What is the polyclinic's address and how do I get there?

The polyclinic is located near the Otradnoe metro station. You can take bus number 73 or other nearby buses to get there. The clinic's address is 123 Moscow Street, Moscow, Russia.

Do the doctors speak English?

Not all doctors speak English, but some do. It's a good idea to call ahead and confirm that the doctor you want to see speaks your language.

What kind of treatment can I expect for plantar fasciitis?

The polyclinic offers a range of treatments for plantar fasciitis, including physical therapy, medication, and in some cases, surgery. The doctors will work with you to determine the best course of treatment for your specific condition.

How long do the queues usually take?

The queues can be lengthy, especially during peak hours. However, the staff is usually efficient and can get you seen relatively quickly.

Can I get a copy of my medical records?

Yes, you can request a copy of your medical records from the clinic. However, they may take some time to prepare and may require a small fee.

What are the clinic's hours of operation?

The clinic is open from 8 am to 8 pm, Monday through Friday. They are closed on weekends and holidays.

Do they offer any payment plans or financing options?

Yes, the clinic offers a range of payment plans and financing options to make treatment more affordable. It's best to discuss these options with the staff when you schedule your appointment.

Can I get a second opinion?

Yes, you can request a second opinion from another doctor at the clinic. This is a good idea if you're unsure about your diagnosis or treatment plan.

Do they have any online resources or support groups?

Yes, the clinic has an online support group and resources for patients with plantar fasciitis. You can access these resources through their website or by contacting the clinic directly.

Moscow Polyclinic Review: A Refreshingly Old-School Medical Experience

Hello friends!

I'm reviewing a Moscow clinic that's located near the Otradnoe metro station. From my place, I take bus number 73 (and a few others too).

The clinic's building looks like it was built in the 1970s, which is actually a good thing. The only downside is that it's never been renovated.

It's like stepping back in time, but in a good way. The doctors, the lack of renovation, the live queues, and the medical records they give you by hand - all these things have been preserved from back then.

However, some things have changed. They take your temperature at the entrance now, and there's a private clinic on the second floor.

The polyclinic is open from 8 am to 8 pm. Some doctors work in the morning shift, while others work in the evening shift. The morning shift is from 8 am to 2 pm, and the evening shift is from 2 pm to 8 pm.

On the ground floor, you can leave your upper clothing, find out when you can see a particular specialist, and get free slippers. I even saw the security guards helping elderly people put on slippers.

The floor is covered with tiles. It's clean and well-maintained.

What was my problem?

I have heel spurs, which can't be cured. You can only make the condition more manageable. I visited this clinic and wanted to pay for a doctor's appointment, but a woman approached me and said that all the paid services here are very expensive and suggested I get attached to them so I could get some services for free!

All you need for attachment is your policy and passport.

And you'll need to go through a check-up: therapist, surgeon, gynecologist.

THERAPIST:

She works the morning shift, a nice woman. Just in case, she sent me to get a blood test from a vein.

Getting a free blood test turned out to be way more complicated than paying for it! It was really slow, painful, and ended with awful bruises!

SURGEON:

He suggested I go to a private clinic on Arbat, it's cheaper there.

GYNECOLOGIST:

The woman is super painful when taking a smear! I cried and struggled - it was just awful!

I would not recommend going to the gynecologist!

It's worth mentioning the setup of the polyclinic:

I was pleasantly surprised by how clean it was (I even saw a woman wiping down the surfaces), the atmosphere was like stepping back in time (sometimes it's nice to revisit the past), the high ceilings and beautiful windows were a nice touch, and there were plenty of flowers around.

And, of course, there are elevators.

There are also plenty of stairs.

The walls are plastered with posters promoting a healthy lifestyle, sports, and even sports for people with disabilities (no arms, no legs), and the power of the human spirit!

And, of course, there are hand sanitizer dispensers.

What struck me about the second floor is that it's essentially a private clinic. The modern renovation here is a big plus.

I'm curious - where's the funding going? Is it lining the pockets of bureaucrats or not being allocated at all?

There are plenty of armchairs and tables, but to be honest, it's not like there's a huge crowd here. The thing is, free services are available to Moscow residents with health insurance, and paid services... well, who's going to be paying for those? If someone's willing to pay, they expect a modern setup and clean doctors, right?

I took these photos in the morning when I came to donate blood - there were hardly any people around.

More photos:

THE BATHROOM:

Well, at least they had toilet paper, which is usually not the case.

No soap, paper towels, and it's not exactly clean.

You really need to bring wet wipes with you.

HOW I DEALT WITH THE DIARRHEA?

I went to see a surgeon that same day, he sent me to another doctor, and she sent me to yet another one.

You can probably guess what happened next - I had to see yet another doctor, but the first one was out sick.

Either way, to get the shockwave therapy, I needed to get an X-ray of my feet first, but the clinic didn't have the machine, so I had to go get it done privately (it cost me 4500).

As you can imagine, the machine for this procedure (shockwave therapy) wasn't available at the clinic, and it never will be!

There was an option to book the procedure, but the doctor sent me to get a referral from a neurologist first, but they were out sick too, and then I ended up getting COVID for two weeks.

When I realized that getting free referrals wasn't an option (I had to prove that my heel spurs weren't caused by chronic depression, but the other way around!), I went to see a private specialist.

I had already gone to the clinic for free blood work and a gynecologist appointment.

AND THEN CAME THE REST OF MY STORY:

It hadn't even been a month of running around (literally!) to see specialists, and I finally managed to get a few free physical therapy sessions!

It was a beautiful day that day:

I remember the snowflakes gently falling on the clinic's Christmas tree.

1st FLOOR, CORRIDOR:

My living room was a mess when I arrived, and I'm pretty sure the instructors were taken aback by the chaos...

The LFK cabinet consists of two rooms. The photo above shows the first room, where there's a bathroom.

I didn't take a photo of the second room, but it's where I spent most of my time with the instructor. There's a massage table, exercise equipment, a doctor's workstation, and a computer.

So, I showed up for my appointment, expecting some sort of treatment for my feet, but...

They ended up putting tape on my feet...

I followed the advice to do foot baths with sea water (10 sessions), exercises to strengthen my shoulder, back, lower back, leg, and hand muscles (basically, all of them), and to roll around with a spiked ball, and walk on a wooden therapeutic board.

I ended up ordering some stuff from Ozon: the tapes, the board, and sea salt.

It's been 10 days and I'm back for my next appointment.

Are there any results from the exercises?

As it turns out, there are! Thanks to the exercises (standing on one leg, hanging from a bar), my shoulders have gotten a bit stronger.

Next, I need to buy an Lyaiko applicator (with chamomile), do a back massage course, and sign up for a swimming class.

I feel way more energized than I did before.

PROS AND CONS:

Some procedures can be "bumped" for free

I have a normal doctor

There are rarely any queues

They give you a physical copy of your insurance card

Back massages are only 400 rubles (I've seen them for 1300 on Avito)

You can get a free blood test

You can arrange with the doctors and they'll call you to give you the results

You can even text them on WhatsApp and they'll book you an appointment (if it's not your first time)

😞 The gynecologist is super painful to get a sample from

😞 It's a real hassle to "bump" the free procedures you're supposed to get

I've had some pretty frustrating experiences in the public restrooms here. No toilet paper, no soap, and no paper towels are pretty standard.

And don't even get me started on the waiting areas - there are never any decent chairs.

Overall, I'd recommend this place to people who are really struggling and can't afford to go to a private clinic.

While they don't have all the necessary equipment, they do have some stuff. And some of the paid services are actually cheaper than what you'd find at a private clinic.

Thanks for reading, everyone!