Archive for July, 2010
No Surgery & No Massages
27 July 2010I never thought about how much my clients are a part of my life until now. I miss the interaction that I have with my Clientele. I have always appreciated the time I spent with each one, they are all so unique and have taught me a great deal. Even when there is no conversation, I have learned valuable information or taken a treatment technique to the next level.
I didn’t need surgery, thank goodness. The second opinion rocked, this Dr. was surprised that surgery was the only option given to me. So I of course I gladly accepted the cast over metal plate and screws.
My wrist was in extension when caught, so my flexors are strained and my radial/carpal ligaments are sprained. Both tips of the radius and ulna are broken. The radius styloid process was displaced but within acceptable perimeters for the Orthopedic Dr., and the ulna tiny tip was not displaced at all. So the most affected muscle was my brachioradialis or elbow flexor that can assist pronation and supination. It is the middle muscle that separates the forearm flexors and extensors. So I can not extend my elbow fully (not yet).
The cleat on the boat that my elbow got stuck on, was about five centimeters in diameter and gradually increased in circumference. Upon impact the cleat went through my skin almost an inch and made contact with the posterior humerus. My arm was trapped until my sister pushed us away from the dock. My triceps tendon seams to be just fine so everything is just bruised up. I got six stitches, I had them removed last night and all is well there.
It amazed me at how fast atrophy set in. This happened on a Friday, and I saw the Orthopedic Dr. on Monday. When he unwrapped my arm to cast it, it looked like that old man grandpa’s skin on the Simpson’s, wavy and gross. Each day the swelling goes down is a day closer to getting a waterproof cast and x-rays to check my bones progress. I have better results each day with lymph massage, even through the cast. I need to get better at ice, I was good the first 5 days but the cast makes it harder to feel the results of the ice. I keep hearing my therapeutic self telling me the unseen benefits, so I will try and do better.
Self Employed With No Health Insurance
19 July 2010I tell you what, I would be in a world of hurt if I didn’t have My brother-in-law and sister to help me. An injury is never expected, but when it does occur, what is your plan? Yup you guessed it, I am out of commission for 4-6 weeks.
It was a beautiful day to go boating. Not so fun to brake your radius and get stitches. So far I have had to cancel two weeks of appointments because I had two weeks set aside already for vacation. Now its to heal and recover.
I go in today to see if I need surgery. Wish me luck. All I know is I really need to heal strong and fast.
Whats your plan? Do you have Health Insurance? Or do you have a savings account set aside just for emergencies? Some Liability Insurance companies have discounts to health insurance companies. Make a plan before its too late.
Insurance Fraud and Massage Therapy
6 July 2010Insurance claims are about 90% of my Massage business. I never really thought about what might happen if I tried to take advantage of the Insurance companies, because I just could never do it. I have even been told by a client who missed her session to bill the insurance anyway, she didn’t want me loosing out on my time lost. I politely told her I could not do that, and that my schedule worked out somehow, not to worry about it. Clients do try their best to make there appointments. I do have a no call no show (NCNS) policy for frequent offenders, a 30$ fee. I have never implemented it because I have not seen the need as of yet. Most of the time clients just give me a really good tip the next time they come in because they know that I could have gotten someone else in their spot if they would have remembered to call and cancel before 24 hours.
This article shed some light on the consequences of Insurance fraud. I know there are many other practitioners who are tempted to take advantage of Insurance companies. They think they wont get caught. Well I wouldn’t bet on it. Besides what kind of Karma are you setting up for your business as a whole? It is better to keep the Laws and Statues set forth, so your practice my flourish and grow.