I need medical help and cannot get it

[OldHiker]

I am a full timer and travel 10+ months a year. My "home" base is Daytona Beach. I am currently in California. Two months ago, in another part of California, I had severe pain running down my arm. I was in a small town called Joshua Tree and the only place I could see a doctor was in the small hospital emergency room. I was diagnosed with a pinched nerve.

I then went to Indio, California to seek a doctor who would see me. Not one doctor would see me or if they would, it was 2 - 3 months out. I move every week to a new location so this was not acceptable so I did not see anyone.

It is now getting worse. I plan to go to Albuquerque, where my son lives, to seek medical care. I called every neurologist and neurosurgeon in that city with no luck. All wanted a referral from my primary, who is back in Daytona.

Short of driving all the way across the country, 3000 miles, can anyone tell me what they did in this type of dilemma?

[fletch460]

Hiker, I would get to NM and go to the emergency room. Tell them you think you are hasving a heart attack. If you tell them you are illegal you'll get right in. Just kidding. Maybe stretch the truth a little, heavy chest etc.

[wa8yxm]

First.. Doctors not willing to see you may be the fault of your insurance..Many, epically HMO plans only pay "in house" doctors or seriously discount payments to outside doctors.

Second.. A chiropractor may be of assistance... OR not... In my case when that happened... IT was like magic.. I literly felt the pain drain away.

[bighatnohors]

You got a diagnoses - not a cure or instructions on dealing with the pain?
One has to remember before leaving the doctor to ask "what should I do if the pain gets worse?, what will make it stop? do I need a follow up?"

I'd go to an emergency room again.
You could have had been wrongly diagnosed.

[jacwjames]

My insurance policy was canceled due to the Government Healthcare Reform, it cost ~$400/month.

The cheapest policy I could find that had all my wifes doctors in the network cost $780/month. But that's another story.

The insurance is with Blue Cross Blue Shield, a fairly large company comprised of several state subsidiaries. I did ask an insurance what to do if I was traveling and they said no problem, just go to the Dr and that network would accept me being covered. Haven't tested this though so don't know if I will/would have a problem.

I suggest you call your insurance company and see if they can assist in finding a Dr you can see. If that doesn't work go back to the emergency room and make sure they refer you to a local Dr.

[BeachDude]

Get on the phone with your primary care physician back in Daytona. Ask him for a referral wherever you are. That will get you in immediately, today.

[az bound]

I look on the web and locate the nearest urgent care facility. Never had any problem seeing a doctor whenever necessary.

[bdickson]

Originally Posted by az bound

I look on the web and locate the nearest urgent care facility. Never had any problem seeing a doctor whenever necessary.

Yes, start with a "doc in a box".

[Mike and Cha]

Originally Posted by fletch460

Hiker, I would get to NM and go to the emergency room. Tell them you think you are hasving a heart attack. If you tell them you are illegal you'll get right in. Just kidding. Maybe stretch the truth a little, heavy chest etc.

That's why they have Urgent Care Facilities for just about every Medical Care plan out there. Lying or exaggerating is why hospitals are so jammed up and expensive anyway. Going to an Urgent Care is the best answer. Did you even call your provider, we have had issues on the road and they directed us to a facility and we only had our co-pay out of pocket expense. Even with a referral from your doctor you will not get in immediately for a non life threatening injury, often times even in your home State the wait can be several weeks to see a specialist.

[rjsupersonic]

Just go to the ER and tell them you have pain in your arm, they will see you.

[Mike and Cha]

Originally Posted by rjsupersonic

Just go to the ER and tell them you have pain in your arm, they will see you.

If you are referring to my post, that is not the point, the OP already knows it is a pinched nerve. Absolutely if you have pain in your arm and think you are having a heart attack the ER will check you out. But the other poster suggested he lie or exaggerate his symptoms when he actually knows what the cause is.

[MT4Runner]

Originally Posted by wa8yxm

Second.. A chiropractor may be of assistance... OR not... In my case when that happened... IT was like magic.. I literly felt the pain drain away.

Absolutely try chiropractic.

[beamisl]

OldHiker,


Search Engine (Laser Spine Surgery). They have numerous place around the country and see you without a referral. Literally laser spine surgery.


Another option though (and I have two spinal fusions) is to go to a sports good store that has an inversion bench. Ask to try it out before buying and if you have a slipped disc, it should pop back in. These are the benches that hook the ankles and put you upside down. I say this because even with 4 surgeries to fix my last injury, I was still in pain because my spine was so out of place from the accident.


A friend had an inversion bench and I was desperate.. I had 8 pops and cracks on this thing and got off it after the 3rd time and the pain was gone. Before going into the store, take a pain pill or muscle relaxer to relax your muscles so it will work.


I now have one of these benches and use it often. It keeps me off the pills unless I am having a real bad day. Good luck,


Lynne

[nothermark]

FWIW a pinched nerve is painful but not life threatening. All repeated visits to an Emergency Room will do is verify it is not a Heart Attack and get one told to see their Doctor.