Hi! I have been out since 3/18. My short term dis is ending 7/28, after my final x ray and appt with the n/s. My n/s sd yesterday the degen disc and bulging are normal for wear and tear... my surgery on neck should be ok after 4 months. I am in pain and no energy. I had so much trouble prior sitting all day at work, now with the added surgery and weakness I don't know how I can do it. I don't know if I can fight this? I called an atty. he sd appeal it. I can't afford to go without income on appeals. I am alone. Do you think I have a just cause, they are all making me feel like a whiner, and like I am trying to get out of working! I was one of the best sales people at my company! but I can't give of myself the way I did feeling bad. I will lose my job and benefits. I am so afraid. Is my case worth fighting? C 5-6-7 fused, L5 disc removed-1999 continued degen disc disease L3-5 bulging, narrowing, numbness and pain. Thank you for responding, I wish you all the best! cj

Hello Again Cardinal...

Sorry it took me so long to respond. Had to take a break from the PC, because my legs & left arm were starting to get numb.

I understand your fears about your job, benefits & by all means...."Loss Income".

Did you ask the attorney about extended disability? I'm unsure as to how W/C works in the state of Florida, but in California your'e entitled to a Lawyer to protect your rights & your employer can't fire you.

In my case, I saw my Company's Doctors through "Their" Insurance Company. I had 2 doctor appts. in which they tried to get me to go back to work. They didn't care how much pain I was in. They sent me to a Physical Therapist, because the Company didn't want to pay for an MRI.

Went to one PT appt. and that session lasted about 10 minutes, because of the pain I'm in. Went back to the Doctor & finally got the Insurance company to approve an MRI of my Lower Spine (Lumbar) and Neck (Cervical).

Got approved to go to the Neurologist & that's where all of my problems began. He tried to make me out to be a liar. Everytime I said ouch or described the type of pain I was in, he accused me of being hostile.

Ok...I'm rambling...sorry. basically, My Company, Their Insurance Company & Their Doctors gave me the run around. That's why I got a Lawyer. He's sending me to his Doctor for a second opinion & that Doctor will see to it that I get my approval for disability.
My Lawyer doesn't take his fee until after the case is settled.

So...my situation is a bit complex. I hope this gives you some insight & perhaps you should talk to a different Lawyer. The one you spoke to seemed to be a bit brief.


Sorry for the rambling! Keep me posted & I hope your day was a good & pain-free one!

Carolyn http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif



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42 YEARS OLD Injured @ work on 5/29/03
6/5/03 MRI Cervical Spine Results
C2-3: Disc normal in height. Mild bulging posterior annulus. No central canal stenosis present.
C3-4: Intervertebral disc normal in height. Small posterior osteophyte/disc complex which causes effacement of the ventral surface of the thecal sac but no central canal stenosis. Mild to moderate right & mild left neural foraminal narrowing due to facet arthropathy & uncovertebral osteophytes.
C4-5: Moderate disc space narrowing. There's a posterior osteophyte/disc complex with possible superimposed posterior central/right paracentral disc extrusion which migrates minimally along the posterior aspect of L5. Results in mild acquired central canal stenosis. There's moderate bilateral neural foraminal narrowing due primarily to uncovertebral osteophytes & less so to facet arthropathy.
C5-6: There's moderate to severe discogenic disease. A broad based posterior osteophyte/disc complex causes effacement of the thecal sac resulting in mild acquried central canal stenosis. There's moderately severe bilateral neural foraminal narrowing due primarily to uncovertebral osteophytes.
C6-7: Mild disc space narrowing. There's moderate bilateral neural foraminal narrowing due primarily to unconvertebral osteophytes.
C7-T1: Intervertebral disc is normal in appearance.
6/16/03 MRI Results Lumbar Spine
1. Degenerative Lumbar disc disease L3-4 with a nearly 3mm broad based central disc protrusion mildly effacing the ventral aspect of the thecal sac at this level.
2. Mild annular bulge of the L4-5 disc seen in association with mild facet hypertrophy. Disc extends toward the inferior recesses of the exit foramina bilaterally but without direct neural compression.
L3-4: There's a central 2-3mm disc protrusion mildly effacing the ventral thecal sac & contributing to a mild degree of aquired central stenosis. No significant foraminal encroahment is identified.
L4-5: There's a slight flattening of the posterior disc contour. There's mild hypertrophic change of the facet joints. Slight extension of the disc toward the inferior recesses of the exit foramen but below the level of the exiting nerve roots. There's mild hypertrophy of the facet joints.
L5-S1: No discrete disc protrusion is indentified. No definite central foraminal stenosis noted.