*I posted this on RA Sushi as well, so if you are reading it again, I apologize!
I was talking on the phone (cell phone) the other night and when I got done and put my arm down, something in my elbow went POP. Not broken bone pop, tendon pop I think. It swelled up immediately and was VERY painful. I couldn't straighten it or anything. It hurt all the way to my fingers and was cutting off circulation. It felt like a hundred rubber bands being pulled tight. Everything was stiff. Crunchy told me to ice it and try not to move it too much, and I did. It felt better the next day. (yesterday) Today I did the same thing, I was on the phone with grammaskittles and when I got off and put my arm down, BAM all over again, only about 100 times worse. Just typing this is agony. Half of my arm is hot, and the other half is cold. This time It hurts all the way to my shoulder blade and feels like a million rubber bands all stretched out. Everything is stiff. UGH What the crap did I do? And how did I do it talking on a PHONE? Someone enlighten me. Please.
Sweetie, you probably tore a ligament. You are going to have to find a way to get a MRI done. For now, get an elbow brace and see if that helps at all. You might even add a wrist brace. But you must get this seen. Why don't you call your State Department of Health and tell them your situation. Maybe they know of some way to start getting you treated. I know you don't have any insurance, but something has to be done. You cannot keep going untreated. Check if Florida has a high risk pool.
http://www.fdhc.state.fl.us/MCHQ/Managed_Health_Care/HCRA/in dex.shtml
Contact them at:
http://www.fdhc.state.fl.us/Contact/index.shtml
I know you are trying to wait until your health insurance at work cuts in. But how much longer is that? Besides even with work health insurance, costs get get pretty high. It wouldn't hurt to contact them.
In the meantime, think about the braces. At least it might help you keep from continuing to hurt yourself.
"At least it might help you keep from continuing to hurt yourself."
Katie,
Deanna is right. You need to get to a doctor for this. I know it may not be cheap but this is your body and you can't put a price on that. You have to live in it the rest of your life and need to make it priority! Take care of yourself!
Laura
Katie, in this state, ERs have to take you even if you just have a cold. The uninsured do this all the time. In at least one hospital, they come by and ask if you are insured by the state program. You can also ask that the financial services work with you or cancel out the bill because you don't have insurance. Often times they will do this.
The important thing is to take care of our Katie. She's irreplaceable.
Bah. The first link - great link, but I make too much money. By 200 dollars. Hah. Whatever. I've been supporting Justin for almost a year, its not like I'm rolling in it. But they won't see that, because we're not married. UGH.
The second link - FREAKING YAY. THANK YOU DEANNA. I have been searching for something like that FOREVER. Why could no one tell me where it was?? What on EARTH did you type to find that?? I'm using one for Justin's stuff at the "bad" hospital as well. God I hope we get it.
The third link....I'm confused..not sure what to do with it. Then again, this is all new to me!
ARGH NEVERMIND! aglsdfjfsdj@#$*^#$%#*^$ I'm not eligible. Neither is Justin. We were treated out of county. You're kidding me right? And I can't do his for in country, because it's been more than 30 days. So they hide this crap from you so that you are beyond your 30 days, and if you live in a county that only has 3 hospitals, and all three are TERRIBLE so you travel to the next county where you get GREAT care, you're screwed. I freaking give up.Katie, sorry those didn't work out. Try this phone number: (866) 762-2237. It is for what states call the medical needy. That's people with serious illness that don't have health insurance. If they can't help you, they probably can direct you to someone who can.
Also, try this link:
http://www.floridahealthstat.com/mhr.shtml#FinancialHelp
With this stuff, you just have to keep trying. Yes, scream first, then try again. Deanna beats own head against the wall. Oh! That hurts!
LoL Thank you hun. I really do appreciate it. I've done so much searching, back when Justin was so sick. After getting NO HELP what-so-ever I just sort of gave up. Especially when we had a doctor told us to basically get the h*ll out of FL because we weren't going to GET any help here. *sigh* I'll try that page, and that number :)Argh. There's nothing in *my* area. Why the h*ll did I have to live up here? If I was near a bigger city, I'd have it. But we're talking, the next closest thing that offers help uis 6 hours away. You've got to be kidding me. Don't anyone move to an area full of rich bastards, you'll NEVER get help.Katie, how frustrating.
Is there a University Hospital near you?
Try calling your local hospital and ask them what their policy is about integent health care. Whenever they spout out their answer, that will give you an opening to say what your problem is and that you need immediate help but you are afraid to go to the ER and have some tremendous bill you can't pay. Sometimes, smaller towns have ways around these things that you don't know about until you find the exact right person to ask.
Also, Katie, is there a Mayo Clinic anywhere in decent traveling distance from you. They might have a program to help.
Also, you said that your income was just 0 over their amount. I believe they have to subtract medical bills from your income. They do here. That might help you get it.
No universtiy. Closest one that would have something like that is...ummm probably Jacksonville. 7 Hours. UGH. The only hospital that is willing to help with bills, is the non-profit one out here by work. And once again, I make too much money. I've spoken with the financial department of BOTH hospitals. I came close to tearing the one lady's head off (bad hospital) - the other was the only one to help us - the non-profit, thats the one out that Justin goes to free of charge. He was part time when we applied for help though, so he didn't make too much. He only gets a year of that as well. So we have until June to get us some coverage, or we're screwed.
Oh and I just looked up the nearest Mayo Clinic - ready for it? JACKSONVILLE! >.<
You problem is so common with people here. You know they have mammogram trucks that come to business all over the place here. Why can we have some kind of traveling Rheumys?
It sucks, Katie, it just sucks and I don't know what else to tell you. I will say this though, if you have to go to the ER and then let them argue out the bill with you later. You cannot afford to lose your life or in this case, limb. June is too far way with your current problems. Then, you still have to go through the process of finding a doctor. The only other option I can think of is to call a Rheumatologist office and ask if they will see you on a self-pay for now. Can your previous doctor that treated you for your JRA do anything?
You know you need an exam and some films done. But you also need some meds to get this calmed down.
Your age group is one of the hardest hit. You don't make any money to speak of yet, but just enough to disqualify you from any kind of help.
Amen woman, amen. The last doc I saw, was over in Pensacola and she was baaatttttyyyyy. Crazy lady. Never see her again. LoL I think I'm going to look up rheumys in the area, and do some calling. Wish me luck. Worse comes to worse, I will go to the nonprofit hospital out here (I already have a bill with them, why not, right?) and get checked out for my elbow. Bleh. Hippie commune I tell you....