[pct-l] Trail Injuries and the ER

[jolson at olc.edu (Jeffrey Olson)]

In 1992 I had to leave the trail at south lake tahoe.  We visited a 
sports medicine doctor who diagnosed a torn ACL.  He charged $50.  
Unfortunately while getting up from the table I felt/heard a tweak/sound 
in my back.  Two hours later I was in agony and spent three days at a 
motel while my girlfriend partied with the owners.  It took two years 
for that back injury to heal...  Beware how  you get up off examining 
tables...

Jeff Olson
Martin, SD

Gary Wright wrote:

> 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)
>
>
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