HarleyGuy
12-09-2007, 06:05 AM
Hi everyone,
I live in Texas and was told that we have the worse work comp system in the U.S..
To make a very long story short I was injured in August of 2006 (ruptured disc) and had surgery in December 06. Went back to work May of 2007. I am or was an auto technician. (30 years). Lasted 5 weeks. Since my surgery I have been complaining of back pain at the surgical site. I was told this is normal and would get better. Well its almost a year and steadily getting worse. I had an mri with contrast and it showed good disc spacing, but scar tissue encircling the nerve root at L4/5. Doc said there was nothing they could do surgically and sent me for an esi. No relief. I was put at MMI with a 10% impairment rating. I tried to go back to work but only lasted 6 weeks. The pain in my back gets worse the more I do and will not ease up unless I just rest and do nothing. I have a tens unit, I take cymbalta for nerve pain, oxy & norco for pain, zanaflex & restoril to try and sleep. I do not have shooting pains in my legs since surgery just back pain and after I do anything my legs just hurt. Since October 2, 2007 I have been off work and waiting for a myleogram. W/C denied it 2nd week of November. Since reaching MMI W/C
is fighting me on everything and now they are taking my meds away. They had my case reviewed by another Doc and he said I did not even need the surgery, don't need any meds and the pain is all in my head. Since receiving the report from w/c I have had an EMG which shows evidence of nerve impingement to right side. On my last visit with my Doc he only gave me a refill for my oxy. to do a taper off the med. All of my other meds will run out in less than a week and no refills. He said even if he gave me a script w/c would not pay for it. Since I have the emg results my Doc is setting me up once again for the myleogram and now that w/c has proof something is wrong maybe they will approve it.
Is there anyone here who lives in Texas and has gone thru or going thru something like this and what do you do or are doing to try and get what you need to get better. I told my Doc I wanted to get a lawyer but he said after 16 years of doing w/c cases in Texas it would only make matters worse, slow everything down. He asked that I give him a week to see what he can do before contacting an attorney. Can I take legal action for bad faith because no one else will even look at me for this problem, because my back is now covered by w/c for the rest of my life. All of my Doctors are well respected and in my opinion some of the best in Texas. They know somethings wrong and totally contradict w/c and the review Doc. What can I do. I can't live like this, much less try to make a living.
Any help, advice or comments will be greatly appreciated and thanks for taking the time to read this.
Harley
I live in Texas and was told that we have the worse work comp system in the U.S..
To make a very long story short I was injured in August of 2006 (ruptured disc) and had surgery in December 06. Went back to work May of 2007. I am or was an auto technician. (30 years). Lasted 5 weeks. Since my surgery I have been complaining of back pain at the surgical site. I was told this is normal and would get better. Well its almost a year and steadily getting worse. I had an mri with contrast and it showed good disc spacing, but scar tissue encircling the nerve root at L4/5. Doc said there was nothing they could do surgically and sent me for an esi. No relief. I was put at MMI with a 10% impairment rating. I tried to go back to work but only lasted 6 weeks. The pain in my back gets worse the more I do and will not ease up unless I just rest and do nothing. I have a tens unit, I take cymbalta for nerve pain, oxy & norco for pain, zanaflex & restoril to try and sleep. I do not have shooting pains in my legs since surgery just back pain and after I do anything my legs just hurt. Since October 2, 2007 I have been off work and waiting for a myleogram. W/C denied it 2nd week of November. Since reaching MMI W/C
is fighting me on everything and now they are taking my meds away. They had my case reviewed by another Doc and he said I did not even need the surgery, don't need any meds and the pain is all in my head. Since receiving the report from w/c I have had an EMG which shows evidence of nerve impingement to right side. On my last visit with my Doc he only gave me a refill for my oxy. to do a taper off the med. All of my other meds will run out in less than a week and no refills. He said even if he gave me a script w/c would not pay for it. Since I have the emg results my Doc is setting me up once again for the myleogram and now that w/c has proof something is wrong maybe they will approve it.
Is there anyone here who lives in Texas and has gone thru or going thru something like this and what do you do or are doing to try and get what you need to get better. I told my Doc I wanted to get a lawyer but he said after 16 years of doing w/c cases in Texas it would only make matters worse, slow everything down. He asked that I give him a week to see what he can do before contacting an attorney. Can I take legal action for bad faith because no one else will even look at me for this problem, because my back is now covered by w/c for the rest of my life. All of my Doctors are well respected and in my opinion some of the best in Texas. They know somethings wrong and totally contradict w/c and the review Doc. What can I do. I can't live like this, much less try to make a living.
Any help, advice or comments will be greatly appreciated and thanks for taking the time to read this.
Harley