Broken/Fractured Fibula (Leg) Bone! - No Ins. Advice?
KM43590
Posts: 298
Hello friends! ...Has anyone ever broken or fractured their fibula bone in the leg? I think I may have, and I have no health Ins any longer and I'm wondering about home remedies! It's been a week and I've been wrapping it up, elevating it and icing it, and taking lots of Tylenol. I can still walk, but with a constant/dull pain and I'm wondering what to do. As I understand it the fibula isn't the main leg bone and only supports 10% of your weight, so it's not as serious as the tibia bone apparently, but of course I'm still concerned.The irony of all this is, 2 weeks ago, I lost my job and health insurance, and because of the stress and depression I was feeling, I had a few too many one night, fell and injured myself. How's that for bad luck? HAHA! Thanks in advance!
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Hope the information helps!
If you only recently lost your job & insurance, have you checked into whether you're still eligible to sign up for COBRA? Maybe you could get it for just a short time. Have you looked into Medicaid? It can be hard to get, but it's worth looking into. I also agree with Dasvidana that you should look for a FQHC. Also, is there a teaching hospital or other public hospital in your area? Oftentimes they have sliding scales or even actual free full health coverage for people with low/no incomes. That's probably the first thing I'd look into. If nothing else, you could go somewhere where they'll bill you and just worry about the bill when you can. You could probably make payments. Where do you live?
The very next thing you need to do is write to all your congresspeople and tell them we should have universal healthcare.
Good luck!
then you have the weber fractures. weber a fractures are generally very stable and heal just fine with proper immobilization, usually a walking boot, and proper weight bearing restrictions and home rehab at 4 weeks. the weber b fracture is a fracture of the fibula at the level of the ankle joint. these must be carefully evaluated because a lot of the time they have associated ligament damage. in our office we normally cast these with no weightbearing for 3-4 weeks and then we allow them to walk in the cast. the cast comes off at the 5-6 week point and we transfer to a brace or walking boot if necessary. the home rehab begins at this stage. the weber c fractures are fractures above the level of the joint line. most times these are surgically repaired because since it is above the joint line it is inherently unstable and will leave you with an unstable ankle joint if not treated appropriately. non-surgical treatment of a weber c fracture requires casting with the foot plantar flexed (foot pointing downward) about 30 degrees and strict non weightbearing for 6 weeks, and we order a bone growth stimulator to insure that we get some good bony healing. because of the unstable nature of these fractures our office gets repeat x rays at one, two, and three weeks after the cast is applied, and if the fracture shifts at all in this time we refer to a foot and ankle surgeon. any weightbearing in those 6 weeks can cause the fracture to shift. after 6 weeks of casting we transfer into a walking boot for 2-3 weeks and begin physical therapy at that time.
also, if it is fractured, it is very important that you take tylenol only. several recent studies have come out the last 4 years that have concluded that taking anti-inflammatory medications like advil, ibuprophen, naproxen, aleve, or motrin actually inhibit fracture healing.
there are other very significant injuries that can occur in the ankle joint itself that can appear to a patient with no medical training to be fibular injuries. mostly involving the articular cartilage and bone underneath that cartilage. these are called osteochondral lesions or defects. an x ray will tell you if those are present too. if there is an ocd you need an mri to tell you what grade it is. some grades heal well with 2-3 months non weightbearing, while others are surgical problems.
chances are you have a sprained ankle and if you have a fracture it is an avulsion or a weber a, but it does require x ray and proper treatment. ankle sprains can be quite severe and can take months to heal properly depending on the structures injured. our office works with people that have no insurance. the first visit is the most expensive because that covers evaluation, casting, and x rays. follow ups are a fraction of the initial visit. we try to treat them with as few visits as possible and we give self pay people a 40 or 50% discount. if you had insurance you would be billed a fracture care code that covers all of your office visits, co-pays, x rays, and casting for a full 90 days. most fractures are healed and rehabbed in that time.
what i suggest you do is get in the phone book and start calling orthopedic physicians and ask if they take patients who are uninsured. i would start with someone who is a Sports Medicine physician because they are not surgeons, specialize in treating nonsurgical orthopedic injuries, are easier to get into, and normally take patients that do not have insurance. most orthopedic surgeons do not see cash patients, or if they do you need to have at least $300 up front at the time of your appointment.
good luck with this and i hope everything turns out well.
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
GF said she saw Dr OZ today . Look into his website. I guess he finds or links people to free or discounted healthcare. www.doctoroz.com
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
meahhh...
If I opened it now would you not understand?
Sorry to hear...you should really get it checked out...hope all goes well.
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
"Hear me, my chiefs!
I am tired; my heart is
sick and sad. From where
the sun stands I will fight
no more forever."
Chief Joseph - Nez Perce
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
my brother about lost his leg in a traffic accident last year. he was billed something to the tune of almost $100,000. he can't make but modest payments every month. he filed out a form and the bills quit coming and that is that.
i myself have had to use assisstance with hospitals' medical billing. if you don't have it to give you don't have it to give. i don't have $10,000 (or more) dollars to give to anybody. and what are small payments going to actually do? nothing. that's right. nothing.
same with student loans. i have two loans that need paid. how does a guy do that when they are jammed up? i've been told to ask for help by applying for it. something i better get on the ball with and soon.
"Hear me, my chiefs!
I am tired; my heart is
sick and sad. From where
the sun stands I will fight
no more forever."
Chief Joseph - Nez Perce
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
I trust your judgment Gimme knowing that you have experience in the medical field. I actually just asked my femur specialist doctor how bad the anti-inflammatories are for healing bones because I still have a fracture in my right femur that didn't heal with bone graft surgery. (I need more surgery) He said that these meds are bad but only if taken on a constant or common basis. He said that I'm OK if I only have to take them once in a while due to the pain.
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
That much...wow I never realized...without gloating that just make me appreciate my country that much more...
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
You're probably right about the Tylenol. Like I said, I trust your judgment! I just wished it worked better for pain. I hope the OP's OK!
This is where your social program are suppose to kick in and help you. You should have called 911 and went directly to an emergency room, insurance or not. A broken bone is an emergency situation as it can harm blood vessels leading to blood clots, which, if not caught leads to sudden death.
You need to get to a physician right away. You should contact your local health department to see how you can qualify for temporary Medicaid or Medicare assistance, these programs are not just for the poor or old, they’re for people in need, people like you, who, for whatever reason don’t have health insurance coverage.
If you are worried about people saying you should have insurance, the point is moot. Maybe they should be concern that if you don't get proper medical help, you may end up disabled, unable to work and guess what as taxpayers we will still be taking care of you, simply because you failed to take care of yourself. Don't let pride get in your way, GO GET PROPER MEDICAL HELP.
i saw a story on the news a few months ago about this guy who needed the emergency helicopter and his transport bill was $40,000 and was not covered by his insurance. :shock: :shock: :shock:
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
at least your not on my fantasy football team lol i would be pissed