Thanks @LBSS & @adarqui!!!
Achilles update-
I was scheduled to see the surgeon on the 26th of October but there was a cancellation so I saw the surgeon today instead, which was excellent. 18 months ago I had an ultrasound done so now I'm getting an MRI done on 1st November and coming back to the surgeon on 2nd of November.
I went through the history of my achilles and explained how I'd been to physiotherapists, podiatrists and had done shock wave therapy etc. to no avail. He said I have three options.
1. Keep waiting on the public waiting list, which I'm currently on but it'll be a long time.
2. Take up private health insurance and depending on the fund they will cover it after 12 months.
3. Pay to get it done privately, which will cost 10-12k.
I could come up with 10-12k if I raided my superannuation (401k) or refinanced my mortgage but I'm not going to. I have a friend that works at a public hospital that reckons he can get me seen as he works in pre-op anaesthetics so after my MRI I'm going to go back to the GP and get an updated referral and hand it to my friend and see what he can do.
In the meantime I've done some research today and made phone calls to private health insurance providers and signed up with HCF Bronze Plus Cover who have confirmed that I'll be able to have the surgery done after 12 months. Cost of the insurance is $85 a month + $750 excess. Ideally my friend will be able to pull through and get me seen in the public system, but if not I'll be able to get the surgery done in 12 months.
The surgeon also said that after the surgery the rehab process would take about 6 months but the majority of people get positive outcomes from the surgery.
