Hi yall,
Apparently, I'm having problems with my DTR's (deep tendon reflexes). I was injured May of 2001. I have a hern. disk at L5/S1, bulging disk with tears L4/L5, DDD, Sciatica, SI Joint Dysfunction, something wrong with facet joints, and some spondy. I've experienced tingling, burning, numbness, plus the pain and giving away of the leg. I'm not receiving any treatment now... (reached MMI) and am only getting my monthly visit to family doc for checkup and meds. I've had 2 MRI's to confirm the above the last being Aug. '03, and an EMG 8 months after injury. At the last few visits, my doc seemed to pay special attention to the reflexes in both lower legs. I received the office notes on Friday for the last 3 months, and discovered the concern. In July, my leg reflexes were 2/4 (they are supposed to run 4/4). In August, they were 1/4, and again in Sept. 1/4. Apparently my doctor is quite concerned, as he told me that the moment I hear anything about allowed to see a surgeon, to let him know IMMEDIATELY. My question is... what might be causing this, as well as the possible outcome? I'm having a lot of trouble walking. Could this be permanent? Is it fixable? And, finally, is surgery about the only fix for this. I'm sorry that this turned out longer than expected, but I would certainly appreciate ANY and all help offered. Thank you,

Miz

Miz, I developed leg pain ( sciatic pain ) and went to the doc last December. I had no reflex in my achilles tendon of my left foot. After an EMG and 2 MRIs I was diagnosed with a herniation in one of my discs in my back that was interfering with signals from my leg to my brain through the sciatic nerve. Somewhere along the line, you most likely have something like this going on. I don't know your situation but if you can get in to see an orthopedic or neurological surgeon that specializes in the spine, I would do it. They can give you recomendations your family doc cannot. They can also better inform you if surgery is an option to help you. These problems you are having could be permanent so the sooner the better.

I had an operation called a microdiscectomy that relieved my leg pain and my reflex is almost back to normal. I have also regained strength in my leg that I had lost. I wish you luck and hope you get some answers.

Alan

Alan,
Thank you so much for the reply. This was a workers comp. injury, and as of Mar. 2004, I was found to be at MMI (maximum medical improvement) by one of comps. doctors. After that, they have denied my doctors request for the visit with the surgeon, and an MRI that the surgeon had requested, saying that since I was MMI, I, basically, was no longer their problem. They are refusing to authorize or pay for anything else..grrrrrrrrr. It's quite frustrating. My attorney keeps pushing for the visit.. I guess I have to wait and see what transpires. I just hope they can fix it.
Thank you,
Miz

Miz, I wish you luck on your WC case. I know they can be frustrating. Fight for everything you deserve. I am lucky that I did not have to go that route. There are several people who are on this message board that have dealt with WC. Maybe they can offer you some suggestions. Hang in there.

Alan

mizcriz: Did you fall on your butt? That is usually the way that you get SI dysfunction. You didn't mention a twist/push, which is also a common way to get SI dysfunction.

My husband's injury was WC. We didnt' wait for them to agree to anything. We made the appointments, billed it to our insurance and then waited for the approval. Once we were approved, we submitted the bills to WC.

They are picking up all medical care, gas to and from appointments, leave buy back, and postage. You have rights. Exercise them. You have an attorney? That upsets them. Are you trying to get a settlement or get fixed? Are you still working for the place where you got injured? WC cases are a bear. My husband's went through because he just wanted to get fixed and return to work. Plus, he had an obvious accident that he could point to, no DDD at the point of injury.

You may not want what WC has to offer. We know that we would have gotten better care had we used private insurance and not WC approved doctors. You have a double edged sword. You want WC to pay for it and to be approved but they drag their feet. Meantime, you may be getting worse. But, you can't put it on private insurance because it is fraud and if you get approved, then WC might not accept the charges. It gets really dicey. Just make sure that you are honest and you should get through this.

My advice to you on the WC, document, document, document. Keep a very detailed diary. If you ever fell before, they will try to use that. If your spine looks to be just part of the aging process, they will use that.

You have a long road ahead of you with WC. You have to prove that your back problems was caused by the fall. They only have to prove that it wasn't.

Your age?

Thanks for the reply Betty. I fell from a short ladder, twisting, turning and crashing carrying a 35# box. All of my injuries, except the reflex issues, were caused by the original injury. My Sciatic nerve has been caught in a knot to the left of my sacrum since the date of injury. Iniatially, Comp. treated me quite fairly. They permitted the testing, mileage, as well as 130 PT treatments. It's just been the last year that things have decidedly gone downhill. They allowed that the injury was caused by work, and I had witnesses to the accident. There were no problems there. WC accepted the herniation, the back strain/sprain, sciatica and another diagnosis.
I'm hoping that they will allow the treatments to fix me. This is NOT my life.. this one stinks. My restrictions are many and strict. I want to walk again...and have just an hour without pain...just an hour! I have not been able to work since the injury. I've applied for SSD and am awaiting that hearing in Nov. I just want my back fixed.

You have to try to convince them that you would be more than willing to work if you were fixed. You have to also convince them that it would cost them more in disability in the long run, than to fix you and let you work again.If they look at it like you are just trying to get disability, then your case will be weak. As a former employer, this is how we looked at things.

That is good that you documented your fall. At this point, keep pushing for MRI's EMG, and possibley surgery since the PT didn't work. Once you take the step of surgery, then they know that you are serious. The problem is, you have to prove that your pain is real and caused by the fall. With DDD, they can point to age.

They can go in and release the knot. I am in PT right now for SI Dysfunction and a torqued pelvis. I have done everything short of surgery. But then, mine is paid for by me.

Once they accept the claim, they own the injury, for life. Even if you take another job, the one where you were hurt, owns the injury.

The discourage part of the entire process is that when you get surgery, you have to sign a piece of paper that states that you pain may be less, the same or more than before surgery. You may always have pain. From what I have read, they can't put a price on the back as a separate entity. The back is the one thing that they try not to make settlements on. There is that gray area where age versus injury plays a part.

If you fight them, they will have you watched. They send out people in mini vans or RVs with tinted windows and cam recorders and case your house. If you mow the lawn, or carry in groceries, or whatever you do that involves any kind of stress on your back at all, you will be denied.

good luck,