u/Adept-Dig-1748

Hi. I'm an American that is abroad. I visit dentists when abroad to get teeth cleaning done depending on which country I'm in.

The dentist that I am seeing, I have went to many times previously and he is regarded as one of the best. So a few months ago, I had some bleeding in my upper left gums after brushing. I had neglected brushing many nights a while back and used mouthwash as a replacement which I know isn't good. I then continued to brush my teeth daily in the morning but many times did not do this at night. I didn't go see the dentist for this and that was a mistake of mine as I think a teeth cleaning probably might have worked for this?

Not long ago, I was brushing my teeth and recall doing so with a toothbrush that got very bad... imagine the brittles of the toothbrush spread out. I got lazy and didn't go and use a new toothbrush. I recalled when I brushed my upper left area, I then felt pain and there was blood. Not only that, if I put my tongue area and touch that upper left gum area with my tongue, I felt like a horizontal line? I didn't look in the mirror and opened my mouth to see what it was though. If I touch that area with my tongue, I do feel some pain.

I then went to the dentist to have it looked at and to have my teeth cleaning done. I got cleaning of my teeth done. I was then told that I needed to get teeth filings done and it was the area above my 3 teeth on the upper left gum area. So I need 3 fillings.

I believe the term was called teeth abfraction? I googled and forgot if I was told teeth abfraction or teeth abrasion. Does anyone know which is it based on what I described? I was told this issue can't reverse itself or resolve on it's own so I have to get 3 fillings done which I'm fine with. I never had any fillings or anything like that done for my teeth so this is all new to me. The dentist told me the cause of this was I probably brushed my gum or teeth very hard that caused it which I believe was most likely the case.

The thing is, is it possible I have had this abfraction or abrasion for months or that isn't possible? Months ago, if I was to use my tongue and lick the top upper left gum area, there wasn't any line or anything like that. I felt this line a few weeks ago after brushing a bit too hard with my bad toothbrush. So this abfraction or abrasion was probably for a few weeks right?

The other thing is this. At the moment days after he did a cleaning of my teeth, when I touch the upper left area with my tongue, I don't feel the line that much anymore. Not only that, when I touch that area with my tongue, the pain isn't that bad anymore. This is normal though after a teeth cleaning right?

So after the 3 fillings are done, then I'm fine usually? I read if a dentist recommends you to do filings, always do it because if you don't, it can get much worse as you don't want to do a root canal in the future right? The thing is once you have an abfraction or abrasion, you always have to do a filing right?

Male in my late 30s/early 40s. I'm an American and been traveling abroad for many years. I do visit the US a few times a year before going back abroad again. I work online and you can pretty much call me a digital nomad. The issue is I don't make much... so by that I mean $25,000 or less usually. But it could be more or less than that and the thing is my monthly income varies a lot. It could be negative or nothing or a few thousand. That isn't much at all in the US but enough when traveling abroad in countries where rent and expenses are much lower.

I have no health insurance and never paid for health insurance. The last time I had health insurance was when I was 24 and under. I believe that is medicaid right? I remember back when I was young, anytime I saw a doctor or had to get medicine or anything, I didn't have to pay anything. I had no job and no income at the time and was young so I qualified for it.

I do visit doctors while abroad and pay cash for it. The costs to see doctors here is a lot less than in the US. Procedures here cost much less as well.

The thing is I'm most likely planning to go back to the US and stay in the US. I will still work online and will probably have to live in at my parent's house for a short while until I figure things out. The thing is what health insurance is recommended to buy for someone like me that never bought health insurance? I would want it for emergencies since I know any big events can cost a lot of money. Though I did read a lot of people say paying cash for thing is actually better? But that is only if it isn't a huge event right?

I also have some issues now where I might have to probably get surgery depending on how my MRI's look so I do not know about that. I'm currently outside the US at the moment.

The thing is I read about medicaid but the thing is your total assets in your bank account can't be over a certain amount right? I did check the income limits for my state and I would definitely be over it in some months. Even though my income is low every year, I do have money saved in the bank throughout all these years due to my low expenses when abroad but it isn't that much. So that would automatically disqualify me right?

I'm curious but are there people that know they have health issues and suddenly stop working so they have little to no income and then apply for medicaid? Like they know they have issues where they might need procedures done. The thing is if they don't have much money saved in the bank, that would work for them? But if you have money in the bank, well that wouldn't work right? Like you can't withdraw money from the bank to get your assets low as that would be not allowed right?

How much would a health insurance plan cost for someone like me for something that I want? When I read how people pay $1000 a month for health insurance, that is like half my income on average which is way too much. Would it cover say any future procedures or not? Like if I think I have issues now already, is that a preexisting condition? I am not for sure on this because I didn't get MRI's done yet and some other tests like blood tests and similar.

Is there anyone here that has a meniscus tear but without any pain but have clicking? Only an MRI can confirm a meniscus tear right or an x-ray would work as well?

5 months ago I went into the shower and twisted my left knee. When I went to bed and laid down and moved my left knee up and down, there is now a clicking sound that was never there. You can check some of my older posts. Went to an orthopedic doctor few weeks later and was told I didn't test positive for meniscus tear but to get a simple MRI of my left knee without contrast if I wanted to be sure. I was going to do that but then I started reading and looking at MRI's online and got hesistant and didn't do it. I have a clicking sound when walking up the stairs with my left knee now.

Then a bit more than a month later, I foolishly was carrying a pack of water with my left hand in a very awkward position. I was carrying groceries in a reusable grocery bag with my right hand. I walked a lot and when I got back to my apartment, my upper left arm felt very tired and numb. It's still like this months later but not as bad as when it first happened. I have cracking on my left arm as well which was never there before it. I didn't see a doctor because I thought it was a nerve issue or muscle strain but now concerned if I might have broken or torn something.

Then a few months later as I was walking down the stairs, right at the last step, I landed very awkwardly on my right knee. There is now a clicking sound that was never there. I didn't go see an orthopedic doctor. I don't seem to have any pain on my left or right knee.

I am planning to go to see an orthopedic doctor to look at all these issues again. I am planning to probably get 3 MRI's for each issue. I know I need a referral for an MRI before I can get one.

I like to know, does anyone here have a confirmed meniscus tear from an MRI but no pain at all? What about clicking? The thing is if I didn't have any clicking, I wouldn't be concerned. The clicking for each knee happened a bit after the incident. The thing is my left knee issue happened like 5 months ago. My upper left arm issue happened like 4 months ago. My right knee issue happened like 2.5 months ago. The thing is I read some people could have a meniscus tear for weeks or months or even years without knowing? So is it possible I have a tear for both knees? The thing is when I go to orthpedic doctor and get MRI for each knee, if it shows I have a tear or anything like that, what is the likely chance I get recommended to get surgery? The thing is I don't have any pain. I do know that the clicking on each knee happened right after the incident. So I have to have at least ligament damage?

Has anyone here done multiple MRI's in one day at a location without any issue? For example, a simple MRI of the left knee without contrast and a simple MRI of the right knee without contrast. Then a third MRI for your left arm?

I don't know the exact name of the MRI for the left arm but I do believe those would be the two MRI's for each of the left and right knees.

How would they do this if you have multiple MRI's?