UPDATE: To in Pain Constantly

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HarleyGuy

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Hi Ladies, Thanks for your encouragement and advice. Pepper, I will ask my surgeon about that and see what he says. I know that when I first saw the hole he drilled in my spine on an x-ray it looked awfully big. Moldova, I did not mean to upset you and If they deny it again I will talk to a lawyer. You need to prepare yourself for your upcoming surgery and I truly hope and pray it is your last with the relief you need and deserve. I would not wish what we all are going thru on my biggest enemy. Both of you take it easy and rest. Moldova, please keep us posted about your progress after your surgery when you can.

Harley
 
Hello again Everyone,

Sorry but, this is going to be long!!!

Saw My pm doc yesterday afternoon late and here are the results of my EMG.
Radiculapthy in right leg again. This is what it primarly showed on my last EMG before surgery. I do not have any shooting pains from my back into my right leg as I did before surgery. The pain I have been complaining (I HATE THAT WORD) about since surgery is the pain in lower back at surgical site. If I do too much such as try to work or on my feet too long then I have pain in both legs. The last MRI I had in May 07 showed scar tissue encircling the
L4/L5 nerve root. But also showed good disc spacing. From what the EMG Doc, PM Doc and Surgeon have told me the pain in my back is DISC-O-GENIC pain. I have told them since surgery that I do not think the pain in my back is normal, but the Doc's all said it was and would get better. On Dec. 18TH it will be 1 yr since surgery & the pain is steadily getting worse. I do know from experience that mri's and myleograms are not foolproof. I was supposed to have a micro-d with 1 inch scar and ended up with laminectomy and 5 inch scar (not that scars bother me I have many and this is not my worst) but once he got in there the damage was worse than those tests showed. I have been waiting to get a myleogram for over two months. It was denied three weeks ago by work comp. That is why I had the emg. My doc did not want to put me thru both tests unless he had to.

For some reason W/C is fighting me. I have just received a report from w/c about another doctor who reviewed my case at w/c request. The report is 19 pages long and the only thing he states that I agree with is I am NOT addicted to pain meRAB. He even said I did not need the surgery. What? He says its all in my head. I do not need any meRAB and as of yesterday w/c is not paying for anymore. I have 6 days left on all of them, and the only script my doc gave me was for a taper down on oxy. 10/325 1 x 12 hours(60). He said his hanRAB are tied right now, even if he gave me a script they would not pay for it. The W/C review Doc said I could get thru this pain if I put my mind to it and was motivated. MOTIVATED, I have lost my career. I have tried to return to work twice and just can't do it anymore, not like this. I was told by W/C that since my injury was at work that they would cover my back for the rest of my life because no one else will cover me. AM I SCREWED OR WHAT??? I need a myleogram and they won't approve it.

I am fortunate to have the doctors that I do. My Surgeon is rated as the finest spine surgeon in Texas and regulary rated as one of the top 100 Doc's in the U.S. He won't do w/c cases for anyone other than my PM Doc. Just because of this kind of crap, the fact that my pm doc cares about his patients, he spenRAB as much time as needed with me, most times at least 45 minutes, As long as two hours. (My first visit after hours at night over at 8pm) and the fact that he gets things done. I haven't had any denials or delays by w/c until I reached MMI.

I have been told that W/C in Texas is the worst in the U.S.. You do not get settlements, just reasonable and medically necessary medical care. If you are lucky you get an impairment rating. Mine was 10%. All that really means is you get 3 weeks of checks for every 1% impairment at 75% of the state weekly average wage $377.00, in my case 30 weeks. I used to pay almost twice that in taxes alone every week. And Texas doesn't have state tax. I now have over $100,000 dollars of tools and equip. that I needed to do my work and its just basically now one big boat anchor.

My only hope is that now that I have proof of something going on they will approve the myleogram. I told my doc I was going to get a lawyer. He advised against it saying I have been doing w/c cases in Texas for 16 years it will only make it worse, slow it down even more and cost me money I don't have. I am so upset I could chew nails and spit bullets. All of the savings we had are going away, down to just one vehicle and my Harley, which I can't ride and will probably have to be sold soon. All of this just from twisting while removing a truck tire to do brake work. Just lucky I guess.

I am sorry for venting, ranting and raving, B&moaning crying, yelling, screaming & laughing. You just gotta laugh at it to keep your sanity. Oh wait, thats whats wrong with me in the first place. HA HA HA....

Thank you all for reading this and any advice or comments will be appreciated.

Harley.
 
Hi Harley,

I'm sorry that your having to deal with so much pain and w/c as well. I firmly believe that your rights need protected!! If your dr. tells you that theres nothing else they can do, after this, then please seek a w/c attorney. I tried being nice and thinking that they were to, then they sc***ed me. Don't wait to long and lose your protection.

Take care and hold your head up, hopefully everything will work out soon and you'll be on your way to painfree/ painless.
 
See one of the major problems with all of this stuff is that tests just don't prove anything. That is a fact.

Nerves can keep firing pain signals long after healing has taken place and that isn't going to show up on any test. Neurologist are only just beginning to understand the full implications of how our bodies transmit and convey pain to our brains and tests just don't show everything. There are more nerve transmitters than the main branches that you see on mri's or myleograms.

How many times to surgeons cut in and exclaim how they find things that just didn't show up in any of the tests that they did prior to surgery? It happens all the time. Most people that say they are in pain are not lying they are truly suffering and it is a humiliation to have to plead their case over and over to be heard.

Harley I hope that your Doc can do something for you. Please keep posting and let us know how things are going.

Luv
Pooby
 
I cant say anything else that the others here have not already. I am soo sorry for what you are going through and would never wish this on anyone. God bless and Good luck.. you are in my prayers and I wish you the best on EVERYTHING for your life. Keep your head up and things will improve. It may take time but I am sure that It will happen. Keep up the good fight. OH and get a lawyer for sure.

videogamecrazed.
 
Sorry Harley Guy my heart goes out to you. It is bad enough that you are still suffering with pain. On top of that you have to be fighting for your livelihood. Can you somehow afford to pay for the myleogram on your own and submit it? Would another MRI with contrast be sufficient?

Hugs
Pooby
 
Get an attorney. I was sent back to work by 2 w/c doctors and now I'm paying the price. Failed back surgery syndrome is the price I am paying. I waited, I listened in the beginning to their doctors and now I am in pain 24/7 and being denied a further surgery that could stop the pain. I have a doctor outside their group of doctors and they deny everything he ask for. The surgery was 3-4 years after the injury and now they have stalled over 2 years on a clean up surgery that my doctor says is necessary to correct issues of entrapped nerves. It took 2 court appearances to get the original surgery. Now we have been to court to get the second one. They want to settle, but have set yet another opinion appt. Tap your knee and tell you whatever the insurance company tells them to say. That my opinion. To look at someone and give an opinion on their condition is crazy in my book. There is a board on here that discuss SSD, SSI, W/C and insurance. It is at Disabilities... Might want to check it out. W/c is not on your side. IMO You need to protect your rights. Chronic pain is ugly. I can't take anything stronger than Norco. So I hope you can get some relief. One of the w/c doctors I saw almost 5 years ago told me that I was going back to work and that unless my back was broken I needed to get back to work and quit trying to act like the bums that don't work! He also told me if I got an attorney I would be sorry. (Well I did get one, and no I am not sorry.) I had two ruptured disc, fragments, and slight spondy. It wasn't broken, but is was a mess. 6 months later I did finally go off work and haven been able to return since. I probably have some nerve damage that can't be repaired. With w/c you have to hope for the best, and fight for the rest.
 
Thank you ladies for your replies.
I will let my Doctor have his week to see what he can do. If they still deny the myleogram I will contact an attorney, I have no choice. I have always liked my Pm Doc and Surgeon and have always felt they were doing all they could for me. My pm doc said dealing with w/c is a game. That is why he had me get the emg. He did not want to put me thru both tests if I did not have to and now that that test shows something still going on, they almost have to approve it. He said sometimes w/c is so stupid, they could have saved over $1500 dollars by approving the myleogram and not doing the emg. I just hope the myleogram finRAB something. I do know the pre-surgery myleogram did not show everything and when my surgeon got in there it was worse than he thought. It went from a micro-d to laminectomy and open decompression. I was supposed to go home the same day from the hospital but stayed the full 23 hours allowed by w/c.

My question is, the pain I have for the biggest part is in my back at the surgical site. If the last mri I had in May showed good disc spacing what can the problem be. I do have other problems with my back, ddd, stenoisis and osteoarthritis & something else, I would have to find the report, w/c denied all of these saying not related to work injury and my doc's say that none of these are causing me any problems right now. I guess we will have to wait and see.

Thanks again and you are all sweethearts for listening to me b&m. I hope all of you get some much needed pain relief and have a great week. I will keep you posted and please you do the same.

Harley
 
Harley, thank you for the well wishes on my thread. Just a thought, you might ask your surgeon about the possibility of the laminectomy making your spine unstable. Sometimes when they get in there they remove alot of bone and what they think looks stable enRAB up not being so. There is to much motion and sometimes the sciatica nerve will get pinched in the process.

I am thinking of you and lifting you up in prayer. Good luck and please keep us posted. We care.
 
Thanks Pooby & Chris for your replies and encouragement. :wave:

Pooby, I could pay for a myleogram but it costs upwarRAB of $6000.00 dollars and that is money I need to live because I don't know how long this will go on. I have health insurance but they won't pay for it.

Chris, I told my Doc that I wanted a Attorney but, he advised against it saying it would only make matters worse, slow everything down. He told me at the last visit to at least give him a week to see what he could do. He is well respected and it was w/c that sent me to him because my first Doc was an idiot.

He told me he knows something is wrong with my back but doesn't know if there is anything surgically they can do. That is why he neeRAB the test. Since receiving that report from w/c I am even second guessing myself, but my wife says no way. I have never been able to sit still, always doing something. She said that whats making me crazy. Because now I am not doing hardly anything anymore. I know I am depressed. When things used to get to me I would get on my Harley and just ride and it always made me feel alot better. cleared my mind & soul. My restrictions still allow me to ride but after 15-20 minutes I got to get off, hurts too much. That upsets me more so I haven't rode in over two months. :mad: Thats the really frustrating part. Before I had surgery, after I got hurt the pain wasn't really constant, yes I was sore but when I would do something and the shooting pains started I could move, lay down, or do something to ease the pain. Now if I do something like ride my bike the pain goes up and stays up, just because I get off the bike the pain does not ease up. I did not have these problems before I got hurt and I don't think I should have to live this way. W/C says they fixed my injury (broken disc) so thats it. I'm fixed. If they deny the test again I will contact a lawyer. No choice.

Thank you again for your comments they really do mean alot. I hope the both of you have a great, less painfull weekend. I will talk to you soon.

Harley
 
Hi Harley,
I read your Deceraber update now (I'm home sick today for ear drum rupture, but have LBP since 4/05). I really hope you have gotten someone to work with you. Your story makes me reel in horror at the worst that can happen. We all should write a book about this and get our healthcare system to pay for things. Regardless, your story is touching and I feel for you and how can a guy get better when he keeps getting cr@pped on by the state and insurance companies? In my own case, I think if I lived in athird-world country, my back pain would go away but I'd probably die of something else like unclean water :). Hope you are better and don't give up on your work yet. My uncle had some horrible sciatic problems back in the 70s. He wanted to kill himself every morning on the way to work but instead he got back surgery performed in 1979 and he's never been sorry that he had the surgery. And that was in 1979! Hope the w/c people got some laws (are there federal codes? DId you contact the department of labor to file a complaint cause I know that they take you seriously -- they will invesigate). go to www.dol.gov and see if you can file a complaint if you haven't got it worked out yet. Best of luck to you!
 
Yep that is so right,I'm stuck in the middle with WC too.I had to fight just to get my radio frequency done.I'm worried about loosing my meRAB.they want me to get surgery so I will be cured,yeah sure.you never cured from back surgery.Anyway harley get a lawyer don't be a fool.should had one from the start.the minute my WC refuses my lawyer ready to haul them into court and then they give in.I hate WC,they no good.always in hurry to to settle.I'm not ready to settle,my lawyer going for permanent disability.Chris what does MMI mean?also their independent doctor has 20% on me.
 
I am so sorry... I got upset reading your post. Unfortunately many people here will understand what you are going through since many of us had a tough time with W/C or SSD offices, etc.
You should get a lawyer, not doubt in my mind. Don't listen what their DR tells you, this is so unfair.
I had my car accident and insurance sent me to their DR and guess what - he said that I am absolutely have no damage and I need to treatment without even lookinig at my MR or other tests!!!
Meanwile I needed 2 levels fusion and a lot of other things done during 9 hours surgery. I am going now for 4 levels on Dec.20th
So do what you have to do and don't give up!

Good luck to you!:angel:
 
Hi Harley. Well, let me say one thing. Unless your doctor is or was a practicing lawyer in WC in your state.. I think it was very inappropriate of him to steer you away from ensuring that your rights are being protected.

I work in the legal system, but will state that I know little of the WC world. Even though it may add "red tape", in the long run you MUST protect yourself to the fullest under your state laws, by securing an attorney to help you with that.

There are way too many "what ifs" and if lose out because you didn't seek legal counsel, is that doctor going to be there to pickup the slack? I seriously doubt it.

At the very least, get a consult with a W/C attorney and then at least you have much more gained knowledge, which is always power.

My 2 pence worth! LOL. All the best to you.
 
Hey 22,
MMI is Maximum Medical Improvement. When the docs decide that you will not improve anymore and that this is the "best" you will ever be, nothing else can be done. Hope you are feeling a little better!

Deb
 
Hi Deb
so then I can't even continue with any meRAB?what do you do then?I hate things like this.
 
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