Workers Comp Help
Lifting Injury At Work Causing Disc Herniation And Back Strain
Several years ago I was injured due to the lifting job at work. L5/S1 (7-8mm) herniated disc and back sprain/strain. It left me in excruciating pain and barely able to walk at all. It took 6 months to receive compensation checks and of course the company fought tooth and nail and refused to allow any treatment (other then blocks), for the first year.
My condition was no better, I suffered in pain and medical problems every day. My doctor said he was being leaned on by the company and he would have to send me back to work. Of course it would be under the strictest of guidelines. Of course, that meant nothing to the company. I was returned to the same line of work that hurt me in the first place. They testified it was up to 100 lbs, they made me lift, although they agreed to 5 lbs. Needless to say, back to the hospital I went.
Out of work again and with an additional injury I was told couldn't be claimed. The second year, I was rushed into the hospital in severe pain, so bad no medication would help, and all I could do was scream. My doctor came in, saw me and wanted to know who was paying the bill. I tried to tell him my attorney would take care of the bills, just get the pain to go away. He then put me on the phone to argue payment with his secretary.
After several minutes, very distraught that I was in the pain I was in, that the injury I had received from this company was dollar signs to them, and that we were backed up against a company that could care less about how much pain I was in, I just handed the phone back to the doctor. He then told his secretary they could not let me lay there like that, they had to do something. So they did emergency blocks and a new M.R.I.
When they did the new test, it showed further compression on a nerve. Company still refused to allow treatment. They finally allowed the surgery 2 1/2 years later. I spent the next 2 1/2 years trying to recoup with no luck. I am in pain every day of my life. I have been left with disability every day of my life. I was in land therapy, then moved to aqua therapy because the resistance increases the pain and inability to walk and move correctly.
My husband has moved things in the home to waist level and above so it decreases the constant bending and stretching. I have pages and pages of medical reports that I continue to be out of work due to medical problems that are a result of and symptomatic of the original injury I received at that company. In 2000 although my doctor supported my medical condition, I had been sent to a company doctor who said I was M.M.I.
At that point, the company refused paying medical bills and the commission ended my temporary compensation relying on his report. I have numerous reports from medical professionals that say I should never be returned to this line of work, but I have recently gone to other medical evaluations where Dr's saw medical problems, acknowledged there was a definite problem, however left that information out of the report and ignored a paper that was handed to him with a list of disabilities I have every day of my life.
My attorney says the board will go with the decision of these doctors no matter what my doctor says. My last severe attack was a few months ago. I received 3 pain shots, medication and a few days later an increase of medication due to such severe spasms, was in bed 2 weeks and took approximately 3 months to re-cup.
Again medical care was requested through workers comp. Nothing has been approved and we have had to pay for badly needed prescriptions. I have recently sent a message to the board asking them to look at the M.M.I decision. No luck there either so....Recently a new set of x-rays were done showing possible further problems...I need a new test done but it looks like approval will never come about. I deal with the pain and disability every day of my life and I pity anyone who has to go through the stress of the system and self funded companies.
This is in-human, for people who get injured to have to fight so hard when just dealing with the pain and disability and what it does to turn your world upside down is enough. And to top that off, I just met with my attorney and pretty much, there is nothing and no help. I just wish everyone would understand. For the injured people, I'm sure any one of them wishes they had a second chance, all they want is for workers comp to make companies be responsible for injury they cause, be responsible for the symptomatic effects of the original injury, to compensate for missed work caused by the injury, and allow medical treatments to be done, to improve their pain and disabling condition and to prevent further injury.
God Bless All You People Who Are Fighting the Self Funded Employers, and the system...
And just so we don't lose our sight of humor to keep us from going insane? Let us all donate to Save The Whales!