Second Opinions for Orthopedic Surgery a Must

Major surgeries such as hip resurfacing, hip replacement or knee replacement are quite common these days, and expected to increase as the older population becomes larger. What's more, you don't need health insurance coverage to get these surgeries performed today, and while there exists the need for pre-surgery testing and post-surgery physical therapy, most people are very glad they opted not to wait.

Living with chronic pain can be a major, life-altering issue. Chronic knee pain or hip pain at night can prohibit you from enjoying many of the finer things that you enjoy in life, like playing golf, playing with the grandkids, taking a leisurely walk, etc.

In addition to the pain that a failing knee or hip brings it can also be quite costly. I'm not talking about the cost of the knee or hip replacement surgery - this cost is manageable. I'm referring to the long term costs of NOT having the orthopedic surgery. Changing the way you walk due to the hip or knee pain can cause problems with other parts of your body which could end up requiring additional treatments. Also, the effect of losing sleep due to hip or knee pain at night can lead to mental and physical issues that can affect your mood, job and relationships.

Health tourism today is a very real option. What might cost $50,000 to $60,000 in the U.S. can cost as little as $25,000 in a safe (and beautiful) destination such as New Zealand. Health tourism costs there also include all travel related expenses and there's often financial assistance available. With state-of-the-art facilities and English-speaking, U.S.-trained specialists, a destination like New Zealand can have you on the road to recovery and peace of mind in no time.

There are tons of websites that can answer questions about health tourism, provide you with answers to frequently asked questions, show you testimonial case studies and videos, and even offer you a no obligation, complimentary doctor's opinion. Any orthopedic surgery or joint replacement procedure is a major one, so you certainly should seek a second opinion. These procedures are becoming quite common, and with the savings that health tourism can offer - and with destinations as breathtaking as New Zealand - there really is no better time than now to explore your orthopedic options. Prices for these procedures will only be on the rise in the U.S. as a result of Healthcare Reform.