Renewed my Gold membership as well - hope you get well soon and that the support from all the forum members will brighten your day at least a little bit!
PLEASE READ Forum Boss Limited Availability Because of Medical Issues
- Thread starter Forum Boss
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Forum Boss
Administrator
Want to express my appreciation to all who have upgraded or sent a separate donation. Thank you so much!
It's been tough. I've been in a wheelchair, but haven't been able to go outside my four walls without help because of exit stairs on all doors. Trying to get a ramp installed, at least in front.
The bills are mounting. I got my first ER patient co-pay bill for $1378. There will be at least five more ER co-pay bills. I don't know what my full medical out-of-pocket will be -- but could be significant ($15k+) with the 4-hour surgery, follow-ups and rehab, even after Medicare coverage. I will get my 4th cast in another week (they have to saw off the cast each time to view the injured foot). One med rep expected total medical costs (before insurance) to exceed $75,000. No weight bearing/driving for a long time .
I also just paid a $5000 retainer to a lawyer.
The reason for the lawyer is that the injury was caused by a reckless driver in a large SUV pulling into my path in front of my house. The driver then drove away without identifying herself. We have the license plate number, but the local police in CA will not release her info, and I haven't been able to get it from the DMV. So we don't know if she has any insurance.
Guys, if you haven't upgraded yet, now is a great time -- it will really help me keep this site going and hire help as needed. With Gold ($50) or Silver ($25) you get unlimited Classifieds for 12 months. Compare that to Gunbroker, where you'd pay $26.50 for a SINGLE $500 sale. Don't believe me? Check it out:
It's been tough. I've been in a wheelchair, but haven't been able to go outside my four walls without help because of exit stairs on all doors. Trying to get a ramp installed, at least in front.
The bills are mounting. I got my first ER patient co-pay bill for $1378. There will be at least five more ER co-pay bills. I don't know what my full medical out-of-pocket will be -- but could be significant ($15k+) with the 4-hour surgery, follow-ups and rehab, even after Medicare coverage. I will get my 4th cast in another week (they have to saw off the cast each time to view the injured foot). One med rep expected total medical costs (before insurance) to exceed $75,000. No weight bearing/driving for a long time .
I also just paid a $5000 retainer to a lawyer.
The reason for the lawyer is that the injury was caused by a reckless driver in a large SUV pulling into my path in front of my house. The driver then drove away without identifying herself. We have the license plate number, but the local police in CA will not release her info, and I haven't been able to get it from the DMV. So we don't know if she has any insurance.
Guys, if you haven't upgraded yet, now is a great time -- it will really help me keep this site going and hire help as needed. With Gold ($50) or Silver ($25) you get unlimited Classifieds for 12 months. Compare that to Gunbroker, where you'd pay $26.50 for a SINGLE $500 sale. Don't believe me? Check it out:
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Paul, all the best. So sorry to hear of this situation. You've made an amazing forum for exchange of ideas. Heal up as quickly as possible, sir.
I'm a new member and looking forward to participating. I'm also a retired Surgeon and that is a bad injury. Good luck and God bless. Prayers are with you.
Hope you continue to heal and you are back to 100% real soon. It's a hard matter to be confined when you are used to being active but try to take care of that foot. Hope you are able to get help from the careless driver. Secondly, hope members continue to contribute to your cause to help with the unwanted expenses left over from Medicare.
Boss, how 'bout an update?
You mending well? Getting back to normal?
You mending well? Getting back to normal?
Forum Boss
Administrator
Thanks guys for your concern.
It's going to be a long haul. I am now two months from the injury.
I am still getting around via a wheelchair.
I'm on my 4th cast (get a new one every 2-3 weeks). I will have a hard cast for another six weeks. Then a hard boot for a couple months. My doctor is hoping I may be able to be full normal load-bearing (and walk with a cane) in late December.
Other than visiting Doctors I have not left the house in two months. I won't be allowed to drive until I am able to partial load-bear on the left leg.
Likelihood of permanent pain/disability in left foot. Maximum recovery will take 18 months. There will be no "full" recovery because of the amount of bones broken (9) and the need for fusion.
The CA DMV has still not released the name of the person who caused the accident. I've hired a lawyer at considerable expense. The main reason is to seek insurance to provide for medical costs that might not be covered by Medicare.
All 5 metatarsals broken (one in two places). All 3 cuneiforms broken (one in 3 pieces), and cuboid fractured. The surgery did a fusion of the middle metas and the intermediate and lateral cuneiforms. Bone graft was taken from knee to do the fusion.
In the diagram below all the pink bones are broken, and all the cuneiforms and the cuboid. This is about as severe as a Lisfranc injury can get.
It's going to be a long haul. I am now two months from the injury.
I am still getting around via a wheelchair.
I'm on my 4th cast (get a new one every 2-3 weeks). I will have a hard cast for another six weeks. Then a hard boot for a couple months. My doctor is hoping I may be able to be full normal load-bearing (and walk with a cane) in late December.
Other than visiting Doctors I have not left the house in two months. I won't be allowed to drive until I am able to partial load-bear on the left leg.
Likelihood of permanent pain/disability in left foot. Maximum recovery will take 18 months. There will be no "full" recovery because of the amount of bones broken (9) and the need for fusion.
The CA DMV has still not released the name of the person who caused the accident. I've hired a lawyer at considerable expense. The main reason is to seek insurance to provide for medical costs that might not be covered by Medicare.
All 5 metatarsals broken (one in two places). All 3 cuneiforms broken (one in 3 pieces), and cuboid fractured. The surgery did a fusion of the middle metas and the intermediate and lateral cuneiforms. Bone graft was taken from knee to do the fusion.
In the diagram below all the pink bones are broken, and all the cuneiforms and the cuboid. This is about as severe as a Lisfranc injury can get.
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Ridiculous, how such information could be deemed "secret" and worthy of withholding, if the cause was clear. Hopefully your attorney will whip this part into shape, along with recompense for the outlay for the lawyer bills. Damn.
I hope your recovery continues to go okay. Never know, with such things. Myself, I've got an age-old injury (soft tissue) that has meant a lifetime of problematic movement depending on the activity. Isn't any fun to cope with. But it beats the alternative.
Chin up, though, as one of the earliest outdoor activities you'll be able to do will be ... wait for it ... shooting. I guess that's something. (Just get a buddy to do that tacking-up/down of targets.)
Stay safe and healthy, FB.
I know I'm late to the party on this one and sorry to hear. Believe me when I say I do have some knowledge on what you are going through. Back in 2009 I took a minor fall/crash off-road on a KLR. I didn't return to work for more more than I would have liked. If they haven't mentioned it yet, you will be able to tell when the weather is changing and it will remind you every day that it did happen. As previously mentioned follow the doctors instructions. Give things time and when appropriate, get physical therapy. Hopefully no complications.
Forum Boss
Administrator
Good news and bad news. I did get the hard cast off last week. That's a relief. I now can start PT with a large walking boot. Also, we did finally get the name of the driver who caused the incident -- a 79 year old lady.
Bad news. It appears the fifth metatarsal did not seat properly. The base (ankle side) is now pushing outwards against the tissue and is painful. I don't know for sure, but this may mean a second surgery, and another 8 weeks in a cast.
After Cast Removal 9/12/23 ^^
This is called a LisFranc injury. Typically with a LisFranc one or two metatarsals are cracked. In my case all FIVE metatarsals were broken, along with all three cuneiforms, and the cuboid. This was about as bad as it can get, and required extremely complex reconstruction. It just looks like the outside Meta didn't hold.
Bad news. It appears the fifth metatarsal did not seat properly. The base (ankle side) is now pushing outwards against the tissue and is painful. I don't know for sure, but this may mean a second surgery, and another 8 weeks in a cast.
After Cast Removal 9/12/23 ^^
This is called a LisFranc injury. Typically with a LisFranc one or two metatarsals are cracked. In my case all FIVE metatarsals were broken, along with all three cuneiforms, and the cuboid. This was about as bad as it can get, and required extremely complex reconstruction. It just looks like the outside Meta didn't hold.
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nakneker
Gold $$ Contributor
Seems like the medical bills are mounting up and that picture hurts. I’m making another donation tonight, usually I donate to help the site but this is not for that at all, I hope you use 100% of the donation to help with this journey your on. I admire your attitude, you have a lot of on your plate. Please know we are all pulling for you!
Squirrelhunter17
Gold $$ Contributor
I’m sure a lot of members would be happy to help as we all enjoy the hard work the boss has done to make this such a great forum.
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That’s freaking ugly!
Sorry Boss I can’t push like. I’ll just wish you the very best moving forward, I was involved in a head on years ago while riding my Harley- creep had no insurance just a smart mouth, I tried to sue him but never got a dime.
GWS
Jim
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