I don't know what to do. I used to be quite a bit more active here a few years ago, but then I moved forward but always had a sense of community here. I stalk the forums every now and again but I haven't been posting so much. I went to Madagascar on my mission and left my post maybe 3 or 4 years ago? Not quite sure, just happy to be out.

Honestly, I am in desperate need of help and wanted advice. I can't pay my bills. Two and a half weeks ago I started getting the worst pain of my life in my leg. I can't walk, and the doctors have only given me pain killers up till now and I haven't shown any improvement (it actually was worse yesterday and I had to use my wife who is 5'3" and weighs almost nothing to prop myself up while walking). I can't pay anything since I'm not working. I will be trying to go on disability leave, but that takes away all the bonuses I had for working. My Taxes should have come back about now, but they are being delayed for whatever reason. I have absolutely no money and my mortgage is due in 4 days. Student loans in 9, then my car and insurance and then I don't even have money for groceries. Any kind of advice helps.

My family isn't in a position to help if you tell me to talk to them. All I can do is cry when the pain flares up and when I think about not having money. I feel like a failure and I'm sure I'm depressed which makes everything worse.

Have you applied for welfare or disability? Does your doctor know you spent time in Madagascar? Have you seen a tropical disease specialist?

YOu should be able to call to get student loans deferred for one. What about some food stamps and cash assistance, or TANF? sometimes that helps. I have to use those in cases like this.

Sounds like gout. Go to urgent care and get a cortisone shot.

So you fall behind in your payments... If you can get back to work, you can catch up.

Ya gotta figure out what's wrong with the leg. Just getting pain meds is ridiculous!

There are very odd diseases you can pick up in the tropics. There are worms that can get into your toes if you've walked barefoot and will settle in your legs and grow. This could be a complicated case.

As soon as you can, contact your creditors.

Most will work with you. Many have programs in place to help.

Many credit cards and banks have programs to let you skip a payment for a small fee tagged to the end of your loan.

Student loans may be deferred for up to 12 months. Contact your lender.

Utilities may have a program to assist with payments. Let them know your needs are medically related.

If a car insurance payment is coming due contact your agent.

If you have certain types of life insurance, you may be able to borrow against it. See your agent.

For immediate cash please avoid a payday lender.

If you have any old, broken or unwanted jewelery you could sell it. If you are in northern utah I recommend Cascade Refining. I know many people who used them. They pay close to the metal valu. About 5 times the amount you'd get from a casb fir gold place.

Check stores that buy vintage items. They may want your old clothes or knick knacks.

Try your local online yard sale sites. My kids have sold old gzmes, electronics and baby items or furniture within hours of posting.

Best of luck to you.

So sorry this is all happening. For help with food, contact a local food pantry. Another suggestion is to go to a swimming pool when the pain isn't there, do exercises, swim. If nerves are being pinched, bones are out of alignment, this will possibly help. Getting out, getting exercise will also do wonders for your depression.

Hope things soon improve.

You are getting good advice upstream.

I heartily second the food bank. Google, "community food bank" for your locale and see what's available. Also, give Catholic Charities a call. They may be able to help you or direct you to further community resources.

I think you need to get to the bottom of what's wrong with your leg. Do you have a diagnosis? If not, you need one. If your physicians up until now have not been able to help you, see if you can get a referral for a physician who is affiliated with a medical school's teaching hospital. I assume that you are using elastic bandages on your leg, but if not this may help along with heat or ice packs as needed.

Is your wife working? She may need to seek employment to help the both of you get through this. A temp agency or retail store might be just the thing.

Good luck and keep us in the loop.

What was your name when you were here before?

You got your pain two and a half weeks ago, did you have a job then? Does your wife have a job? Are you out of work on disability? Usually it kicks in after two or three weeks. If you have a job can you get vacation pay to cover your expenses?
Just wondering.

So sorry for your pain and problems. Many states have a 2-1-1 service that will help you quickly locate some services you may need until you get back on your feet.

One of the most stressful things is not knowing where to start and feeling overwhelmed. Once you calmly sit down together with your wife, and hopefully she is fully aware of the scope of it already - and start making a plan of where to go, who to call etc, and you and your wife begin working together on your list, it will become less stressful. It doesn't all have to be on you.

Sounds like a trip back to the doctor should be at the top, since you are in such pain and it's causing all the other problems. Then obtaining phone numbers of creditors, calling creditors, getting info on local emergency services etc - or the food bank first if you're totally out of food.

I was having pain in my legs that moved around. Sometimes the left leg, sometimes the right, sometimes the calf, sometimes the thigh. It was excruciating. My doctor had no clue. Other people told me to check out sciatica pain and it fit my symptoms. Look it up to see if this might be your problem too. I saw a chiropractor which helped some.