Laurel & Manu.. about that numbness thing

[lickerish]

did you ever find out what was the matter? I haven't been around much to know if there is a thread dedicated to it.

The reason why I ask.. a few months ago or so, these weird bruises appeared on my left foot.. now they are tough and leathery feeling. The whole foot has a very mild 'falling asleep' feeling, and if you press on those patches I get a very numb/ tingling sensation. I have the same 'asleep' feeling aross the back of my shoulders. It is not painful, but it is bothersome.

In the last few days, my toes have been going numb and the 'asleep' sensation has spread up my shin to my knee.

I was just curious if this was similiar, and what the doctors had to say.

(I'd go to the doctor, but I don't have one, or health insurance for that matter)

 

[Chuckus]

I ain't no doctor but that does not look good Lickerish.

I have had problems with "numbness" in my arms and in my legs. Though I know what causes it. I have permenantly pinched nerves or nerves that got severed and will never grow completely back (car accident) and thus get the numbness in my feet and in my fingertips and down my left arm. Some days it is really really bad and others I do not even notice it.

I dunno, maybe is it some sort of edema (is that the right word?)?

*looking around for a doctor in the house for lickerish*

"Oh doctor where are you?"

 

[PacificBlue]

Have you considered a public health clinic and some Dr.'s offices will let you pay off the bill in installments as well as some hospitals, I believe the Providence system is one here in Oregon...you'd have to check. I know I'm paying off a bill through Providence in installments. I don't have health insurance now either. It's a pain in the rear end, I know.

I'm not a Dr. either but that isn't normal though and especially if your getting bruises after no trauma to the specific area...I'd get it checked out. Especially the numbness/tingly feeling.


PS - Cute toes btw!

 

[Chuckus]

Wish I could help more...........but I have no clue. Somehow I don't think the numbness and bruising are related though you are the once experiencing it not me. Will think good happy thoughts for ya.

 

[lickerish]

well, I broke my ankle 2 years ago in a traumatizing trampoline accident

I have this competitive streak in me.. I was trying to outjump the guy I was with.. HAHA.. anywho, he ended up taking the bounce away from me and I landed on that side of the foot that you see the briuse on. But that was 2 years ago..

Nothing has happened to that foot since then. At first I thought it was just calloused from wearing sandals.. but a pumice stone won't take it away like it does on my heels.

As you can see, my foot & ankle are swollen too.

I don't want to go to another doctor and have to make payments.. I still owe a grand for my surgery bill from a few months ago. But the way it feels right now, I just may have to.

 

[Dhalgren]

Yeah..numbness usually stems from nerve issues...but it could be a circulation thing..are your toes bluish..or speckled with a reddish tone?


The skin being leathery...totally stumps me. But after a few months..and if it's only getting worse, maybe you could consider just going to an urgent care facility.

 

[OUTSIDER]

You know our National Health system can be a pile of shit at times but at least it's there when you need it, I truely cannot fathom how the richest country on earth can let it's own people suffer like this

 

[lickerish]

I'm a single mom, albeit a working mom.

I make too much for state aid (ie. free medical) and not enough to pay for my own insurance.

 

[Starfish]

Lickey, I am worried about you now!

I am not sure what causes this, but I get this 'bruising' and then numbness too! That is so fucked.

I get it in my arms and even my lower back.


Manu, when you respond to this, please indicate if there are or ever have been any bruises that arise on your body.

I asked about this to my doctor and he shrugged. He even saw them and he thought I was mutilating myself.

I hate pain!

Anyway, I worry about Manu alot, and now YOU and CHUCKUS!
This is shitty.

Anyone else have this wierd shit go on?

 

[Dhalgren]

I agree Outsider..it's just fucking incredible.

Make too much money and you can't get aid..but if you are under the poverty level, you'll be sitting in a free clinic with very sick people for 6 hours..

Either way..you'll suffer!

If you can afford insurance..it's usually an HMO..like that's a good idea.

My mother needed a specialist..and the black tape just to get her HMO to approve of one..made her so much worse before they actually began to do anything for her....



Aghh..nevermind..it just sucks, pure and simple!

 

[OUTSIDER]

I'm a single mom, albeit a working mom.

I make too much for state aid (ie. free medical) and not enough to pay for my own insurance.

That sucks............a real life catch 22.

 

[Chuckus]

I hate pain!

Anyway, I worry about Manu alot, and now YOU and CHUCKUS!
This is shitty.

Anyone else have this wierd shit go on?

Well Starfish, I only have nerve problems due to severed nerves and shit from a car accident (which coincidentally broke my back in three places) and the doctors said it might never heal. They said they can do surgery and it MIGHT help. No one is touching anything to do with my back in any way by means of surgery UNLESS I find it to be abso-fukin-lutely necessary for my survival.

It actually does not *bother* me as much anymore as I have gotten used to it. Though there is one spot in the middle of my lower back that I have not felt any sensations in since the accident.

No biggie, I am a big boy. Thanks for your sweet concern. I am more worried about Licky. That just sounds bad and I am quite confused as to what it is.

 

[shadowsource]

Outsider -

You know our National Health system can be a pile of shit at times but at least it's there when you need it, I truely cannot fathom how the richest country on earth can let it's own people suffer like this

I'm beginning to think that Americans have a Calvinistic aversion to helping the unfortunate, or even simply accepting that a social safety net is desirable. A lot of people here view poverty - or any financial shortcoming, like not being able to afford health insurance - as a likely punishment for stupidity, laziness, life choices. This is comparable to the instinctive way that many Americans see disease as some sort of punishment for bad behavior (too much of something, anything).

Conversely, wealth and health are seen as heavenly entitlements. And when you see stats like those that show how many more MONTHS of hours Americans work than citizens of such other advanced industrial countries as Germany and The Netherlands, you begin to see the whole pattern. We live to work, and if that work doesn't give us the things we need, it's our fault as individuals. It's perceived as what we deserve.

And you know what? It sure makes people work hard. Fear rules!

 

[OUTSIDER]

You know we love to bitch and moan in the UK but I've never moaned about paying my National insurance tax cause it payed for the hospital where I was born and it payed for the hospitals where my mother passed away and my father had his heart bypass surgery, I think people need to stop looking at it as a safety net and start seeing it for the altruistic compassion it really is.

Wasn't Clinton going to do something about public health when he first got elected way back when.....whatever happened to that plan ?

 

[Chuckus]

Too bad what politicians say to get elected fall by the wayside as soon as they get in the office. Clinton was a wuss and didn't want to go against the big insurance boys who were paying him under the table. Wussy Bill. That is my two cents anyways......

 

[lickerish]

ooh... you just touched on a sore spot w/ Lickerish.. rant ahead, watch your head.

(Outsider.. my whole freaking life is a catch 22..)

"or any financial shortcoming, like not being able to afford health insurance - as a likely punishment for stupidity, laziness, life choices"

Shadowsource, that comment really upsets me.. Not you saying it personally, but the comment in general is bullshit. It is a common misconception here in the good ol' US of A as well. I work my ass off for a bit over minimum wage so that I don't become your typical single mom statistic.. I have been able to successfully live on my own, with my kids, without their father to depend on, for close to 4 years now. Sometimes it was easy, othertimes I was fearful of losing my home. The first year.. I was on state aid, getting cash assistance, food stamps and medical. I was 19 years old and their dad took no responsibility for our daughters. I had just moved out of my parents home w/ my 1 and 3 year old daughters and I was too stubborn to ask for help from them. My monthly rent for my apartment? $11. I was living easy back then when the state just handed over $500 a month.

After nine months, I got a job bringing home $300-400/ month. I still received all assistance minus less cash, but was now receiving daycare assistance.

I worked for 2 years, became a supervisor of a retail store for 3/4 of that time. I made less than a dollar over min. wage.. but I was proud of myself for being less of a statistic.

(btw, this statistic I am taking about is the single mom w/ multiple kids, sitting on her ass collecting welfare checks. I hate it! I was pregnant most of my junior year of high school and I was one of few to stay in school. I did not endure 11 boring years of school just to drop out and not get my diploma. When I walked across that stage.. I was 3 months pregnant again. However, I have a high school diploma to be proud of when my kids get older and want to know my history.)

I quit my job at that store because I got so sick of the office politics. I was not getting paid what I was worth, I decided I was better off going to school. So that I did. I went to college for 1 year.. full grants.. school was completely paid for. I said school.. not bills. By the time I hit the one year mark I got so burnt out, and needed money so badly that I stopped taking classes and went back to work.

So here I am. I am working 40+ hours a week for about $2 more than min wage. I do not get cash assistance. I do not get food stamps. I do not qualify for medical (my kids ARE covered w/ insurance that I pay for.. but it is too much for me to have any). I only get assistance for daycare, but I'm almost tempted to tell the state to take the check and shove it where the sun don't shine because I pay more than they do. In fact, this is what is killing me here.. a whole 2 week check goes to daycare alone. Here I am, working 40+ hours, paying somebody else to raise MY kids. I would give anything to raise my own kids, but if I do that, I lose my home. It is really sad when I have to pick which bill gets uppaid each month... car payment, phone bill, electricity, groceries.. my car company hates me! lol.. oh well, KIA sucks major ass anyways.

So here I am. I am not stupid. I sure as hell ain't lazy. The life choices I have, are not really my choices.. more like what I am forced to do. If I could find an employer that wants a hard working, determined woman.. that will pay me more than my measily $9.60/ hour. Then I will jump at the chance, but the fact is.. that 'job' is not there. I am not 'qualified' enough and they are not willing to spend some time to train.

Oh, and folks? The above story.. not even half of what we go through to survive here. I know it's not just me that goes through this shit. But when people throw that statistic in my face, or something that resembles that above quote, ya better run for cover.