After a year of struggling with my hip and an initial diagnosis of hip bursitis, I was finally diagnosed with severe osteoarthritis of my right hip. I was referred in September and just got my initial appointment with the orthopedic surgeon in December.

I was informed the wait time for surgery after that would be 12 to 18 months. I know of at least three other people in similar, if not worse, conditions. As one of them emailed to me, "I wouldn't do this to my dog."

I am currently in Arizona, where I discovered I could get my hip done here before the end of November. I am still an advocate of the Canadian medical system, but this kind of waiting is shameful. The quality of life is so significantly affected for so long.

It is like losing years off your life. As I told my husband after he came in from golf (in previous years I would be golfing with him), I feel like he is living and I am in limbo. I am seriously considering having my hip surgery here, but I do want to find a way to facilitate change in Canada. With the growing number of older Canadians, this is an issue that needs to be addressed with some urgency.

 

MARY KIRK

Scottsdale, Ariz.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 26, 2012 0