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I have a buddy who is self employed in Florida. She does graphic design for a couple of places, but doesn’t have any insurance. Recently the one company no longer needed her so she’s just down to the one place and odd jobs. So money is very tight right now. So of course she breaks her finger over the weekend playing football. She has it wrapped and doesn’t want to go to the doctor cause of the cost. Any advice or something she can do? I told her if she went to the ER they have to treat her. She can worry about the bill later. She’s in Miami. You’d think there’d be some kind of free clinic or something. I’m betting she’s being stubborn though.
Posts: 2845 | Registered: Oct 2003
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Tell her if she wants her hand to be functional enough to catch a ball again, she needs to get it taken care of.
Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
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Do not go to an ER unless it is a real emergency. It ain't free, and you will be billed at several times the cost of treatment elsewhere. And they usually demand immediate full payment -- ie within their next monthly billing cycle -- with the alternative being an almost as immediate turnover of the bill to a collection agency.
Most Urgent Care clinics and general practitioners will work out a reasonable payment plan for services rendered. Check for free clinics through county social services or local charitable organizations.
That being said, unless her finger is obviously twisted out of alignment, deeply discolored, etc -- ie more than simply swollen and bruised -- there's a good chance that she'll just get x-rayed, with no further treatment beyond what she is probably already doing; light immobilization and non-use. At least that has been my experience.
Posts: 8501 | Registered: Jul 2001
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Ok, now she tells me that her roommate’s doctor friend looked at it. Though no x-ray and said it was a fracture, but not broken. Huh? I think she misunderstood something, but anyway…. He splinted it up and what not. Asked her if she’s taking anything and of course the hard head isn’t. I told her she really needs to get some ibuprofen on board to help with the swelling and also the pain. Oh well. If she doesn’t listen now it’s her own thing.
Posts: 2845 | Registered: Oct 2003
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She probably means it was fractured but not dislocated, or was a hairline fracture. Splinting is standard treatment for a non-compound fracture of the finger. Just make sure she takes it easy and keeps it on long enough.
Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
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