Can I get these PF treatments more affordably?
July 21, 2017 1:56 PM Subscribe
I posted a while back about having had severe plantar fasciitis for over two years. (Link to that post below). My doctor and I agree that I've tried everything short of surgery, shockwave, and PCR (plasma replacement). I'm hoping to not have the surgery, but I'm trying to figure out how I can pay for other treatments. Difficulty level: low income meets Medicare.
My original post with more info about my condition is here. The gist is that I've tried all the usual treatments (custom orthotics, new shoes, taping, stretching, steroid injections, months of physical therapy,the list goes on) and am still in constant pain. I had an MRI done, and that did show damage from chronic PF.
So now my doctor and I are trying to figure out what to do because I'm at my breaking point with the pain. I had hoped to avoid surgery (and its very long recovery), but I'm running into problems with the cost of alternative therapies. Medicare won't pay for shockwave treatment, which would be $1500/session with no idea how many sessions I'd need. (Medicare considers shockwave experimental and that's their rational.) I would really like to have the plasma injections, but again, we're looking at around $1000/treatment session, and they can't tell how many sessions I'd need or it if would help.
I am on SSDI and very low income, so I feel like I'm being forced into having the surgery based on financial reasons. I feel like there are resources out there that I'm missing, like places where I can get either the shockwave or plasma done on a much lower cost. I live in southwest Virginia, but I can easily and gladly travel wherever. I don't know if there are community clinics anywhere that offer these treatments or have really good plans to help low-income patients. Are there places where I can get these treatments done more affordably?
Again, I'd like to respectfully ask that folks don't answer with "Have you tried tart cherry juice?Have you tried night splints?" This question is about finding resources to help me make these interventions more affordable so I can avoid surgery. Thank you.
My original post with more info about my condition is here. The gist is that I've tried all the usual treatments (custom orthotics, new shoes, taping, stretching, steroid injections, months of physical therapy,the list goes on) and am still in constant pain. I had an MRI done, and that did show damage from chronic PF.
So now my doctor and I are trying to figure out what to do because I'm at my breaking point with the pain. I had hoped to avoid surgery (and its very long recovery), but I'm running into problems with the cost of alternative therapies. Medicare won't pay for shockwave treatment, which would be $1500/session with no idea how many sessions I'd need. (Medicare considers shockwave experimental and that's their rational.) I would really like to have the plasma injections, but again, we're looking at around $1000/treatment session, and they can't tell how many sessions I'd need or it if would help.
I am on SSDI and very low income, so I feel like I'm being forced into having the surgery based on financial reasons. I feel like there are resources out there that I'm missing, like places where I can get either the shockwave or plasma done on a much lower cost. I live in southwest Virginia, but I can easily and gladly travel wherever. I don't know if there are community clinics anywhere that offer these treatments or have really good plans to help low-income patients. Are there places where I can get these treatments done more affordably?
Again, I'd like to respectfully ask that folks don't answer with "Have you tried tart cherry juice?Have you tried night splints?" This question is about finding resources to help me make these interventions more affordable so I can avoid surgery. Thank you.
Best answer: Could you possibly travel to Mexico for these treatments? I hope someone who knows more about medical tourism will respond, seeing as I know nothing, but I found this link for shockwave and this for PCR.
posted by kitcat at 3:59 PM on July 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by kitcat at 3:59 PM on July 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Are you talking about Platelet Rich Plasma? If so, then two things-
One, you need to make sure they are using a PRP system that isolates the correct type of cells in order to promote healing. There are lots of docs who will spin blood in a test tube and just 'eyeball it' and draw up the injection. Not cool. Ask lots and lots of questions about their procedure, what type of cells they will be injecting, if they are using ultrasound guidance.... Many docs are using PRP injections as a cash cow and literally have NO IDEA what they are doing- for example, there's a video on YouTube of a dermatologist using a U225 injector and she's clearly NOT injecting PRP but that's what she's calling it (it LOOKS like Platelet Poor Plasma, but who knows.)
Two, most PRP kits are sold to the docs for much, much less that what you've been quoted. You might want to see how far you can negotiate it down.
I know that you've said that you've tried everything. Have you tried icing several times a day, every day for two months? 20 minutes of rolling my feet on a frozen water bottle 3 or 4 times a day every day really helped me turn the corner with my PF. A bag of frozen peas or a small ice pack is not going to work on this. It's inflammation, right? Reduce the inflammation to a point where your body can heal. Yes, at this point you have damage from long term inflammation, BUT.... maybe you can get a hold of this. I hope you give it a shot.
posted by PorcineWithMe at 4:30 PM on July 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
One, you need to make sure they are using a PRP system that isolates the correct type of cells in order to promote healing. There are lots of docs who will spin blood in a test tube and just 'eyeball it' and draw up the injection. Not cool. Ask lots and lots of questions about their procedure, what type of cells they will be injecting, if they are using ultrasound guidance.... Many docs are using PRP injections as a cash cow and literally have NO IDEA what they are doing- for example, there's a video on YouTube of a dermatologist using a U225 injector and she's clearly NOT injecting PRP but that's what she's calling it (it LOOKS like Platelet Poor Plasma, but who knows.)
Two, most PRP kits are sold to the docs for much, much less that what you've been quoted. You might want to see how far you can negotiate it down.
I know that you've said that you've tried everything. Have you tried icing several times a day, every day for two months? 20 minutes of rolling my feet on a frozen water bottle 3 or 4 times a day every day really helped me turn the corner with my PF. A bag of frozen peas or a small ice pack is not going to work on this. It's inflammation, right? Reduce the inflammation to a point where your body can heal. Yes, at this point you have damage from long term inflammation, BUT.... maybe you can get a hold of this. I hope you give it a shot.
posted by PorcineWithMe at 4:30 PM on July 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
It's a long shot, but have you looked into any clinical trials?
posted by oceano at 10:09 AM on July 23, 2017
posted by oceano at 10:09 AM on July 23, 2017
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posted by carmicha at 3:19 PM on July 21, 2017 [2 favorites]