waited forever, then finally were escorted into the exam room with a set of parallel bars for the prosthetic patients. They kids eyes immediately light up thinking they have found an indoor jungle gym... Whooo Hooo!
Farmer Bob enters the room sporting a new pair of suspenders. Claudia was sitting on the exam table waiting to be fitted. She took one look at the doofus and frowned. Claudia always has a smile on her face but not for this guy... He began to adjust her braces. Usually, I tend to keep quiet around people when they are working but not this time...
Me: "It appears that her calf is being squeezed into the brace."
Doofus: "I'll just stretch it a little..."
Me: "The bend in her leg is not matching up with he bend in the brace."
Doofus: "Just need to make a few more adjustments..."
This questioning goes on for a short time until he finally admits that he needs to order the next size up. Duh! Way to go Farmer Bob!
Meanwhile, Claudia is stating "These don't look like William's shin guards. They aren't pink. I CAN'T PLAY SOCCER IN THESE!" Not only can she not play soccer in the braces, she CAN'T EVEN WALK! Luckily, the braces are meant to be worn while she is sleeping. Thank goodness!
We make our way out of the exam room and stop at the receptionist where I inform her that I'm not going to give her the balance for the braces until we have a pair that fits. She apologized and we headed out into the freezing rain and drove back home.
Now we have to wait 2 more weeks for the braces and I had to reschedule Claudia's appointment with the orthopedic doctor.
I have to add, that I usually don't get this upset when people make mistakes. I can deal with a second trip to Target because they mischarged me. However, I can not accept medical professionals making mistakes. Claudia was upset about the braces, I was upset that we have to reschedule appointment and delay her treatment (torture). Hopefully, this orthopedic and prosthetic place does not make measurement errors with it's prostheses. Can you imagine an amputee coming in to be fitted for a long awaited prosthesis only to find it doesn't quite fit?
Hopefully our second visit will not be a repeat of the first.
4 comments:
Oh yuck..the dreaded braces! Are they the clear, plastic ones with the velcro straps? Joseph (my oldest) was born with bilateral club foot and after his surgery (at 4 months of age) he had to wear these braces too. Our trip to the prosthetic place was a little better than your's but the braces were yucky. There were many nights that Joseph would take them off himself during the night. LOL His feet still turn in really bad but the orthopaedist doesn't want to do anymore surgeries as it will only cause more scarring and less mobility and since he is doing pretty good (still able to play sports), we will continue doing nothing. lol Good luck to Claudia (and you guys). Maybe you can decorate them with stickers :)
Amy Flippin Blankenship
Yup, the same braces. They go from her toes to mid thigh. The doctor claims she will wear them for 6 weeks to 6 months.... I'm obviously hoping for the 6 weeks (at $100 a week...). I'm thinking she'll want to decorate them with stickers and markers:) Thanks for the suggestion!
I am so sick of doctors and dentists! I think that their pay should be based on the quality of treatment we get! I mean if I went to work one day and arrived late and had a shitty attitude and did a half ass job I wouldn't get paid and I'd be out a job!! Olivia's dentist appointment on Monday was at 10:30 - they finally called her back at 11:45! That's right, we waited an hour and 15 minutes in the waiting room before she even got called back! With a fussy 3 month old too!
That stinks about the dentist! Makes you want to get up and leave... Then you'd have to reschedule and risk waiting again.
It's a no win situation!
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