Just need to vent. It's long

**sallyskellington** · 08-05-2010 02:12 PM

I HATE workers compensation and the insurance carrier I have to deal with. Ok so I had a spinal surgery done back in 2008 I had a fusion done of my C5-7. Ok great I get fixed go back on my merry way return to work and everything is all good. Until this past April when working with a patient they suddenly buckled at the knees forcing me to bare all their weight. So immediately start feeling pain, I go to the doctor sends they send me for an Xray and recommends physical therapy. So I go for my Xray which when it comes back doesn't look that great. So in may he sends me for a CT mylogram(which is very similar to a spinal tap.. so yeah that was not fun.) In June he gets the results and it comes back I hve a possible non-union at the C5/6 and a definite non-union at the C6/7 level(I'm not fused) So now this June.. comp at still not approved physial therapy...which by law they have 30 days to approve or deny and I was way past 30 day mark. So I go to workers comp court they are ordered to pay physical therapy. So rest June goes by ok fine, mid July I go for my physical therapy evaluation it goes all good they say they will contact me they have to get approval form comp for more visits. 2 weeks later... AugustI get my first physical therapy appointment finally I go back to the doctor I am still in mucho pain and pain is progressing and getting worse. Request for surgery was sent to comp company June 27th ,they just keep ignoring my Doctors phone calls.. So I went back to work comp court today I have an appointment to go see they're doctor next week. Have him read the test results (which my doctor said unless in is an orthopedic spine specialist he will not know how to read the Cd's) and then I get to go back to court in 5-6weeks if he doesn't agree with my doctors findings.. So mean while it's not like I'm in unimaginable pain or needing to take vicodin to ease the pain... Whats the rush hey not like anyone has already been in pain for 4 months and geeting worse or anything... why not wait till the new year apparently no one's in a hurry.
I'm in pain and bitter sorry needed to vent

**Little.Chuck** · 08-05-2010 02:53 PM

Ouch! Thats terrible, Cant believe they have left you so long. Can you not get stronger pain meds? Maybe meptid or something?

**sallyskellington** · 08-08-2010 07:14 PM

my doc wants to keep me on vicodin that way when I go in the hospital he has other drugs to use for pain. I'm allergic to codine so it narrows the spectrum of pain killers he can use.

**jns** · 08-08-2010 07:37 PM

Sorry to hear of your problems, Sally. Did the fusions come apart or were they improperly fused in the first place? Do you have an attorney working on this?

**sallyskellington** · 08-08-2010 07:49 PM

I'm not really sure but didn't wanna ask b/c I'm having enough problems with workers compensation w/o opening that can of worms. And ya I do have a lawyer, the reason he did not push the surgery issue at the past hearing is b/c if he did and court ordered comp to pay for the surgery they would have one month to appeal the decision. So it could end up taking longer in the long run. So I just gotta wait and see and HOPE the comp doc on Wednesday agrees with my doc.

**p3375** · 08-09-2010 03:25 AM

Sally:
So sorry you are in such pain, and that the insurance folks are being so difficult. Glad to hear you have a lawyer, tho. That's a very smart move, and probably the only way to make progress with them.
Vent on, girl! and let us know how things develop.
Pat

**sallyskellington** · 08-09-2010 07:50 AM

thanx p3375, yeah the lawyers do help comp is ruthless. And yes I get it that people scam the system and that's not cool. But we are talking a SECOND major spinal surgery (they even have to have a neuro brain surgeon in with my ortho spine doctor when they do the surgery do to risk of cutting spinal cords.) So what does comp think I want these people playing tinker toy on my spine for fun? Or the fact that the pain has debilitated me so much I can't even open a twist off beer?? It's just no fair and I bet you they are gonna screw my Halloween I just know it...