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So, I'm still hurting this morning. Not as bad as I had expected, but certainly more than I'm happy with.
I truly appreciate the concern several people have expressed both here and in person. No I am not treating this myself. AND no, I'm not going to an ER.
For God's sake, a simple rib fracture while painful, isn't an emergency and even though I'm insured, I'm in no mood to shoulder a huge bill for something that's not an emergency. A little tale of caution for folks; about 10 years ago I was splitting wood, loading it into a splitter a friend was operating and our timing was off. My right middle finger got pinched and broken. It was a Saturday. I called an orthopedist friend of mine who sent me to the hospital for a film of said finger, which I was to bring to him directly in his office. Main registration was closed, so I had to go thru the ER registration desk. While I sat there filling out their paperwork, which I had to have them do for me, as said finger was on the hand I write with, a tech came over & took my blood pressure. I went off to radiology, by myself, on foot and 20 minutes later, film in hand, walked the block away to my ortho.
A month later I received an ER bill for $965. It was a courtesy notice. This was what they sent to my insurer. My share was going to be $200, for an ER visit I didn't have. To add insult to injury, this didn't include the cost of my X-ray or its reading. That was a separate bill. I fought this and got everything reversed, but then I was an MD on staff at this hospital. How many people would have simply let this go? ER care is about the most expensive health care there is in this country. It's over utilization will bankrupt us. It's one of the crises in health care that's in dire need of being addressed.
So, descending from my soapbox, I did call an osteopathic colleague of mine who's treated me in the past. She'll see me tomorrow. If the rib is out of place, she can put it back where it belongs. If it's broken, not so much. I will have to grin and bear it for the next 4-6 weeks.
In the meantime, I'm off to the gym. Worry not, I'm running gently, not lifting. I may be crazy, but I ain't stupid.
Oh, and my celecoxib (generic Celebrex) is holding me for pain.
I truly appreciate the concern several people have expressed both here and in person. No I am not treating this myself. AND no, I'm not going to an ER.
For God's sake, a simple rib fracture while painful, isn't an emergency and even though I'm insured, I'm in no mood to shoulder a huge bill for something that's not an emergency. A little tale of caution for folks; about 10 years ago I was splitting wood, loading it into a splitter a friend was operating and our timing was off. My right middle finger got pinched and broken. It was a Saturday. I called an orthopedist friend of mine who sent me to the hospital for a film of said finger, which I was to bring to him directly in his office. Main registration was closed, so I had to go thru the ER registration desk. While I sat there filling out their paperwork, which I had to have them do for me, as said finger was on the hand I write with, a tech came over & took my blood pressure. I went off to radiology, by myself, on foot and 20 minutes later, film in hand, walked the block away to my ortho.
A month later I received an ER bill for $965. It was a courtesy notice. This was what they sent to my insurer. My share was going to be $200, for an ER visit I didn't have. To add insult to injury, this didn't include the cost of my X-ray or its reading. That was a separate bill. I fought this and got everything reversed, but then I was an MD on staff at this hospital. How many people would have simply let this go? ER care is about the most expensive health care there is in this country. It's over utilization will bankrupt us. It's one of the crises in health care that's in dire need of being addressed.
So, descending from my soapbox, I did call an osteopathic colleague of mine who's treated me in the past. She'll see me tomorrow. If the rib is out of place, she can put it back where it belongs. If it's broken, not so much. I will have to grin and bear it for the next 4-6 weeks.
In the meantime, I'm off to the gym. Worry not, I'm running gently, not lifting. I may be crazy, but I ain't stupid.
Oh, and my celecoxib (generic Celebrex) is holding me for pain.
