WELL I WENT TO MY MONTHLY W/C DOCTOR VISIT TODAY, AND WAS EXPECTING HIM TO SAY GO BACK TO WORK THATS ALL I CAN DO FOR YOU. HE ASKED IF THERE WAS A CHANGE IN MY SYMPTOMS AND I SAID NO AND I CANT GO BACK TO WORK IN THE PAIN IM IN. HE WENT ON TO TELL ME THAT HE HAD A PERSON JUST LIKE ME WHO WORKED FOR UPS FOR 16 YEARS AND WANTED TO TAKE THE CHANCE ON THE FUSION, THE DOC TOLD HIM THAT HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GO BACK TO WORK AFTER THE OPERATION AND THAT HE SHOULD GO BACK TO WORK AND THE OPTION FOR SURGERY WOULD STILL BE THERE AT A LATER DATE. I ASKED THE DOCTOR IS THE REASON HE WONT BE ABLE TO GO BACK TO WORK BECAUSE OF THE PAIN LEVELS OR SOMETHING ELSE. HE SAID THE REASON IS BECAUSE THE MOTION WILL BE GONE YOU WONT BE ABLE TO BEND OVER ECT... I SAID WELL COULDNT I BEND AT THE KNEES??? HE SAID I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THE RISKS OF THIS SURGERY, I SAID YES. HE SAID THAT ALSO IN MEN THAT THERE WAS A CHANCE OF AN EJACKULATION PROBLEM DUE TO THE ANTERIOR APPROACH, I SAID YES A 1% CHANCE. I TOLD HIM THAT I HAVE DONE MY RESEARCH AND HAVE SEEN THE SURGERY, READ THE DEBATES, AND KNOW QUITE A BIT ON THE TOPIC, SO HE GAVE ME THE RISKS OF THE ANTERIOR/POSTERIOR SURGERY AND SAID HELL CALL THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND ONCE IT IS APPROVED HE WILL LET ME PICK A DATE. NOW IM GOING TO HAVE THE 360 DONE BY MY DOCTOR ON MONDAY AND AM BEING FITTED FOR MY BACK BRACE ON THURSDAY, BECAUSE THEY DONT WANT TO MOVE ME ARROUND ALOT AFTER SURGERY. WELL THIS MEANS THAT I WONT HAVE TO WORRY ALOT ABOUT AN INCOME BECAUSE W/C WILL STILL BE PAYING. I AM TRYING TO GET A HOLD OF MY LAWYER TO TELL HIM TO CALL THE AJUSTER TO GET THE AUTHERAZATION FOR MY DOC TO DO THE SURGERY, BEING IT IS THE SAME ONE THE COMP DOCTOR WANTS TO DO, AND MY DOC IS ON THE INSURANCE PAYROLL, THEY JUST DIDNT WANT HIM DOING IT BECAUSE THEY HAD A COMP DOCTOR SAYING NO SO THEY SAVED ALL THAT MONEY. WELL NOW THEY ARE GOING TO PAY THAT MONEY ANYWAY SO I DONT SEE WHY THEY WONT LET MY DOCTOR DUE IT?????? I ONLY HAVE 3 BUSINESS DAYS LEFT TO FIND OUT, I DONT WANT TO JERK MY DOCTOR AROUND AND HAVE TO CANCELL LAST MINUTE, THERE WOULD BE ALOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE NEEDED FOR THIS OPERATION LOOSING MONEY. DO ANY OF YOU THINK THAT THE W/C WILL NOT APPROVE MY DOCTOR TO DO SURGERY, AND WOULD FORCE ME TO HAVE THERE DOCTOR DO IT???? I MEAN I WAS HAVING MY DOC DO IT AND WAS GOING TO WORRY ABOUT THE INCOME BECAUSE THE COMP WAS CUTTING ME OFF, BUT TO MY SURPRISE THE COMP DOCTOR APPROVED IT SO THAT TAKES A HUGE FINANCIAL WORRY OFF MY SHOULDERS... PLEASE GIVE ME SOME ADVICE ON WANT YOU GUYS THINK ABOUT THIS SITUATION...... :confused:

360,
I had a fusion L4-L5 . My Dr. said I could return to work after I heal . He said I just would be limited to bending very far . In my State W/C can find you employment that would be within your physical limitation . I was terminated from my employer after working there for 12 years . I had my first fusion in 2003 , Had pain for 1 1/2 my Dr told me it was spasm's. Got a 2nd opinion. My first fusion didn't heal .( bone ) So I just had everything ripped back out and replaced in Oct.
Wish you all the luck. Comp people are so.......?