Workers' Compensation Discussion Forums

Hello,

About a month ago I injured my back at work, I went to a chiropractor 3 x that week then 3 times the following week. I would start to feel better then it would flare up again with the pain. I was very careful of what I was lifting and doing, Chriopractor went on vacation and I was doing ok, the following Saturday I woke up in the middle of the night in horrific pain, mostly in my lower back and leg. I went to the emergency room they gave me a shot, and took an xray I saw the Dr on duty who was a pediatrician, he said I had a compressed disc, gave me a piece of paper that had informnation about sciatica and lots of perscriptions.

The pain in my leg is not sciatica as it is on the side not the back, my foot is numb and almost floppy, I cannot walk correctly. I went to my own dr finally and am having an mri in about a week and seeing an ortho dr in about 2 weeks. The thing is I never applied for workers comp, I live in New Hampshire, is it to late to do anything now ?

Thanks

Well, I guess no one can help me here. Thanks anyway. I'll call the workers comp people and see what they have to say.

Thanks again for at least reading my little note here.

Enjoy the eve

hi,im pretty much new here so im not sure how much i can help..i was diagnosed with 2 herniated disk with pretty much the same symtoms that you have except for the fact that when i was hurt back in january i was unable to walk for 3 weeks or get out of bed..ive been off work since then and had 3 steroid injections and just recently a dicogram which if u dont have to have i would not get it done hurts like hell lol but that how my bad disk were found so...theres a lil of what you might expect if it anything to do with herniated of buldging disk that contact nerves..oh and im having a disk fusion within a week or 2 hopefully to get this all fixed..if you have any questions ill do my very best to help with what ive gone through..but there are alot of really smart and very freindly ppl here who have helpled me so just be patiant and im sure they will be here to help you..take care

From the New Hampshire WC site.

NOTICE OF INJURY

RSA 281-A:19

The injured worker has two (2) years from the date of injury to notify the employer of his injury in order to make a claim for benefits. In cases where an occupational illness develops gradually and an injury is not immediately recognized by the claimant, the claimant must provide notice the date he or she knows, or by reasonable diligence should have known, of the nature of the injury and its possible relationship to the employment.

TIME LIMITATIONS FOR FILING CLAIM

RSA 281-A:21-a

This section provides that a claim for disability, rehabilitation, medical benefits or death benefits shall be barred unless a claim for these benefits is filed within three (3) years after the date of the injury. If the nature of the injury and its possible relationship to the employment are not known to the employee, the time for filing a claim shall not begin to run until the earlier of either the date the employee knows or should know of the nature of the injury and its relationship to employment, or, in the event of fatal injury, the date any dependent knows or reasonably should know of the nature of the injury and its relationship to the employee’s employment.

Cygnet,
The pattern down the side of your leg and the floppy foot is telling. I fear the Dr. was correct. Here's a little test to try and will see.. See if you can raise your big toe as strongly against resistance as the good side. If the toe raise is weaker then you have an L5 radiculopathy going on. To further test yourself try walking on only your heels. If the one foot drops down that also is bad. Final detail is if you are walking and your foot is slapping the ground OR you are kicking the back of you other heel and /or catching your toe on the rug or steps then you have an L5 radiculopathy and that comes from pressure on the L5 nerve root. Scitica is a non-specific term and is usually associated with pressure on the S1 nerve root which is the back of the leg.

Getting this allowed under comp at this point may be a long battle but your paper trail should suffice in the long run. I hope the Dr. Prescribed some prednisone ?

good luck

Hi Cygnet (Baby Swan!)

Please don't ever feel as if no one is going to try to answer you on this forum. Sometimes (especially weekends) is slow as to responses to posts. One just has to try to be patient...someone with knowledge or experience will try to answer you the best they can.....as the above people have given you great answers.
Welcome to the forum, and keep us updated...just be patient for answers...as they will always come!

Take care, Lilly

Cycler,

My big toe will not move as the good one does, nor can I walk on the heel of that foot, the foot does fall down. The dr did give me some sort of steriod enough for a week 3 a day two a day etc. I was a healthy outgoing person before this injury and now, I am still working and all but I can't run/jog or workout. Also I do not have health insurance and these bills are killing me. Do you know if it wil lgo away in time? I am doing hte MRI the 28th and seeing the ortho may 11. Someone suggested I should try to get into physical therapy. I just want my life back.

Thanks for answering.

Cygnet

Hi Lilly,


Hey You knew what my name meant, not many do. Thanks so much, I was nervous and all especially not getting any answers from DR. and having to wait for al lthe tests, I paniced here too.

Thanks Lilly and everyone else who responded,

Cygnet

In answer to your question the peer reviewed Spine literature and all recent studies say yes, the disc will heal and the radiculopathy will go away in time in more than 95% of all similar case. However, that same literature also states that surgery will also work and operated patients get better faster. Look up ( Google or PubMed )the SPORT study on back pain for more in depth information.

Thanks again Cycler, Will look it all up now, though last thing I want is surgery