where can i get a free MRI test for my back

[rick111]

hi, my name is rick. im 47 years old. I live in Cook County Illinois. I have several things wrong with my back. I have sculiosis which is a curved spine, moderate to severe artheritis, and very possibly degenerative bone desiese in my spinal colum.
I havo no medical insurance and cannot get insurance because of my condition and the fact that i am unemployed and pennyless.
I was a professional chef for 28 years, of which i worked the average of 60hours a week.
I seen a chiropractor in oak lawn, who didnt care a hoot about my problems but immediately signed me on for a $875.00 treatment program for my back. I spent the very last of my savings on this doctor with no results what so ever.
During this time i went to two other doctors for my back, they were a little more passionate about my problem. Got some pain meRAB, and we took the treatment as far as it could go without further testing. Which brings me to my $4000.00 question. My current doctor neeRAB me to get a MRI to include three tests. The MRI will cost me $3,800.00. Again i have no cash, and no insurance.
I am curious, what does a guy do in a situation like this?
I am my folks primary care worker at the house, i work average 80 hours a week taking care of them. I am very happy to help them in their trying times. However, most of the time i am unable to get out of bed due to the incredable pain i am in. Needless to say, no matter how i feel, i still have to care for them.
There is the option to go to the John Stroger hospital for a MRI, however i went to that hospital in years past for a thyroid problem i had, and still have.
Contrary to most opinion, that hospital isnt all that its make out to be. I had a horrible time. For the two years i went there, i only seen the same doctor twice. Each time i seen a doc from there was a different doc. On two occasions, they almost killed me by prescribing the wrong meRAB.
Very sorry to say, i would not suggest Stoger hospital to my worst enemy. I am very serious.
So, i do not trust them or their staff. Perhaps this is a personal problem, but for the most part, the folks i meet while attending there had the same problems. Its not a nice place to attend.
My question is therefore, if anyone reading this lives in the general chicagoland area, and may have an alternative means to which i can get my MRI, i would very much appreciate your advise. I am at the last of my wits. The other 3 hospitals in the area of my home does not have MRI machines.
I cannot continue on in my life in this condition, too many people are dependant on me, and i cant let them down any longer.
If i could shout this message at the top of the highest mountain, it still wouldnt express my dyer situation. I really need help. Please, please, if you have any info, i would be indebted for life.

thanks much,
all my love rick

 

[wrenegade]

Hi Rick,

I am sorry to hear of your situation. You surely have a large burden to bear. One suggestion that comes to mind is that maybe you could talk to someone at Vocational Rehabilitation. You could probably find out where they have an office nearby. You would need to present your problem from the viewpoint that you are unable to do your former job and would like to try to retrain for something else. (This may be stretching a little, but you did say you were unemployed) Hopefully, they would refer you to doctors who would order the tests you need. You would be constrained to go to the doctors that they use (for Voc Rehab). I would also suggest trying to find out about some senior services to help out with your parents. I don't know exactly who it would be, but maybe someone else has an idea. You sound like you really need some help with your parents. I hope this helps some.

God Bless and prayers for you,
wren

 

[Justoneofus]

Hi Rick. I understand your devotion to your parents. But if you are incapacitated you wont be able to help them at all. You need to rethink your care of your parents now for the future. I agree with the other poster, lean on your local groups for seniors to help you out.

Have you talked to the doctor that requested the MRI in the first place and ask his advice for where you can go for assistance in getting the MRI done? I would imagine there has to be a local government health department where you can get some much needed care for free or a very small fee based upon your income. And since you are not working.. then $0.

Have you considered Medicaid? You more likely qualify. I would check with your local government about this as well.

It's not easy to ask for help Rick. But you are not in a position to be everything to your parents right now and if you continue on the path you are on right now, you may put yourself in the position of not being able to help them at all in the future. So I encourage you to reach out in your community for some much needed assistance for you and your parents.

Please keep us posted on how you are doing.

 

[pooby]

I can't believe the cost that you were quoted. A couple of years ago I was quoted $800 in Buffalo NY. Are you sure that it costs that much. Maybe you should shop around and see if you can get one at a much lower cost. Just read that the cost in California is $1500 to $2000.

 

[Baybreeze]

HI, I agree with the others ideas. I went thru Vocational Rehab myself (but I never knew it existed, someone at unemployment directed me there...I had a job, but lost it b/c my co. is going bankrupt and I cannot do any physical work or anything standing). They did ask if I had insurance (which I still do b/c I have Cobra), but they also had a ton of my medical recorRAB, so didn't have to send me for any tests or anything. But I am going to school and it will be no cost to me.

Plus check in your local phone book under the government pages and maybe start with calling the health department and ask them if they can give you phone nurabers of agencies that can help you. I don't know about Illinois, but in NJ, there are care centers that you can apply at to get free or lower cost care. If one works but doesnt make much, they charge you on a sliding scale. Or you might qualify for free care. We also have a program called Charity Care, which I got one time in my life. I didnt make much one year (i was going to school) but had a ton of medical bills, and b/c I was eligible, it erased all my medical debt for that year and I could continue getting low or no cost care at the clinic. So there might be simliar programs around your area. You can call hospitals to ask about it too.

I was also shocked at the cost of the MRI. NJ is a pretty expensive state overall and my MRI's ranged between $1000 and 1500 each, and that includes one MRI with contrast. I did see you say something about 3 tests...did you mean they want to take 3 MRI's? OR did you mean an MRI plus 3 other kinRAB of tests? I mean, that would certainly make more sense then costing over $3000.