I moved to a new state 2 years ago and after about a year of finding a new house, having work done and finally being able to move in…in the process borked my right knee moving stuff. Wanted to make an appt with an ortho doc.

1. Needed to find a new PCP, because they had to write the referral.

2. There was only 1 place I could find in network who was accepting new patients and didn’t have a 6-month wait.

3. Went there, got the referral

4. Went to the Ortho, ordered an X-ray

5. Got the X-ray, showed no damage but I still couldn’t walk upstairs without favoring it. And I’m doing so, it damaged the left knee.

6. They ordered rehab for the right knee only. It had to be in-network for insurance to cover any of it, which turned out my copay was still more expensive than paying out of pocket at regional PT location.

7. After half a dozen visits the PTs still couldn’t figure out what was wrong with my knee. Ortho orders an MRI.

8. MRI shows everything is intact, it must have been a bad sprain /stress.

9. Only now did the PCP get to the point to be able to offer steroid shot. There would need to be additional hoops to jump through before insurance even considers approving/paying for surgery

10. End up getting a shot in the left knee after another X-RAY but they still don’t know what the issue is with either of them.

11. This ended up completely wiping out 2 years worth of FSA, and the only way I DIDN’T pay out of pocket was because I still had a couple grand on the HSA from my previous job.

12. My knee can still go out from time to time but it’s still a tad better.