Why should I pay for an Xray if I know what is wrong?
By TriciaW
@TriciaW (2441)
United States
June 18, 2007 6:58am CST
I hurt my foot last week and it is a very long story but I knew I broke it. It was swollen and I couldn't move my toes but the foot has so many little bones and I knew that there was really nothing they could do except wrap it and keep it elevated. To varify my assumption I asked a friend of mine who is a nurse if there was anything they would do if someone broke a bone on the top side of the foot. She said no they can't do anything except keep it still and elevate it. She then looked at my foot and my toes and said yes it looks broken you should come in for an Xray. I said well you said there isn't anything they can do she was like well yes but you need to know if it is broken. Of course others around decided they should join in on trying to get me to go. I laughed at all of them and said hey I have iced it, elevated it and wrapped it to keep it from breaking worse. There isn't anything else they would do except charge me money to tell me what I am doing. So would you go in and pay for an Xray? Or would you be stubborn like me?
6 people like this
15 responses
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
18 Jun 07
well ya that is one nice thing about living here in canada...stuff like that is paid for in our taxes...
but i had a similar occurance and went to emerg...they told me it was broken...and gave me crutches etc ...
the only reason you should get xrays if you feel something is broken is to see how severe the break is...
1 person likes this
@egortizv (225)
• United States
18 Jun 07
i agree...you know its broken but you need to know how badly it is broken...it could be more severe than you think. Also, if it doesn't heal in the right way...some bones could re-attach to the wrongs ones or stay jumbled forever. =)
just get an x-ray.
1 person likes this
@anonymili (3138)
•
18 Jun 07
God forbid that should happen to me, sounds painful, I hope you rest it well and that you get better soon. I guess I would be VERY hesitant to go hae an xray when they've all confirmed that nothing can be done apart from wait for it to heal. In the UK we don't have to pay for x-rays so it wouldn't be an issue but if we had to pay, I totally understand you being stubborn, good for you, I'd be the same! x
1 person likes this
@azimsay (543)
• India
18 Jun 07
I went for market for buy some things.I wallked by road some one dash me and I fell down so hardly.I can not woke up my legs are eaking so badly.My bone was not working properly,I know what happend with my legs then there no quistion for xray.
@tredale (1309)
• Australia
18 Jun 07
triciaw sorry about you foot been broken, I can tell you a short story about my friends broken foot that might help you to deside. He didnt get it xrayed either then a couple of years down the track he woke up and his whole foot was bruised he went to the docs and got it xrayed and the brake hadnt healed very well so they rebroke his bone in his foot and it took nearly a year and half after two surgeries to straighten out. It would have only take 6 weeks if he had of got it done in the first place. He still get pain in it now 3years later.
@saierchok (1294)
• United States
18 Jun 07
it is important to make an Xray, they should see the shape and direction of the fracture in order to know how to bandage the foot.. many think that it's for extra money but actually it's for your own sake!
1 person likes this
@hersheyskiss (761)
• United States
18 Jun 07
Tricia, you should not be stubborn and go to get the x-ray because if it is broken, they will be able to see how bad and set the bone so you will not have problems with it later, because if it is not corrected it can heal wrong and out of place, to cause even more problems.
@brandonknies (305)
• United States
19 Jun 07
been there. done that. i ripped my finger in half on a table saw, and went to the er to get it sewed up so i could work the next day. they decided to make me take an x ray, and then try to whack me $750 for it. i didnt' pay. it wasn't my choice. so i didn't pay. i knew the bone hadn't been cut.
@Foxxee (3651)
• United States
18 Jun 07
I would go in for an Xray, only because I know someone that broke his foot, he fell off a roof, but long story short, he didn't want to go in, but he finally did and he had to have surgery. Sometimes you don't get a clean break and surgery might have to be an option. Not all breaks require a cast, some actually need different care.
It's up to you though, you just never know what kind of break it really is unless you get an Xray.
@spiritwolf52 (2300)
•
19 Jun 07
Four years ago I had broken a bone on the top of my foot. I went to the gp, they sent me for x-rays and nothing showed up. I complained for over 4 years before they did anything about it. I ended up having surgery and a screw put in as they had to re-break the bone and graft it back together along with inserting the screw. I was in a leg cast for 6 weeks. My foot is still swollen and the pain is still there. Since they waited so long in treating me, I now have arthritis in that foot. I live here in the UK so it doesn't really matter where you live, they still don't tell you the truth.
If I were you, I would have the x-ray. You would know what you are dealing with then. They should put you in a cast as that is what they usually do. I know as I have been there. Get it checked out.
@sadgirl_1958 (1088)
• United States
19 Jun 07
I would be stubborn like you - but at the same time - I know that getting an Xray is the most prudent thing. Yes, there is little to be done - but you may need a cast or a brace - which is more than you can do on your own.
@pelo26 (1552)
• Philippines
18 Jun 07
I'd go and take the x-ray if I were you. X-rays don't cost that much and it gives the doctors a more accurate view of what really is broken in your foot. I'd rather spend a few dollars now than spend a lot more later for a more complex procedure if the injury becomes worst. Don't be stubborn Tricia... Take the X-ray. Cheers!
1 person likes this
@wachit14 (3595)
• United States
19 Jun 07
Where broken bones are concerned, an x-ray should be taken so I'm siding with the nurse on this one. However, if you have no coverage, x-rays can be very costly. It's just a shame that someone has to make that choice at all especially where a person's health is concerned.
@sreejith93 (12)
• India
19 Jun 07
we should take x-ray to know the extent of the damage
we only know that the foot is broken but by an x-ray we can see any complications
@nnsb75 (632)
• United States
18 Jun 07
still good to go for x-ray coz you'll never know if there is a blood clot going on on your swollen foot and you might end up having an infection because of that so thats gonna be a bigger problem to deal with.
