A short while ago I posted asking how to get an idea of the cost of having a shoulder injury treated. So I thought I would follow up as a guide to those moving here of what medical costs in the US might be for something which seems quite minor, but which the medical professional seem unable to come to a definitive conclusion as the what the problem is. I also suspect the bulk of the treatment costs are yet to come.

So far it has been a visit to primary care doctor in January, who thought it was a trapped nerve in my shoulder and referred me to an Orthopedic specialist.

The orthopedic specialist said it wasn't my shoulder, in fact nothing wrong with my shoulder on the x-rays, but he thought a trapped nerve in my neck and referred me to a physical therapist.

13 sessions with the physical therapist and she decided well it could be a trapped nerve in my neck but it wasn't responding and in fact might be a trapped nerve lower down my back. Send note to primary care doctor and me back to him.

Second visit to primary care doctor Tuesday. He thinks it is a trapped nerve in my neck, but you know it could be your shoulder lets put a cortisone shot in the shoulder and see. If that doesn't work it is an MRI and if that shows the problem is a trapped nerve in the neck either another cortisone shot in the neck done using a fluoroscope or neck surgery.

So cost so far up to the visit for the first shot, but not including cost of that shot. $3185. Of which I've had to pay $1730. The best value was $8 for vicodin

We had a thread recently where we compared some common procedures and costs.

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=589358

Have you tried a chiropractor? This sounds like it might be in their area. My wife has been to two chiropractors (she didn't think much of the first, but likes the second) for a somewhat similar sounding issue. Some doctors do not believe in chiropractors so never recommend them.

I was going to suggest the same thing.
I finally went to one after suffering for 3 years with a shoulder injury, hurt to lie on it, hurt more not to.
I went to see him 5 or 6 times, and it was fixed, first time it worked for a few hours, next for a day or so, until I didn't need to go back again.
Now I go cause it helps my migraines, but I only see him between 1 and 3 times a year. and our insurance now cover it, we pay 20%, but he never bills he accepts what the insurance pays him

tut.. think of all the acupuncture you could've had for that.
Sorry it's not resolving easier.

Yep I know there is an acupuncture and chiropractor just down the road from us but it is the fact they keep thinking it is a trapped nerve in my neck, but are not really sure. I am concerned that if it is my neck a chiropractor or acupuncture could do more harm than good. Will say the doc was a dab hand at the cortisone shot no worse than a flu jab, I was expecting to at least be muttering under my breath.

What gets me it what it is costing while they try and figure it out, money being spent and no result. You should get a refund if the treatment doesn't work. Real point of my OP if you get ill you have to factor in the diagnosis costs as well as the cure.

I understand your frustration, but costs are incurred while they try to figure out what's wrong. If everyone got a refund when treatment didn't work (or a test turned out to be negative, etc.) that would bankrupt all doctors, labs, etc. I'd think.

I know that it isn't practical to do that, but definitely with the physical therapist I had the strong feeling the lets see if this will work attitude was being prolonged partly to generate income rather than wholly for my benefit. It doesn't need 13 hours of phyiscal therapy to see if it is going to work or not.

Back to the doctors this week, I see a trip inside an MRI machine in my future. Only $800 of my deductible for this year left, then the insurance company have to pick up 80% of the bill.

My 14 yr old daughter fell on the pavement and hurt her knee at the beginning of the year. After her moaning about it for a couple of weeks I took her to the doctor, who sent us for x-rays, which showed nothing. So then she was sent for an MRI which should she had damaged her ligament and cartilage and had a bone bruise. So off we go to the orthopedic specialist who gives her a knee brace to wear for 5/6 weeks. Total out of pockets so far $600

Yes but isn't that just because it is early in the year so maybe you are still fulfilling the deductible? Even is she hadn't had the injury, you'd have had to fulfill the deductible, just a little later in the year, on a later doctors visit...
Hope she is feeling better by the way..

Yes you're right, but our insurance just changed at the beginning of the year, from Aetna with no deductibles to Highmark/Blue Shield, so it's bit of a shock the the wallet.

Back to the doctor today to see what the next plan was going to be.

Asks me if the cortisone injection made any difference. I said it had, it hadn't resolved the problem but had made it about 60% better. He said. "Good I didn't think it would work. It is the muscle under the shoulder blade I guess it is inflamed and pressing on a nerve and the cortisone has help. Lets hope it keeps getting better" That was it for a $20 co-pay and about $132 for the insurance company to pay.

Went to local acupuncture clinic and arranged for some treatment. Should have backed my own judgment all along that it was my shoulder and not my neck as the doctors thought.