[pct-l] Trail Injuries and the ER

[at2002 at mac.com (Gary Wright)]

In 2004 I ended up with a stress fracture in my left foot at the
Oregon/Washington border.

I went to the Hood River Hospital at first and then after resting
for a few days to a podiatrist/sports medicine specialist.

I should have gone to the sports medicine specialist first.
The ER staff was great but expensive and while they could rule
out a clean break via an X-ray they were pretty limited in their
diagnostic skills beyond that.  The specialist was a hiker, gave
me a much more conclusive diagnosis, and cost a lot less.  Stress
fractures can be hard to diagnosis since they don't show up on X-rays
until they start healing about 14 days after the break.

It seems reasonable to go to an ER when you are out of town but
unless it is an emergency situation, you are better off locating
a clinic or local doctor who can see you instead.  If appropriate
I'd head for a sports medicine specialist also rather than a
general practitioner.

Just something to keep in mind.


Gary Wright (Radar)