Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

KeriVit · Aug 12, 2007, 02:33 PM

I dropped a can on my foot today and it hurt like hell. I can walk but it is painful on the top- the metatarsal. Now, I realize that if I ask of you- "should" I see a doctor... the answer would be yes.

However, I am already over $3K in the hole from my last trip to the ER. I have no insurance because I am a grad student. Besides, it's probably just bruised.

So my question is , can I make things worse if I don't go to the doctor? If I just ice and elevate can I get by and have it heal if it is a fracture? Anyone ever done this to their foot?

OreoCookie · Aug 12, 2007, 03:19 PM

Yes, you can definitely make it worse.
You clearly arrive at the same conclusion in the second sentence. Don't wait, have a professional check it out. The only other possibility I see is asking a friend who is (almost?) a doctor. However, my guesstimate is that they can't tell what is wrong without a proper examination (X-rays?).

The right conclusion should be to get health insurance asap, you only have one body and saving on your health is not an option. (Grad students at UC Berkeley get a significant rebate on health insurance.)

Big Mac · Aug 12, 2007, 06:07 PM

Unfortunately, he probably won't be able to get health insurance from the private market if he's under a doctor's care for a current injury.

KeriVit · Aug 12, 2007, 06:15 PM

I can get health insurance through the school starting in September. It's accident and illness, but that should be okay for now.

Honestly, if I could afford $250/mo. for insurance, I wouldn't have a $3000 bill right now.

I'll try the school clinic (it's a real doctors) office in the am, they offer some kind of discount.

Mastrap · Aug 12, 2007, 07:08 PM

I am constantly amazed that in one of the richest countries in the world people don't have automatic health cover. I am not trying to turn this into a political slag fest, and I am in no way anti our neighbours to the south, but I still just don't get it. Really.

cjrivera · Aug 12, 2007, 07:37 PM

It's probably not a bad choice to wait until the am to see the school clinic. In the meantime, see if you can round up some crutches from a friend (there's always someone you know who has a pair), if it hurts that much to walk on it, or stay off of it as much as you can.

If you went to the er today (weekend), the worst-case scenario would be a fracture and they would have you stay off of it (which you can already do), use pain meds/NSAIDS as needed (again which you can already do), and maybe get a cast or walking shoe (which can wait a day or two anyway as long as you aren't putting pressure on it).

In fact, an acute, hairline fracture might not even show up the first day on an xray, so there would be a chance you would have to get it redone at a later date.

The school clinics tend to be an inexpensive option for medical care.

Sherman Homan · Aug 12, 2007, 08:00 PM

People dropped things on their feet 75 years ago and no one took them for Xrays. If you can walk on it, that is good: don't. Wrap it up, stay off of it as much as possible. You will know when it has healed enough.
I suppose that I should have a legal disclaimer...!

iranfromthezoo · Aug 12, 2007, 08:59 PM

kervit...you can find a ems agency and go and visit them off the street and see what they think...they could help or stint...it's free too.

moonmonkey · Aug 12, 2007, 09:52 PM

People who live in modern countries take free healthcare for granted, I'm sure the US will get free healthcare in the future. I find it hard to believe a doctor would let you die if you didn't have any money.

nonhuman · Aug 12, 2007, 11:09 PM

Originally Posted by moonmonkey

People who live in modern countries take free healthcare for granted, I'm sure the US will get free healthcare in the future. I find it hard to believe a doctor would let you die if you didn't have any money.

Emergency rooms are required by law to provide care for emergency situations regardless of your ability to pay. They will still, however, stick you with the bill. If you can't afford to pay the bill, then you get to be more closely acquainted with the wonderful world of Bad Credit.

KeriVit · Aug 12, 2007, 11:14 PM

Since my other half is a medic, now home from work. i will be taken care of til the a.m. Let this be a healthcare thread, cuz it makes me ill how the U.S. is so far behind. BTW my foot is HUGE.

Veltliner · Aug 13, 2007, 12:50 AM

By the way, it is not without risk to ask about the health of your foot on a computer forum.

Some people here have the uncanny ability to create havoc to their computers.

You've got to have a tough foot to survive the medical advice here.

By the way: you can always go to the doctor tomorrow, without a 1000$ bill. Then you will see.

I didn't say that. I also have the ability to create havoc on my computer, and you shouldn't trust my medical advice.

Cold Warrior · Aug 13, 2007, 12:57 AM

Maybe you can find a veterinarian to x-ray and cast it (although they're not allowed to treat humans, at the risk of their license).

Chooglin' · Aug 13, 2007, 12:58 AM

Healthcare is a service. Expect to pay for it. You take your car into a mechanic, and you pay for the shop to diagnose and fix your car. Healthcare is no different. Maybe these liberal nut cases who want "free healthcare" will also want the government to steal money from taxpayers so they don't have to pay their auto repair bills too.

moonmonkey · Aug 13, 2007, 01:09 AM

Do you need to pay the police or fire department when they respond to a call in the states?

Chooglin' · Aug 13, 2007, 01:29 AM

You know, I don't feel like I should have to pay so much money for food either. I think the government should provide free catering for everyone. That way no one will be hungry and we won't have to pay so much for food. When will you get with it, America? So goes the liberal nut case way of thinking....

moonmonkey · 06:56 AM

It's called unemployment benefit, most modern countries provide it.
Looks like you didn't take advantage of the free education your country provided.

Veltliner · Aug 13, 2007, 01:55 AM

There are low cost emergency health plans for under 100$ a month.

Just be sure you only go with a reputable health insurer. There are many crooks out there, who offer some kind of health insurance, that leaves you in the rain in case of rain.

You only have one health. If it's gone, it's gone. If you have financial trouble, think of other things to save on, not on health insurance (that's just too easy to save money on: you save the work to find one, and save the money to pay for one) But it is trouble for you down the road.

Chuckit · Aug 13, 2007, 02:38 AM

Originally Posted by moonmonkey

Do you need to pay the police or fire department when they respond to a call in the states?

In some cases, yes. And that's on top of the fact that we are already forced to pay for them beforehand anyway through taxes and fees.

kmkkid · Aug 13, 2007, 04:46 AM

I couldn't imagine having to pay to see a doctor.

I thought having to pay to get my wisdom teeth out was a crime.

/me <3's Canada.

mrtew · Aug 14, 2007, 08:40 PM

So how's your foot? Even if it is injured badly I don't think there is really much a doctor can do for a broken footbone. I'd tough it out.