Editor:

I was pleased to read in the Aug. 18 edition of the Casper Star-Tribune that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California was quickly diagnosed and treated surgically for torn cartilage in his knee. Apparently from the onset of the injury to surgical repair was an elapsed time of two weeks.

I recall here in Wyoming back in 2000 I had severely injured my spinal cord, suffering a herniated disc, torn disc, and two compressed discs, and from the onset of the injury to the treatment which nullified the numbness and pain in my back and leg was a mere month and a half.

I was blessed to live off of prescribed pain killers for the entire month and a half before having my pain subside via medical intervention. All the physical pain and emotional stress I endured made the whole experience that much more worthwhile as I reflect upon begging my health insurance provider to approve my doctor visits, MRIs, etc.

In hindsight, I understand their reluctance, after all, it was "only" my back, not to mention I was a full-time employee with complete and full health insurance for 2 1/2 years before submitting this claim.

Still, having previously had two knee surgeries approximately 12 years ago and then experiencing my back injury, I can't help but to wonder how the Terminator got such quick treatment. I find it hard to believe that California is that much more efficient than Wyoming when it comes to obtaining health care.

Perhaps, since my most recent serious injury, health care as a whole, or rather, more specifically, dealing with preferred provider plans (PPOs), has been streamlined to cut the cost of time and red-tape so as to allow the physician and patient quicker access to medically necessary treatment.

My physician and I haven't figured out how to get around the red-tape to prove to my PPO what is medically necessary on more than one occasion (i.e., hospital approval for the birth of my children, treatment for sleep apnea, etc.).

If anyone has any suggestions, we (my physician and I) are all ears. Maybe Gov. Freudenthal should consider cutting and/or reducing 20,000 state jobs here in Wyoming just like the Terminator did in California; maybe that will speed things up.

ERIN E. FORTIN, Worland