Ankle Injury 4 + years
Hello – I have a general question to ask.
I am low income and insurance companies will not touch me because I have diabetes and asthma.
Consequently, I cannot see most doctors, as I have no insurance.About 3-4 years ago, I fell down the stairs and heard a loud pop.
The doctor at the ER told me I had a third level sprain.
He wrapped my ankle up in a foam brace, prescribed crutches, and told me to contact the Health Center on campus (always a big joke).
That was just the beginning.
I’ve had constant pain, tenderness, problems with the ankle being swollen (I am familiar with RICE), and constant, repetive injuries (even with walking, roll overs will happen, I’ve just learned to deal).
Doctors have told me that I just need to lose weight, exercise, and eat right and that the ankle will heal.
The recent case is that I tripped in a hole and reinjured the ankle.
Then, I had to chase after a student and reinjured the ankle AGAIN – same week!
Now, I can’t even push off on a shopping cart with it (my legs are strong), and if I run or walk a lot on it, there’s this burning/annoying pain feel.
It also pops and grates a lot during the day – not painful, just very, very, very annoying (it sounds like I’m walking with flip flops on and I walk with boots).
I know my weight doesn’t help, but I was able to ride a bike and exercise and so forth until another injury a few months back (with another roll over on an uneven sidewalk that I didn’t see coming).
I’m just getting sick and tired of the pain.
I’m falling asleep with a bag of ice and nothing helps.
Would you know of anything I could do that might help?
I am a graduate student in Maryland, but couldn’t find any sites where I could post my question.
I’m not seeing another doctor until I know I can be helped (anything but the: “It’d heal if you’d just lose weight ice it rest it exercise it’d heal”.
I’m at a loss, would you have any advice?
Thank you,Serenity Palmer
6 comments
Kathy R.
I’m not saying get an attorney, it is nothing on you Vivian. I was sworn at by my former PCP because he wanted nothing to do with achilles tendon problem. I have no heel or tendons. I have had OS’s, poditrist, and other doctors say I had a haglunds bump when it was, in fact, a tumor the size of a large peach. I still have my haglunds bump, which should be removed my next surgery. I’m sure you are a very good doctor and I didn’t mean to imply that you are all alike, you are not. One doctor told me that he could or could not do surgery on me if he wanted to and he didn’t want to. It was my HMO that he threw in my face. He didn’t even look at my MRI films or reports. It was all about my HMO. It’s not my fault that I can’t pay for services. So again, it has nothing to do with you Vivian. Thanks for your time.
Serenity
Heh, if I cannot afford doctors, I mostly certainly cannot afford an attorney. That’s not what I was looking for, either. I just want to know if my claims are validated – that’s it’s something more happening with my ankle than most docs think. I like being active, even though I am over weight. I cannot be as active as I once was because this stupid ankle of mine keeps reinjuring itself, no matter what I do or don’t do. It’s a pain in the ankle, literally. I didn’t want to do laundry today because I was afraid I’d trip going down the stairs and re-injuire it. I’ll do laundry tomorrow, when I’m forced to, because I’ll run out of work slacks. I apologize if my post was misinterpreted. I’m also Higher Functioning Autistic and a hard enough time trying to communicate effectively – I apologize, too, if I upset anyone. A good day,Serenity
Vivian Abrams DPM
Without examining your ankle I can not give you specific information. From your description, you have a chronic unstable ankle. In addition to spraining or tearing the ankle ligaments, possibly a fracture occurred or a tendon tore (one of the peroneals). In situations as you describe I almost always get a MRI so we know what we are dealing with.Is there a podiatrist or orthopedist who treats patients at your school? If so, then see if you can see them. If not then call several offices and see who can work with you. It is difficult to say that an ankle brace (and which kind?) would be of benefit. I realize you do not have unlimited finances, but don’t go buying something off the internet that you do not have any idea about. Good luck.
Kathy R.
Wow!!!! Don’t take any nonsense attitudes from your doctors. I too have posted on other sites and they pick and choose who they want to answer. I saw 13 others doctors and because I have an HMO they treated me like white trash. Stick to your guns dear, don’t let them treat you that way too. I found a good OS after 5 1/2 years. They are out there, there are also attorney’s, just a little personal advice. Good Luck.P.S. They always tell you it’s your weight, bologna. That’s probably because they don’t know any better.
Vivian Abrams DPM
Since this is a forum, I will allow your post to stand. I answer posts on this site with no expectation of financial gain. The ads are the site host’s, not mine. Whether I answer a question or not really depends on my time,or if I can offer any advice at all. Some are inappropriate for me to answer. That’s because some people can’t wait to find an attorney. Please remember I do this for free and and post what I feel is appropriate. It is free advice- take it or leave it. One last point, weight is a factor in many medical conditions. There are statistics that bear this out.
Kathy R.
I won’t bother saying anymore. I am concerned about your well being. Lawyers can be a dime a dozen, just watch TV. Find a good doctor if possible. I have been in pain for 5 1/2 years because no one wanted to help me, I found a great one in Pittsburgh. Enough said, I apparently said too much already.As I mentioned I won’t bother anymore.