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Hoosier
Members
1
Aug. 2004
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Aug. 19 2004,14:23 |
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Hello, everyone.
Key points that I'm trying to convey:
* Have had plantar fasciitis in left foot for several mos. w/out knowing what problem was. Didn't notice foot 'acting up' starting out in a.m. It would come and go.
* A strained ligament (or something similar) prompted me to seek out a podiatrist this past April.
* Doc didn't mention plantar fasciitis; just gave me a pamphlet on the subject and said, "Here; read this." So much for being informative. LOL She didn't mention heel spur, either.
* She mentioned arch supports and getting a new pair of shoes w/out saying how much custom-made supports would be thru her office. Found out soon thereafter they cost $500.00...
* Our ins. doesn't cover orthotics, and I couldn't afford that much $$.
* Told Dr. this at next visit; she seemed put off by this, but I stood my ground. She then wrote something on a piece of paper -- Power Steps. I found a store in that city who has them and bought a pair and put in a new pr. of tennis shoes (shoes purchased at Payless for less than $20/have cushioning for my feet).
* Followup visits were taking place once monthly; however, she was only taping my foot (to stablize it, I would guess), and I contacted her ofc. at one point to schedule the visits further apart.
* I'm supposed to be doing the foot exercises; she didn't 'prescribe' them at first visit but asked if I was doing them sometime thereafter. She hadn't given me a sheet that lists these exercises. One exercise involves rolling the bottom of foot using a soup can; other one involves using a towel stretched out across bottom of foot.
* A recent injury to that same foot/ankle occurred on 7/21, just almost a month ago. Went in for a look-see and had to see one of her male colleagues. Nice guy. An x-ray was performed; nothing broken. He gave me a Cam Walker. I neglected to find out if insurance covered it.
Insurance only pays 90%, and I would've also had to meet a $100 deductible, which I've already met. However, I couldn't afford the $300 balance.
* Called the billing dept. and explained my situation. The billing clerk spoke w/the male colleague, and he decided to accept whatever pmt. the ins. co. would make and forget about the balance. Sent him a thank-you letter.
* Had followup visit with female doc. She taped the foot again; told her it still hurt. I fell on it, aggravating the top of it. The male doc referred to it as a mid-something sprain. She said, "Well, we're not doing you a bit of good...[if we don't try to see if something else isn't wrong with it]", so she mentioned having an MRI performed. I asked her if ins. covers it. "All insurance companies cover it...."
* Had to call the ins. co. myself to get the facts. Even though they don't cover orthotics, they will cover some of the expense of an MRI. They'll cover 90% if the visit is coded as OFFICE. However, the place that has the machine is a facility, and they only bill a certain way.
* I went to the facility in person over a week ago and explained my situation. The woman said that I'd probably be responsible for $60 something. She said that if we went ahead and schedule it/they checked w/the insurance company, etc. and that ins. wouldn't come through, that we'd just cancel it.
* Husband's job is being phased out; he has until the end of Dec. left. The podiatrist did not say, if the MRI showed any sort of damage to my foot, if surgery would be necessary.
* I called the foot doctor's answering service and left a msg with them that I am not going to pursue the MRI and will not be seeing the doctor's office at this time but may get back in there in the future.
I don't want to get stuck with an enormous amt. of money; also, if surgery is required to fix something, I tend to be a slow healer and might have follow-up visits extending into a few months afterward. I don't look forward to any type of foot surgery if I can help it. I don't have readily available help in the event that I cannot walk.
If my foot does, indeed, have some sort of tear in it, and I chose not to have an MRI performed, can an injury like that heal by itself? I realize that different types of injuries require different types of treatment and that it would be difficult for anyone to assess my situation w/out having the MRI results sitting in front of them.
Any help will be appreciated.
P.S. I feel that the female podiatrist that I've been dealing w/is knowledgeable, but she doesn't take the time to give me any pertinent information that I need to know. She's in and out of the office in a heartbeat. She also is kind of on the argumentive side. I've never dealt w/foot problems before, and I don't like the fact that I may have to deal with the plantar fasciitis for years to come and will just have to manage it.
I may find a different podiatrist in the future if I keep having problems.
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Dr Foot
Super Administrators
425
Jan. 2003
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Aug. 19 2004,22:38 |
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Ok after reading your long post  I have few small suggestions. I have been treating patients with plantar fasciitis for over 10 years and the taping method of treatment is not a solution to the problem, it is only a temporary relief. The MRI will show the fascia muscle from different angles and can shoe up a tear, but if you had a tear then you would most likely know about it! A tear in the plantar fascia is very painful, walking 5-10 steps would initiate intense pain and this would not ease. With plantar fasciitis without the tear the pain dulls down after the first few steps and eventually becomes a dull ache.
This condition will heal without taping the foot. Make sure you have suitable orthotics in your shoes and sandals at all times. Use reusable cold packs that you put in the freezer and then ice your heel twice daily. Other treatments include the heel pain night splint and silicone heel cups. Keep doing the exercises to stretch the heel muscles very gently.
Good luck with your condition.
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