Oregon Southpaw

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

IronMac

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.

noglider 

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.

guadzilla

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.

arej00dazed

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!

jdon

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

Not criticizing, just pointing out the obvious..

XR2

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.

Whiteknight

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.

AndrewP

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.

DX Rider

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.

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.

Laggard

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.

Laggard

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.

DX Rider

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.

ddbtoth

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.

chephy

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...

meanwhile

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.

Machka 

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.

guadzilla

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.

liverpool pete

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.

chephy

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.

chephy

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.

XR2

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.

IronMac

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.

IronMac

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.

IronMac

Did you have a wrist injury too?!