INTERSECTIONS: US has longest health care waiting times

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7. When I had to schedule orthopedic surgeries it was a 3+ month wait

Every single time. From my first - a shoulder reconstruction paid for with cash since I had no insurance - to fully covered knee replacements and carpal tunnel surgeries. It was six months from my first appointment with the doctor - three months after the injury - until the surgery. With an arm that was only partly functional, so much pain I got little sleep, and with me not able to do the work I needed to run my farm.

It is at least a six week wait to get the first appointment with the specialists, then they want to try physical therapy instead of surgery, THEN there is the three month wait before the surgery.

The only times the wait has been shorter was when I tore and folded up the meniscus in each knee - on separate occasions. Both times, my family practice doctor called ahead, got me emergency appointments within a week, and the surgeon scheduled the arthroscopy in less than two weeks.

Both times, the surgeon wanted to get it done fast, not because I was in so much pain, but because football season was just started and he wanted to keep his calendar clear for the athletes. (Of course, without the local college team (FSU Seminoles) this town could not support such a good orthopedic clinic, so I guess I shouldn't feel bad about that.)