Workers' Compensation Discussion Forums

MY state is ALABAMA ::I have had 2 laminectomies L2-L3,L5-S1 and now on a 3 month appointment with my pain management doctor,my next appt isnt til sep 11,I have been having severe pain in my lower back along with not being able to do anything but wear my tens device,well I called doc 4 days and finally they called back and said no need to come in ,just keep same appt in sept ,what can I do, I need some advice -this doc is not helping me at all,he has me on tramadol 37.5 and lyrica ,I asked for some tests to be done and was brushed off ,do these guys get bonuses just to keep you idle,something has to be done ,I believe the discs has collapsed it is like bone grinding against bone,I cant move but just a little,can someone give me some advice to use,thanks I have asked for a MRI several times with this pm doc ,he keeps brushing me off,???what if I pay for my own MRI and it of course will show somethings wrong can I use the results from it to push,next step was to call the nuerologist that done both surgeries which was my second opinion doc then I was referred to pm since I was still having problems ,and after my first surgery he done another MRI and it showed other problems ,then I had second surgery with permanent nerve damage and drop foot,I have gone thru therapy been turned down for return to work,got a 100% oc rating ,been approved for ssdi and now will go thru mediation in sept of this year,but every time I go to see the pm doc he always is quick in and out ,the last 3 times it was a minute and half ,then he writes the script and thats that,the whole time I am trying to tell him about my problems and all he says is it will get better,I believe like mr. stevens that I need to see the nuerologist that I originally picked as my second opinion dr,but if this pm doc wont see me I am at a loss,But I am gonna call the nuero assistant tomorrow and leave a message,thanks for all,well I was told that pm doc or IC had to refer me back to nuero and also approve a MRI,soooo

I believe you are on the right track.

PM = pain management. Thats it!!

In my case, I am seen by a pm dr. and a neurosurgeon. They do conferre with one another, but the neuro is the one that orders tests. The only thing the pm dr. ordered was another fce after the scs implant that he did.

I fail to see a problem with asking for a referral.

Now with all that said, it does take time for the nerves to regenerate. The pm dr. could just be waiting out the clock. I know that does you no good. It was over a year since I had my fusion, before I had my next sugery. During that time I went through 4 month of pt and two fce's. Then they knew the leg was not getting any better and the nerve was not improving.

Take Care

If your not happy with any doctor, then you need to talk it over with the doctor that reffered you to the other doctor.

As for paying for an MRI and using those results to show your PM Dr., the answer is yes, you can do this...but it is very expensive. It is true that it is too soon to tell if your pain is from something new or from your surgeries. For me, my surgeon would not do any tests, except X-rays, prior to my 9 month post op. Even though it turned out that there was some new stuff wrong, it was both the Surgeon's and the I/C's rule to wait till the 9 mo. period, to do extra testing.

Also, I know in VA, you can get a 2nd opinion, paid by w/c. My suggestion would be to call you Neurologist and let them know that you can not get in to see your PM Dr. and you need to be seen. I know both my Neuro. and my Ortho. surgeons saw me, whenever I called for an apnt.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Lorie