Typically better to go to primary care physician or urgent care - anyone know???

[Just Kate]

I think I may have a stress fracture in my foot. The pain has gotten worse over the past week or so and now it hurts all the time when walking. I hate going to the doctor and and especially all of the costs associated (I have high deductible insurance). I'm just thinking...smarter (ie cheaper) to go to Med Express today or wait until tomorrow and go to my primary care physician?

[Danestress]

I think I may have a stress fracture in my foot. The pain has gotten worse over the past week or so and now it hurts all the time when walking. I hate going to the doctor and and especially all of the costs associated (I have high deductible insurance). I'm just thinking...smarter (ie cheaper) to go to Med Express today or wait until tomorrow and go to my primary care physician?

I would wait until tomorrow and then call my primary about whether to go to him or straight to the orthopedic specialist.

[Just Kate]

Thanks! Waiting a day and calling is smart. :)

[KungFuPanda]

I don't need referrals, so I went straight to an orthopedist when I had stress fractures. They don't DO anything. Once they confirm you have a stress fracture, they just tell you to stay off it. I got crutches and something to stabilize my foot. I took OTC pain relief. I'd never had a stress fracture before so I didn't really know what was happening. It was so painful that I was sure something more serious was happening. The only way to know is to get it checked out, but in my case, spending a week on the couch would have been as beneficial as my office trip.

[displace]

If you didn't have a known injury and don't currently have warning bell symptoms (like tingling/numbness/change in color or feeling anywhere in your foot), you may be able to lay off and deal with pain meds.  Most primary doctors don't have xrays in the office, so you'd have to get an early/morning appointment, then go to a radiologist, then figure out what the diagnosis is (if it's broken).  If it's broken, you will get a referral to an orthopedic surgeon at their next available slot but also a script for pain medicine.  Get a copy of your xrays to bring with you to the orthopedic surgeon if possible.   

 

The downside is if it is broken and the bones are not aligned properly, it may need surgery/manipulation, and the sooner the better for those injuries. 

[momto10blessings]

If you need an X-ray, I'd go to the place with the X-ray. Our urgent care has them but the primary dr does not

[happypamama]

I like my PCP a lot, but for sudden problems, I can't always get in to see her that day, as she doesn't always have spots available, so my choice would be to see her PA that day or to go to the walk in clinic anyway. In that case, I'd go to the walk in clinic today rather than wait until tomorrow. It usually depends on the reason we need to see someone. For my asthma flaring, I'll go to our PA so that they have my chart handy, but for something like your foot, I'd just go to the walk in clinic. Me have multiple types of walk in clinics here, one of which is specifically an orthopedic place, and the system's website tells you which of the three places you should go to, based on your symptoms and age. Around here, my doc, the walk in clinics, and several of the hospitals are part of the same system, so the insurance that works for my doc will work for all of that stuff, and they will all coordinate and send follow-up care to my doc too. And from the limited experience I have had, the price for PCP or clinic is about the same. I also think it would be fine to call your doc tomorrow (or call their on call doc today to see if that's even something they would treat in their office) and see what your doc wants you to do.

[QueenCat]

I'd probably go straight to the orthopedist. We don't have to get a referral so I tend to skip the middle man when I know which specialist I'll need to see.

[Just Kate]

Ugh! A few weeks ago, I wore some not-so-comfy sandals two days in a row for a work thing. My foot started hurting a bit right after (the fifth metatarsal joint). I didn't think much of it and just thought I irritated it. It has hurt on and off all this time...it's not bruised and not really swollen (maybe just a bit! but not at all like I'd imagine for a fracture). Just yesterday it started hurting every time I walk, but there is no pain hen I'm sitting. I didn't even consider a fracture until dh suggested it. It just doesn't seem to hurt bad enough for a fracture! But the pain is definitely getting worse...but only when I'm on my foot. Ugh!!!

[KungFuPanda]

If memory serves, a stress fracture won't even show up on regular x-rays.