Injuried lower back

[Hurt medic]

I am a Paramedic in Illinois for 13 years I got hurt on the job while moving a patient back in Jan of this year. I have had a MRI showing a herniated disk at L-4,L-5,S-1, I have had back injections times 3, and a going for a CT-disco gram in a few days. My doctor thinks I need surgery but workers comp is fighting this. They sent me to a IME doctor who said all I needed was PT and this should make me better but I was in no shape to return to work as of yet. 3 weeks later workers comp tried sending me to another IME but my lawyer stopped it. I am worried that I my care is an after thought and I am going to lose my career. My job has been given away to another person and my co-workers have been told I will not be allowed back even though I have never been in any trouble and always been there for the company. I have also had all my benifits taken away from me and have no insurance for me or my family. All I want is to get better so I can return to work but my doctor is afraid that with the delay in treatment I will have nerve damage. I have pain everyday in my low back with numbness down my left leg. I am worried what will happen to me if I lose my job and what kind of job I will be able to get after this is over. Any thoughts or help would be great I am at a loss.

[hurt back]

Hurt medic - I too hurt my back in March of this year. I also though oh small thing pain will go away but nope. I've had 6 weeks of PT 3 times a week. Had 1 epidural injection, had a bad reaction to it I guess b/c made me feel very weird and other things. 2 weeks after that got a nurse case manager. Just had an EMG on 08-02-12 and now going back to my original Dr whom is an ortho surgeon to hear what my results are from the EMG and what treatment he wants to do next.

So yes i feel your pain. As I no longer have insurance either b/c my employer paid mine due to I was the operation manager and 2 weeks to the day after my injury fired me via email...

W/C is a SLOW process from what i've experienced. Just find something else that interest you job wise and start looking around may even need to go back to school.

I do hope that all does get better for you..

[Hurt medic]

I hate to hear that your in the same boat and I have been looking into doing taxidermy but can't find money out there to go to school for it. Of course I would have to wait till after they got me fixed but with nothing else to do but sit here and wonder it weighs heavy on what the future holds.

[Hurt medic]

I hate to hear that your in the same boat and I have been looking into doing taxidermy but can't find money out there to go to school for it. Of course I would have to wait till after they got me fixed but with nothing else to do but sit here and wonder it weighs heavy on what the future holds.

[cherokeegal]

HI, Medic. Sorry to hear about your injury and poor care. Your comment about your care being almost an after thought is exactly how I feel. I am a CNA and injured my knee back in June, helping ambulate a patient. The NP I saw in employee health gave me a shot of Toradol and said I'd be able to go back to work the next morning. I've not been back yet. The ortho doc they sent me to says it's "just a sprain" but runs out the door before he will tell me anything else. I finally got them to give me another doctor, because I felt like he was more concerned about the hospital I work at (where he admits patients and does surgeries) than me. The new doc I've chosen is in another city, and doesn't use the hospital I work at, so hopefully he will be inclined to do more.

Just be patient and think good thoughts. I'm having to learn that myself.

[cherokeegal]

HI, Medic. Sorry to hear about your injury and poor care. Your comment about your care being almost an after thought is exactly how I feel. I am a CNA and injured my knee back in June, helping ambulate a patient. The NP I saw in employee health gave me a shot of Toradol and said I'd be able to go back to work the next morning. I've not been back yet. The ortho doc they sent me to says it's "just a sprain" but runs out the door before he will tell me anything else. I finally got them to give me another doctor, because I felt like he was more concerned about the hospital I work at (where he admits patients and does surgeries) than me. The new doc I've chosen is in another city, and doesn't use the hospital I work at, so hopefully he will be inclined to do more.

Just be patient and think good thoughts. I'm having to learn that myself.

[1171]

you need to be talking to a vocational expert.
someone that knows your labor market; that can evaluate your skills and your disability restrictions.
you have to search for help, it won't come to you.
there may be local county and community resources.
you can start at the state level
http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=29727