A Healthcare F'rinstance

[madamesilverspurs]

In the present economy, I might be luckier than most. Thanks to disability I have Medicare coverage. So, when I fell yesterday I got to go to the ER for ice packs and X-rays and CT scans. I left with a bruised and swollen knee, a swollen ankle, and a fibula broken at the bottom. I was sent home with a splint and instructions to make a follow-up appointment with an orthopedist. Can do.

The interesting part is the logistics. The injury requires that the leg bears no weight at all, yet the hospital no longer has a facility to rent crutches to patients. So after spending half an hour figuring out how to get me into my friend's car for the ride home, we stopped at Walgreens to cough up $50 for crutches; I'll get $10 back if they're returned in good shape. Now, it's been 40 years since I was last on crutches, but a little instruction in their use would have made some sense; but the hospital no longer offers that, either. I have to admit, it was a bit daunting negotiating the stairs just to get into my home. It's going to be even more interesting negotiating those stairs when I go to see the doc, especially if the promised snow leaves itself all over the stairs (and, no, my landlords don't shovel said stairs).

Adding what has to be some measure of amusement to all this is the logistical puzzle that must be mastered every time I need to use the bathroom. Try getting up from the stool without putting weight on both legs. It would be much easier and safer with one of those elevated temporary seats, but that's not something Medicare will pay for; and the money I had left for the rest of this month has already gone to Walgreens for the crutches.

The conundrum is this: Medicare will pay for the ER visit and 80% of the subsequent doc stuff. But sending me home into a situation where I'm more likely than not to exacerbate the injury because I don't know the proper use of the crutches and can't find a way to use the bathroom without putting weight on the injured leg - is it me, or is there something screwy with that formula?




edited to correct terminology...

[LynzM]

1. You broke your femur and they sent you home??

Seriously? That's really wrong.

[madamesilverspurs]

3. Fibula, actually.

Guess I still have problems with F-words, thanks for the heads-up! (I corrected it in the OP)

[LynzM]

4. Ah, that makes a bit more sense!

Still ridiculous, I think, but a little less absurd.

I'm sorry that you're dealing with this with what seems like so little help... hang in there; I hope you heal quickly. :hug:

[jmg257]

2. Whew - I remember when I used crutches no one showed me "going down stairs" and I catapulted myself

down, well more like "over", a whole flight and into a closet at the bottom...be careful!!