Leg Pain....please help

[Lorai]

Hello:

On July 22, 2010 I injured my leg playing basketball. I went to the E.R. and the doctor diagnosed me with a rupture Achilles tendon. He recommended me to go to an Orthopedic.  The nurse wrapped my leg with a splint and bandages.  After a week of elevating my leg and keeping ice on it the swelling went down and I was able to walk on it again. I was also able to feel my Achilles tendon; however it doesn’t feel as strong as my right leg. Every day I elevate my leg and massage it with Max Freeze and I rotate my ankle frontwards and backwards to strengthen my Achilles tendon.  Its day 3 since I’ve been walking on my left leg and now it’s starting to swell on the opposite side of the injury, but my injury doesn’t hurt. But as I walk my calve muscles hurt. I assume it’s hurting, because I’m restoring my calve muscles. What should I do? Should I continue to walk on my leg or should I put the splint back on? I don’t have any money to visit an Orthopedic office nor do I have the money for a MRI.  How can I get my leg to heal correctly and quickly without going to an Orthopedic?

Sincerely,
Lorraine

[Tuckamore]

I am so sorry that you are being treated so poorly but his physician. Sometimes we just have to suck it up and take it...when we have no other choices. And unfortunately it appears that you have no other choices.

That his rudeness until you get that leg healed. If is very important that the cast is fit according to healing or non-healing. It must be checked and changed every month. This could make the differance between chronic pain, limp and function. An achilles tendon rupture is a serious injury, even a partial one. If it is not treated properly you may suffer permanent problems.

Inform the physicians supervisor and your county about his lack of concern and attitude. Maybe you can stop him from treating the next patient so poorly. Maybe you can't. But it's worth a try. Some physicians just have a God Complex and they approach all or most of their patients with arrogance. He should not care where his money is coming from...after all he is getting paid.

Please continue to consult this horrid physician as directed. It's not worth life-long problems with that limb.

Best of Luck to You,
~Tuck

[Lorai]

I have a hard plaster cast on my leg for a partial Achilles tendon rupture. I was told by the Orthopedic that I have to wear it for 3 months, but he never fully explained how wearing the cast would help heal my leg or why I have to wear it. However, he did state that I would have to have a new cast put on every month. He treated me very poorly and I refuse to go back to him! My questions are:

1. How imperative is it to have the hard plaster cast replaced?
2. Can I wear the same hard plaster cast for 3 months?
3. If I do wear the same hard cast for 3 months without going back the Orthopedic, can I remove the cast myself? If so, how can I remove it?

-Thanks

[Tuckamore]

Hi Lorraine,

Wonderful News!! Absolutely wonderful. I am so glad that you had a good out come.

I also want to thank you so much for updating us. Often our posters never return and we have no idea how they are doing. It warms my heart to know that you heeded our suggestions and that you had such good results.

Yes we may have offered you our suggestions but as Jaybay said congratulate yourself for following up on it. I hope this means that you will continue to play basketball. I'll look forward to any additional updates you care to share with us.  

You have made my day!

I wish you a speedy recovery. .

Thanks Yo  Again,
~Tuck

[Jaybay]

Hallelujah!  Your great news makes me very happy!  Congratulate yourself for finding your way to medical care - YOU did the work and made it happen.  Hope you're back to the basketball court and in great shape very soon.  :-D

[namnam46]

Hi Lorai,

I unfortunately wasn't able to post on your original post but you were fortunate to have TWO of our VERY best to give you suggestions.

I'm VERY glad that you took Jaybay's and Tuck's suggestions and sought a Physician. How fortunate that your state offers the programs that Jaybay guided you to!!! I'm SOOO glad that you were accepted into the Hospitals Program and were able to get the Specialized medical help that you desperately needed to allow your leg to heal properly.

NOW you can look forward to a WONDERFUL future with a FULLY functioning and HEALTHY leg.

Good for you!!!  I hope that you will keep us AL informed on your progress. I PROMISE you that everyone will be looking forward to your NEXT update.....Sherry

[Lorai]

Thank you, so much for all the responses from everyone. The advice from everyone was very helpful!!!  I finally decide to go to Halifax Health hospital. I was able to have a MRI done and I was placed on their Patients Assistance program, which assistant uninsured patients with their medical bills and specialist. They referred me to local orthopedic specialist. The Orthopedic stated that my leg was healing properly and he placed a hard cast on it. I have to wear it for 3 months.

I thank all of you for convincing me to seek medical attention.

-Lorraine

[Tuckamore]

In WI it does there is no free care, unless you qualify under that states strict guidelines to receive state insurance. Many of our residents are uninsured. When tragedy strikes they are left with huge medical bills that often send them into bankruptcy.

If you have minor children there are more opportunities. In fact I know of no children that are not covered for our state insurance. However of you have no minor children you are just out of luck. We have no free clinic or hospitals. It's a sad fact. Jaybay your friend was fortunate that she resides in TX.

Lorai, I don't know what your state offers but jaybay brings up a good point. You may very well be eligible for state programs or other subsidies. It certainly is worth looking into.  Please don't risk permanent damage.  

[Jaybay]

I don't know how other states deal with indigent care.  In Houston, indigent care is subsidized primarily with tax dollars but also private donations - and of course, inflated prices for insured patients.  All hospitals have a certain budget for indigent care as mandated by the federal government, but in my county there is also one specific hospital for that purpose.  There are also a few free and low-cost county-run clinics as well.  

A few ERs finally got smart and have what amounts to an urgent care clinic within the ER facility.  People who show up at the ER for routine care and runny noses get sent to the clinic area leaving the ER staff free for true medical emergencies.  It's helped take some of the traffic out of the ER and cut down on the number of times a facility gets put on drive-by status, but not enough.  People who know how to work the system know the ER is "free" so they go there rather than a low-cost clinic.

It pays to do some research for local government and charitable assistance.  Usually there are more programs in place than most people are aware of simply because they have never needed them.  Sure, you have to prove that you're indigent, but free and low-cost health care IS readily available.  A few years ago a friend of ours shattered his leg in a freak accident and was uninsured at the time.  It took two surgeries and months of physical therapy to get him back on his feet, but he's fine now.  He paid maybe 10% of the total cost of all that treatment and was very pleasantly surprised at the level of care.  Who knew?!

[Tuckamore]

Jaybay,

I never think to suggest a charity hospital. Believe it or not there are none in our state.

I know there is Cook County Hospital In Chicago that is a charity on but I have never heard of one in WI. Do all states have charity hospitals?

~Tuck

[Jaybay]

There's always the county (charity) hospital.  I know the thought of sitting for hours at a county-run ER or clinic is likely to cause you to run screaming through the streets, but if you are truly indigent it's your only option.  Call a few orthopedic clinics and see if they'll work with you on a payment plan.  Check out county resources in your area - there are usually more than you might think.  If you have anything to sell, then do it and use the cash for your medical care.  Do you have a parental unit or other relative who might help you out?

Tuck is correct - you need to see a physician.  Stop trying to exercise your way out of this injury as you're only causing yourself further trouble. In my personal opinion, it's far too soon to be doing the kinds of physical therapy exercises you're attempting.  Please let us know how it works out.  You're too young to have a life-changing injury.  :-)

[Tuckamore]

Hello Lorraine,

Welcome to MedHelp's Pain Mangement Forum. I am glad that you found us but very sorry to hear about your injury and lack of insurance. Please be aware that there are no physicians on this forum. Any suggestions you obtain here should not be substituted for medical advice.

An Achilles Tendon injury can be serious and requires proper treatment. If not treated correctly it can have life long consequences. I know you are without insurance coverage but at least consult an Orthopedic for his guidance. An appointment should not be significantly more than consulting your PCP. It will certainly be less than a trip to the ER. You can always refuse an MRI but I really beleive you should have that recommended Ortho consult.

I cannot tell you if you should continue to ambulate on your effected limb. This can only be correctly answered by a physician. I do encourage you to avoid doing anything that could cause even more damage.

Please seek a medical opinion. It's highly questionable if you can get your "leg to heal correctly" without the guidance of a physician.

Best of luck to you,
~Tuck