Workers Comp Help
Lower Back Injury At A Factory Job
I'm a 27 year woman from a small town in Virginia. I was injured at an electronics factory here in my hometown in 1998. I was injured doing something that I did everyday at my job, pouring alcohol into a pitcher. The canister should have been almost empty but it was completely full that day, unexpectedly. I picked the canister up as if it was almost empty, but it was full and I heard and felt something pop in my lower back and fell on my face. The girl next to me heard the pop. I was 21 at the time.
I reported the incident to my supervisor and filled out some paperwork and went on. I worked the day through and went home. Worked the next day until around noon with severe pain in my lower back and numbness in my left leg. That was a Friday.
I went home and suffered all weekend. Monday morning I went to see my family doctor and he pushed on my lower back and I passed out in the floor. He immediately ordered an MRI for the following day. I went, in agony. No sleep in days. The MRI was "unremarkable."
So, they gave me the run around, sent me to an orthopedic, then to therapy for about 4 months on and off. I was taking Vicodin for the pain and other meds. In August, 2 months after the accident, VA workers comp commission sent me a letter saying that I had been awarded lifetime medical benefits for the injury and anything related. After countless comp doctors evaluations, they determined a "sprain" and sent me back to light duty work. At this time in my life, I had no children, had just gotten married and was in perfect health. My treating physician told me I had reached MMI.
Before the accident I was very active. I played tennis every evening for regular exercise and because I loved the sport. I havent played tennis since that day. Now, I am divorced, and have a 2 year old little girl I am raising alone. I have lost my house, 2 cars and am living on certain types of welfare, because of my injury. Unable to work. Fighting for benefits I supposedly should have "for life."
They failed to mention that I would have to lose everything and fight tooth and nail for what they awarded me 6 years ago. They also failed to mention that when you cant work like you used to, cant play with your little girl like you see everyone else playing with her, you get depressed. I've had 1 MRI in that 6 years, the hospital has lost those films. I've since went to a hearing, been able to choose my treating physician, finally.. And am still waiting for a new MRI to be approved.
I've been through 4 lawyers, 2 of which were bought off by the insurance company to get me to settle for $3000.00. Statistically, I will live another 40-50 years. $3000.00 will not touch meds, therapy, surgery if necessary or anything else I may need. Not to mention, once again, being treated for severe depression, insomnia and the list goes on.
I'm trying to raise a vibrant little girl alone with no help but from my immediate family with no income but child support. We're living on food stamps. And on top of that, I'm only 27. I know injuries don't discriminate and that older people are not the only ones at risk. I've been this way since I was 21. I have a long road ahead of me and still have not seen any ray of light at the end of this tunnel. But Ill continue to fight, I have to for my little girl. She doesn't understand why mommy cant pick her up over her head and ride her on her shoulders. Or roll around on the ground and act silly, like everyone else can. It tears me apart.
Then I see the people I graduated high school with, only 9 years ago. They're fit, in shape, healthy, have great careers, family and all that I had hoped for when I had to quit college because I could no longer sit in the chair to learn. Ill end this here, thanks for letting me share my story and Ill be praying for everyone. Things have got to get better, they just have to.