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LuvUniformandCuffs · 10-01-2007, 06:01 PM

I need help! I am a federal employee who has been out on OWCP since May. I had two problems, one my knee and the other my back. The knee is a little better, but I am in severe pain with my back. I have had all the "regular" tests Mri, X-RAY, CT SCAN, nerve scan. All of these show minor issues and therefore I am not a surgical canidate.

At the KNEE surgeons office today, he tried to push me back to work stating I could probably do a few hours a day......I cant (I am a fed officer with the BOP). My leg goes paralyzed and I fall on a regular basis. I am on crutches and tons of meds.

I dont know if I need an attorney or not - but I sure need some help with this pain! I am on neurontin, darvocet, vicodin, celebrex and nothing seems to get rid of the pain. The say I have buldging discs at L4 - L5 and at S1 but that they are only 4mm so they are not surgical. Please help! I am tired of hearing I am fine - but having to spend my days in bed - now I have to worry about them forcing me back to work.

cfk1948 · 10-01-2007, 07:25 PM

LuvUniformandCuffs Wrote:I need help! I am a federal employee who has been out on OWCP since May. I had two problems, one my knee and the other my back. The knee is a little better, but I am in severe pain with my back. I have had all the "regular" tests Mri, X-RAY, CT SCAN, nerve scan. All of these show minor issues and therefore I am not a surgical canidate.

At the KNEE surgeons office today, he tried to push me back to work stating I could probably do a few hours a day......I cant (I am a fed officer with the BOP). My leg goes paralyzed and I fall on a regular basis. I am on crutches and tons of meds.

I dont know if I need an attorney or not - but I sure need some help with this pain! I am on neurontin, darvocet, vicodin, celebrex and nothing seems to get rid of the pain. The say I have buldging discs at L4 - L5 and at S1 but that they are only 4mm so they are not surgical. Please help! I am tired of hearing I am fine - but having to spend my days in bed - now I have to worry about them forcing me back to work.

I would say that you definitely need a lawyer

jayne · 10-01-2007, 10:23 PM

and a disc o gram..... lawyer first

LuvUniformandCuffs · 10-01-2007, 10:29 PM

I finally found an Atty here in CA that has expirence with Federal OWCP claims. I will call him tomorrow. In the meantime.....what is a disc o gram???

AQA · (This post was last modified: 10-01-2007 10:40 PM by timlab1955.)

A disko gram is a procedure where the disk in the spine are filled with a dye or air to pressurize the disk. The purpose is to replicate what happens to the disk while you move. It there is a problem with the disk such as a weak spot, the disk will buldge and press on a nerve. You will be awake during the procedure so you can tell them what pain if any you feel.

rholmes · 10-02-2007, 06:24 AM

Hi Luv,

I looked it up on WEBMD and it is a fact that not all people feel the same pain even if they have the same amount of bulging disk. I have had back problems for years sometimes I can go 2 or 3 years and no problem then all of a sudden Pow. You should not let the doctor push you back to work if you are on pain meds and crutches. But you need to let them know you will try if you could as for them not to try and stop paying you. But first talk to the lawyer and see what he says. A back injury is nothing to play with my first one I couldn't sit,stand,walk or lay down all i could do was hurt so I understand your pain you need to take care of you the best that you can. See If you can maybe change doctors. I am in CA and after the first 30 days my job lets us change doctors not sure if that is for every company. I just got lucky I had a predesignated doctor and he was on the medical panel my job uses so they sort of have to accept what he says. Good luck and feel better soon.

jayne · 10-02-2007, 07:49 AM

The IC with their Doctor had put me at MMI and was pushing me back to work even tho I knew something wasnt right....pain leval still real hi......Lawyer got me a GOOD IME Doc.. court ordered and this doc did a disc o gram found 4 more discs down that their Doc (ahem) missed? since it was a court ordered Doc and the Disc o grams are open and shut the IC had to finally admit I had more going wrong....they then admited them into my case and I got the help I needed(pain control) since surgery wasnt an option for me....good luck