General Cycling Discussion - Common Bicycle Injuries - The Flip-Over

Good evening all,

Before getting into all this - I will not take any of your diagnoses or suggestion as the last RX-approved word. I do not have health insurance currently, and am situationally poor, so I have no health care I can come close to affording.

I took a nasty spill over the handlebars about a month ago. I was riding a bike I picked up on the cheap before a thorough clean-up (yes I know, idiotic), and being used to SPD pedals, when the bike slipped out of gear at ~15mph, my foot hit the ground and my right leg was used as a "Mike Launcher".

I landed hard on my left-hand, hit my head pretty bad, and really messed up my right knee.

At first, I could barely use my knee. It was a full two weeks before I could even ride down to the store. I worked on super-high spinning from then on, it has gotten much better. But there are still angles it will not comply when in motion without pain. Looking at it from my perspective, the area right around the right top side of the cap still kind of hurts when you rub it.

The finger/hand situation is also not so hot. My left index finger still pretty much hurts constantly at both knuckles and somewhat down to the palm. When I try to "crack" the knuckle like I did as a grade-schooler, it still sears and will not crack.

So hopefully I will get a job in the not-too-distant future that will provide an income worthy enough for our "spendy" choice of persuit, moreover, I hope that job gets me decent enough healthcare to at least properly diagnose these injuries (and maybe pay for the reconstructive surgery that will undoubtedly come later).

Thanks,
Mike

You may have broken something in your finger/hand. I did something similar with my right wrist last year and was in pain for a month and it was pretty much "stiff" for months after that. I'd try not to move it if at all possible. My wrist basically healed on its own.

As for health insurance, I doubt very much that that will cover a pre-existing situation.

Write to your congressman and senator, asking for support for major health care reform. Tell your story. It is rather compelling. The essentials of life shouldn't be out of reach for people who are willing but unable to work.

Ask your family, friends, community to help gather the money to get you to a doctor. What you spend now could save a lot more later. An untreated condition could become a problem for the rest of your life, so by not treating it now, you might cost yourself more than you're saving now, by a lot.

Sort of out-of-left-field, but consider flying to a country with inexpensive medical care...?

For example, around these parts, you could get that treated for <$50 (going to a dentist and having a wisdom tooth extracted cost me $6... I nearly keeled over in surprise when he told me the amount, as I was expecting atleast a couple of more zeroes at the end).

V.

I banged up my big toe pretty bad on vaca body boarding in the ocean. Think I probably did do some real damage, hurt like a mofo for the longest time, swelled up and turned black and blue and to this day, 2 months later, any pressure on the top of my toe hurts like hell. If I were you, I'd swallow some pride, bum some money and at least go see your family doc. Your next job may require the use of those 2 fingers!

Maybe guaranteed basic health care for all isn't such a bad idea after all??

Not criticizing, just pointing out the obvious..

I am unemployed and have no health care.However I don't avoid coughing up the $50-100 to see the Doctor.That's foolish.Sorry to hear of your misfortune but get off a few bucks and see the Doc.I'm getting on in years and haven't exactly taken the high road on caring for my gift so no more excuses.
And whoever believe the gub'ment will save us is ignoring the fact we are where we are because of the gub'ment.What will they do?Outlaw greed?That's what it will take to fix it.

Back in 1975 I worked in a big chemical plant where we used single-speed bikes to go to the other end of the plant to pick up resin samples for testing. The chain came off the front sprocket and down I went with my left leg twisted back at the rear wheel. Sort of ran over my own foot. Tore the ACL in my left knee along with other damage. That was a two year battle with the company before I was directed to an orthopedic specialist. Had an ACL repair in 1977. By 1992 the knee had gone degenerative. The orthopedic specialist in 1992 told me to get a bicycle to help the knee. This strengthens muscles without impact to the knee joint. Much joking with the doc about the original injury being the result of a fall from a bicycle.

Normally ACL tears are seen in some athletes. But it can happen with bicycle falls.

I believe the government should spend all its money on national defense, education and healthcare. Then the population would be in a position to earn big money and pay the taxes. The government should quit subsidizing bankers, auto-makers and farmers. Until you get insurance, take care of yourself, your body has great ability to heal itself unassisted. Good luck.

There isn't a free clinic anywhere in the pacific NW? If it was an Ligament and it was a major tear there would be some type of swelling and the knee would be weak on the opposite side, as in collapsing when you put your weight on it. If it's not a major tear or it sprained, the only thing they would do tell you to rest it initally and than physical therapy, no surgery, since minor tears and sprains will heal themselves.

I have a torn rotator cuff and my doctor told me it's not severe enough to operate.


Sort of out-of-left-field, but consider flying to a country with inexpensive medical care...?
For example, around these parts, you could get that treated for <$50 (going to a dentist and having a wisdom tooth extracted cost me $6... I nearly keeled over in surprise when he told me the amount, as I was expecting atleast a couple of more zeroes at the end).
V.

I hold no hope that the cost of medical care in this country will ever change. I caught part of an interview, I didn't catch a name, with a senator that is involved with legislation for healthcare reform. The interviewer point blank asked him what his thoughts were on the fact that statisitcally speaking, we don't have the best health care in the civilized world, we have the most expensive. The politician ducked that question like hot lava.

Personally, I work in the health care industry and the biggest problem with health care reform is that the people making the decisions don't have a grasp on how complex of the issues involved. The problems aren't even close to black and white and most outsiders don't understand that.

Politicians with no personal experience, other than as a patient, in the health care field should not be the only one's involved in the process. THAT's a major reason where here is this mess now.

I am unemployed and have no health care.However I don't avoid coughing up the $50-100 to see the Doctor.

Add $400 for the x-ray and another hundred or so for the cast if you did break anything. If you did some structural damage to a joint then add another $1000 for an orthopedist.

Maybe guaranteed basic health care for all isn't such a bad idea after all?

I like the German model. You still get your insurance through your employer but as soon as you're laid off the government picks up the employers share of the insurance. If you still can't pay your share they cover it all.

I was laid off last year and was offered COBRA for the small sum of $600/monthly.

I like the German model. You still get your insurance through your employer but as soon as you're laid off the government picks up the employers share of the insurance. If you still can't pay your share they cover it all.

I was laid off last year and was offered COBRA for the small sum of $600/monthly.

Massachusetts has mandatory insurance for anyone not participating in their employers insurance program or not eligible, but employed, it sucks.

I know a comedian who is successful enough that he makes his living doing that. Since he is considered an independent businessman, he has state coverage. He told me that it's expensive and the coverage is a joke. The one time that he used it, he cut his hand bad enough to need stitches. He waited in the emergency room for 90 minutes, received 10 stitches, and two weeks later a bill for $1000. That was the portion of the claim not covered by the state's healthcare provider.

Write to your congressman and senator, asking for support for major health care reform. Tell your story. It is rather compelling. The essentials of life shouldn't be out of reach for people who are willing but unable to work.

Ask your family, friends, community to help gather the money to get you to a doctor. What you spend now could save a lot more later. An untreated condition could become a problem for the rest of your life, so by not treating it now, you might cost yourself more than you're saving now, by a lot.

I don't want anybody to be in pain, but how is his injury my financial responsibility? No such thing as free anything from the government--I'm trying to feed my family and survive this crappy economy (that is getting worse everyday because of our government and the people who elected them). More taxes on me (the middle class--which are coming as fast as congress says "we need to pay for this xxx and yyy as we go) puts me closer to edge of not being able to support my family. Kill off the fatted calf, buddy, and everyone dies. Look at Zimbabwe, whole place is in the crapper because they spend what they don't have, and run off the productive members of their society.

We have free healthcare in Canada. Didn't help me much with my injuries. Yes, doctor's appointments were free. But physiotherapy was $50 per session, and I had lots and lots of sessions...

We have free healthcare in Canada. Didn't help me much with my injuries. Yes, doctor's appointments were free. But physiotherapy was $50 per session, and I had lots and lots of sessions...

I don't think you get how US healthcare works - in a post a couple above yours a guy with insurance had to pay a $1000 excess just to get 10 stitches! $50 for a physio session is what a US hospital would charge you for coffee.

We have free healthcare in Canada. Didn't help me much with my injuries. Yes, doctor's appointments were free. But physiotherapy was $50 per session, and I had lots and lots of sessions...

But you could have gone to a chiropractor and had essentially the same treatment as you would have gotten from a physiotherapist for about $12-20 per session. And a good physiotherapist will give you exercises to do on your own rather than continually going back to them.

I don't want anybody to be in pain, but how is his injury my financial responsibility?

Not sure how read that comment about trying to collect money from the community to somehow imply that it became the community's *responsibility*.

Being asked for help doesnt mean that you are being forced to provide it... do as your conscience/financial circumstances allow. But at the very least, stop acting like the idea of charity is such a reprehensible thing. There is a thing called -voluntarily- choosing to help others - believe it or not, some people still do that.

here in the uk it's classed as free but if you work you pay ni (national insurance) as i do.
it work's well and i am very greatfull for fixing me up when i got knocked of my motorcycle
here's a list of my injury's broken tabula/fibula/femur/hip joint all the same leg and shattered my wrist badly.
without the national health service i would no doubt be a cripple and saddled with huge medical bill's.

But you could have gone to a chiropractor and had essentially the same treatment as you would have gotten from a physiotherapist for about $12-20 per session. I've gone to a chiropractor too. Same price.


And a good physiotherapist will give you exercises to do on your own rather than continually going back to them. I got a ton of exercises to do. Still had to come in a lot. For massage, and those electric thingies that make muscles jump.

I don't think you get how US healthcare works - in a post a couple above yours a guy with insurance had to pay a $1000 excess just to get 10 stitches! $50 for a physio session is what a US hospital would charge you for coffee. No, I understand. I know how much better we have it here. That said, Canadian prices are generally not that much different. They're just payed through taxes.

Add $400 for the x-ray and another hundred or so for the cast if you did break anything. If you did some structural damage to a joint then add another $1000 for an orthopedist.

Your prices are a little inflated.however if that's what it would take to fix it yes.Many will pay the $2500 for the trans in the car to be repaired but will limp forever instead of repairing the leg?If so you are lacking in common sense.You talking to someone with 6 knee surgeries.4 of them out of pocket.I am a motorcycle mechanic (unemployed currently) not an engineer with adequate income.You don't have to go just a good idea to visit the doc.Death and disability suck.

Don't get me started on Veterinarian bills.:twitchy:

But you could have gone to a chiropractor and had essentially the same treatment as you would have gotten from a physiotherapist for about $12-20 per session. And a good physiotherapist will give you exercises to do on your own rather than continually going back to them.

Uh no...I went to a chiro last year and the sessions were about $50 too. In retrospect, I should have gone just for a couple of sessions and kept on doing the exercises myself.

Not sure how read that comment about trying to collect money from the community to somehow imply that it became the community's *responsibility*.

Being asked for help doesnt mean that you are being forced to provide it... do as your conscience/financial circumstances allow. But at the very least, stop acting like the idea of charity is such a reprehensible thing. There is a thing called -voluntarily- choosing to help others - believe it or not, some people still do that.

No, the argument is why should my taxes go to paying for his medical care? Some people believe that if you break it you should pay for it yourself.

I've gone to a chiropractor too. Same price.

I got a ton of exercises to do. Still had to come in a lot. For massage, and those electric thingies that make muscles jump.

Did you have a wrist injury too?!

We have free healthcare in Canada. Didn't help me much with my injuries. Yes, doctor's appointments were free. But physiotherapy was $50 per session, and I had lots and lots of sessions...

In-fragging-correct. Premiums vary by province. In BC we pay premiums based on LAST YEAR'S income. Some employers cover the premium but then it is considered a taxable benefit. I have been fighting with MSP (the BC agency that deals with premiums) for years. I will be fighting with them while I'm in college, they will try to force me to pay premiums even though I will have no income (a student loan is not income.) They don't consider going back to school to be a valid reason not to pay premiums. I considered opting out (having no coverage) if I can't get them to cut me some slack.

No, the argument is why should my taxes go to paying for his medical care? Some people believe that if you break it you should pay for it yourself.

I pay a crap load of taxes for things I never use. Some of my tax money goes towards funding education and we don't even have kids. Be nice if we could pick and choose what programs we support but alas, it doesn't work that way.

I had a small cancerous growth removed. My insurance was $5,000 a year. After this was done - my insurance went to $50,000 a year. So I have no health-care. Hurrah for the USA!

We have "Death-Panels" now. We call them the private health-care industry.

Did you have a wrist injury too?! No, what makes you think so? Did you have one and get zapped for treatment?

No, the argument is why should my taxes go to paying for his medical care? Some people believe that if you break it you should pay for it yourself.

They arent paying for just HIS medical care. They are paying for everyone's medical care. Just like the taxes I pay cover not just the roads I drive on, but all roads; pays the salaries of cops not just in my neighborhood but all the cops; etc. etc. It is part and parcel of living in society.

In some cases, the exigencies imposes by a free market/privatized system are at odds with common humanitarianism. The peculiar economics of free market health care means that it is only readily available to a portion of the society, not all of it. Most people would agree that no matter where you fall in your political/economic beliefs, there is nothing particularly nice about a segment of the population (old people, poor families and their kids, etc) being deprived of basic medical care and that it is worth considering an alternative system which tries to bridge this gap in care. You may disagree with this viewpoint, but that doesn't make it a radical concept that only commies would consider.

V.

I had a small cancerous growth removed. My insurance was $5,000 a year. After this was done - my insurance went to $50,000 a year. So I have no health-care. Hurrah for the USA!

We have "Death-Panels" now. We call them the private health-care industry.

Holy ****, that should be illegal.

No, what makes you think so? Did you have one and get zapped for treatment?

Yeah, I fractured/broke my wrist which the emergency doc at St. Mike's failed to catch on the x-ray and they didn't have a radiologist follow up. In the US, I'd be calling a lawyer! Took three months before I had another set of x-rays done and by then I had healed by myself but it was very stiff and at an odd angle.

So, went to chiro...massages, exercises and a tingly machine.

I pay a crap load of taxes for things I never use. Some of my tax money goes towards funding education and we don't even have kids. Be nice if we could pick and choose what programs we support but alas, it doesn't work that way.
Things like education benefit society as a whole, even people who don't have children. Same with health care. A healthy population is more productive and lessens your own chances of becoming ill.

So, went to chiro...massages, exercises and a tingly machine. Yeah, it's a standard procedure that's used on a variety of body parts. It must be a bit more annoying on a wrist than on legs: the smaller the muscles involved, the "twitchier" things feel.

I don't want anybody to be in pain, but how is his injury my financial responsibility? No such thing as free anything from the government--I'm trying to feed my family and survive this crappy economy (that is getting worse everyday because of our government and the people who elected them). More taxes on me (the middle class--which are coming as fast as congress says "we need to pay for this xxx and yyy as we go) puts me closer to edge of not being able to support my family. Kill off the fatted calf, buddy, and everyone dies. Look at Zimbabwe, whole place is in the crapper because they spend what they don't have, and run off the productive members of their society.

Look, you got your awful trillion dollar war based on lies. You're just going to have to deal with the horror of the government providing medical services to your fellow citizens. Somehow, you will learn to deal.

In-fragging-correct. Premiums vary by province. In BC we pay premiums based on LAST YEAR'S income. Some employers cover the premium but then it is considered a taxable benefit. I have been fighting with MSP (the BC agency that deals with premiums) for years. I will be fighting with them while I'm in college, they will try to force me to pay premiums even though I will have no income (a student loan is not income.) They don't consider going back to school to be a valid reason not to pay premiums. I considered opting out (having no coverage) if I can't get them to cut me some slack.

As I understand it, the maximum is $54/month? Anyone living in the States care to comment on that amount?

You can't opt out. You are required to register for MSP as a BC resident. As I understand it, they still won't refuse treatment, even if you haven't paid, the bureaucracy will still pursue you for payment, in Alberta they farm it out to some mildly unpleasant collection agency.

Why don't you go to school in Alberta? As of this year the premiums were canceled. Might come back though, given the current budget problems.

For myself, having lived under some kind of national health plan my whole life, I cannot understand not wanting such. It's not perfect, and if I was stinking rich, I might prefer a private option as a addition. But having a minor spill on my bike and worrying how to pay for the X-rays, etc? No thanks.

As I understand the US system, looking from across the border, the Insurance companies have way too much power. They can essentially pick and choose who, and how to cover. Their biggest departments are the ones whose task is to minimize the payouts. The doctors and hospitals have to spend far too high a percentage of their time figuring who to bill, how much they can bill, and how to justify the bill.

Sorry to help this post so far off topic, I can see this thread heading for the P&R room.

Good evening all,

Before getting into all this - I will not take any of your diagnoses or suggestion as the last RX-approved word. I do not have health insurance currently, and am situationally poor, so I have no health care I can come close to affording.

......

So hopefully I will get a job in the not-too-distant future that will provide an income worthy enough for our "spendy" choice of persuit, moreover, I hope that job gets me decent enough healthcare to at least properly diagnose these injuries (and maybe pay for the reconstructive surgery that will undoubtedly come later).

Thanks,
Mike

Well it's a bit late for this now, but what I would have advised was this:

You go to the hospital emergency room, say that you were in a bike wreck and you have no insurance (you don't need to say that right away, they'll get around to asking you soon enough).

When you get in to see the doctor, explain that you don't need every possible test and drug they can give--just that you only want to make sure nothing major is wrong.

ER docs see lots of people with no healthcare who insist on every single test under the sun, and they also see lots of people who come in claiming injuries and want nothing but painkillers. Docs can run any test they see as medically necessary--but if you tell them right off that you're not one of those two kinds of people, they're a lot more understanding of the situation.
~