On August 2, I went to see my VM doctor about ankle pain. That doctor referred me to a second doctor, who I saw me on August 18, two weeks later.

That doctor, who, after looking at an x-ray, told me I have arthritis, prescribed Diclofenac an anti-inflammatory, and referred me to a therapist.

After just one visit, the VM therapist decided that I could do certain exercises on my own.

But my pain persisted.

Then, I visited a shoe store, and the owner listened to my symptoms. He said, he wasn’t a doctor but it sounded like a torn tendon.

The only way to determine that was with an MRI. I then called my VM doctor and requested an MRI.

Approval was given, but it took 2 weeks and several phone calls before the results were relayed to me.

The test confirmed that I had a torn tendon, not arthritis.

It was not until 10/14/2008, more than two months after my first visit, that I was seen by a surgeon.

Now, insurance complications have arisen and because of the long delay in care, I’m going to have to wait until next year for my operation.

This new “lean” method of care may be of value to employers and insurance
companies but it was definitely not of value to me, the patient.