I may have broken my elbow

[Anonymous]

My heart goes out to you OP. I hope you are aware of and take advantage of resources available to help victims of domestic violence, especially since you have children.

https://www.thehotline.org/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=domestic_violence

https://www.alexandriava.gov/DomesticViolence

https://vsdvalliance.org/






In the near term, please go get an x-ray.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here -- I was able to get a video consult with a Kaiser nurse who considered that, after four days, and that I had mobility in my arm, it's not a broken elbow, just really badly bruised.

My challenge is that I am right handed, and it's my right elbow so I need to use my arm to work (type, mouse, etc.). And it's very painful, still, after a week but from what I see online the bruising can take up to six weeks to settle out.

I may get the xray to be sure it's not some sort of hairline fracture. I'm new to Kaiser so the online nurse didn't have access to my other ER visits at INOVA, nor did she really question what happened and for that I'm grateful. I don't need the third degree. I just need a solution to my pain.

[Anonymous]

Broken elbow PP here. If you still have pain, please get an in person visit & Xray - it's probably not just the bruising that is causing pain. Even if it's a hairline fracture, you need a few weeks of immobilization in a half cast. But, it could also been torn ligaments, or a bone chip.

Immobilization is kind of a pain, but you can still wiggle your fingers. Use disability/accessibility hacks for work - speech to text for writing. Maybe there's a touch screen device or plug in track pad that you can get from work that would be easier to operate than a mouse?

If you work at a company with an HR office, there might be someone who can help you w/ accessibility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here -- I was able to get a video consult with a Kaiser nurse who considered that, after four days, and that I had mobility in my arm, it's not a broken elbow, just really badly bruised.

My challenge is that I am right handed, and it's my right elbow so I need to use my arm to work (type, mouse, etc.). And it's very painful, still, after a week but from what I see online the bruising can take up to six weeks to settle out.

I may get the xray to be sure it's not some sort of hairline fracture. I'm new to Kaiser so the online nurse didn't have access to my other ER visits at INOVA, nor did she really question what happened and for that I'm grateful. I don't need the third degree. I just need a solution to my pain.

How could the nurse possibly know?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it just the ER you’re trying to avoid, or all doctors? You can go to a Patient First or similar for an x-ray. If nothing else, get a sling and immobilize it. I fractured my elbow from a fall a few years ago and it took forever to heal. It did a weird clicking thing for a full year and a half after the incident. Good luck!

OP here -- I don't want any ER-type encounter going into their one-over-the-world-everyone-can-see-everything-about-you system because I've had some other ER visits in the past with broken bones. This was with INOVA... I am now with Kaiser so maybe it will be different. I don't know.

Can anyone. translate this? I don't think it's my learning disabilities keeping me from understanding this one.

Nowadays, with things like MyChart, OP’s ER record will be seen by future providers, even if they are totally unrelated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it just the ER you’re trying to avoid, or all doctors? You can go to a Patient First or similar for an x-ray. If nothing else, get a sling and immobilize it. I fractured my elbow from a fall a few years ago and it took forever to heal. It did a weird clicking thing for a full year and a half after the incident. Good luck!

OP here -- I don't want any ER-type encounter going into their one-over-the-world-everyone-can-see-everything-about-you system because I've had some other ER visits in the past with broken bones. This was with INOVA... I am now with Kaiser so maybe it will be different. I don't know.

Can anyone. translate this? I don't think it's my learning disabilities keeping me from understanding this one.

Nowadays, with things like MyChart, OP’s ER record will be seen by future providers, even if they are totally unrelated.

^^if they use MyChart.

[Anonymous]

Nowadays, with things like MyChart, OP’s ER record will be seen by future providers, even if they are totally unrelated.

^^if they use MyChart.


OP here -- yes, this exactly. My Chart is great but not so great if you still value your privacy. No worries, no one threw me down the stairs, I literally just mis stepped in the dark (because I'm old and can't see in the dark). I have an x-ray scheduled to see if it's actually a hairline fracture. The bruising is turning yellow, the swelling has gone down but the pain point on my elbow proper is still pretty high. So we'll see.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it just the ER you’re trying to avoid, or all doctors? You can go to a Patient First or similar for an x-ray. If nothing else, get a sling and immobilize it. I fractured my elbow from a fall a few years ago and it took forever to heal. It did a weird clicking thing for a full year and a half after the incident. Good luck!

OP here -- I don't want any ER-type encounter going into their one-over-the-world-everyone-can-see-everything-about-you system because I've had some other ER visits in the past with broken bones. This was with INOVA... I am now with Kaiser so maybe it will be different. I don't know.

Can anyone. translate this? I don't think it's my learning disabilities keeping me from understanding this one.

Nowadays, with things like MyChart, OP’s ER record will be seen by future providers, even if they are totally unrelated.

So what's the alternative? You just lie when you fill out medical forms? Do you say no previous injuries, hospitalizations, medical incidents?

One problem with incomplete information is that it makes it harder for doctors to make an accurate diagnosis. If they have fuller information e.g. several years of blood test results, heart monitoring, scan results, mammogram results, blood pressure measurements, etc they might be able to spot patterns and diagnose chronic or acute problems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nowadays, with things like MyChart, OP’s ER record will be seen by future providers, even if they are totally unrelated.

^^if they use MyChart.


OP here -- yes, this exactly. My Chart is great but not so great if you still value your privacy. No worries, no one threw me down the stairs, I literally just mis stepped in the dark (because I'm old and can't see in the dark). I have an x-ray scheduled to see if it's actually a hairline fracture. The bruising is turning yellow, the swelling has gone down but the pain point on my elbow proper is still pretty high. So we'll see.

What if you have osteoporosis or similar, which doctors might suspect if they could see that you've had multiple fractures. If you keep skipping between hospital systems to maintain your privacy, this might go unnoticed.

[Anonymous]

OP it's a sad way to live actively denying yourself medical care because of what I suspect is a history of domestic abuse. Please get medical care.

[Anonymous]

It's taken you 6 days and counting not to get an x-ray yet?