My GP (General Practitioner doctor) told me 3 weeks ago to contact him today to get a referral to a traumatologist (what they call orthopedic doctor in Ecuador).  I jumped the gun and sent him a text message last night, saying I wanted to be at the top of his queue.  To my surprise, I received back a response in about 10 minutes — on a Sunday night!  He gave me the name and number of a traumatologist and said to call him between 8:30 and 9:00 this morning.

I called about 8:45 this morning, and was told to come in at 10:00.  I asked for a little later, and he suggested 11:00.  Wow! Try calling a doctor in the US and getting your choice of two appointments within 2 hours of your call !

We arrived at the office a couple minutes late.  We were met by a receptionist who took my name and $25 for the visit, then told us to wait outside office #205.  There was a waiting area with two other couples there.  Apparently they take you in the order you arrived, and we were invited into the office at about 11:20.

The orthopedic doctor (his business card says “traumatologist and orthopedic”) looked over our last X-Rays from 3 weeks ago.  He said the ankle fracture is the most common broken bone around the world, and said that 6 weeks was enough time, as long as there was no pain in applying pressure.  I was surprised that he did not request a fresh set of X-Rays, but instead just told me to start using a cane.  When I asked if the cane was required or only when pain, he told me to use it for the next two weeks, and to come back and see him then.

He also gave me a prescription for physical therapy.  When I called that therapist, he set me up for 3:00 tomorrow.  Again, I am blown away how easy and fast it is to see doctors here in Cuenca, each of whom speaks good English.