Work Related Back Injury

[dkm2673]

Back in 1999 I injured my back at work. Doctors exhausted all measures before deciding on surgery. In May of 2000 I had Bilateral fusion, bone graph and laminectomy at T11 and T12 due to a compression fracture/herniated disc. Exactly one year later, I had my second surgery for hardware removal. Since then I've had a number of injection procedures done. Facet injections, rhizotomy, streroid injections etc... In 2007 I met with a doctor assigned by the isurance carrier to evaluate me and the opinionated results from that doctor were that I was so called healed... Well I am far from healed and I want to know if I can reopen my case if in fact it was actually closed and how long do Workers Comp benefits last for an injury such as mine? About 3 weeks ago I called my Surgeons office to try to make an appointment and the nurse called me back and said I would have to call my carrier to find out if I am still medically covered. Can anyone help me with this?

[Timothy Belt]

What is your state?

[dkm2673]

I live in Texas.

[1171]

since you have not contacted the carrier to find out if you are covered or have additional benefits available, your next best resource would be the Office of Injured Employee Counsel.
http://www.oiec.state.tx.us/
an answer will depend on the facts of your case; especially how and when benefits were terminated and what benefits you received.
there are time limits to filing an appeal and there are exceptions. each depends on the specifics of the situation.