new comer to this cite

[maritza1]

Hi everyone. I am a new from Philadelphia. I have been trying to find answers to a lot of things going on with and my W/C case, and ran into this cite. I find it interesting and helpful to hear that I am not alone. I have a w/c injery for 3 1/2 yers now. My injuries are low and upper back, neck and left shoulder and arm. I did not come out of work fully until 1/08, and w/c has not although paid all this time for medical and therapy up to 1/08 are now alleging that according to their IME doc report in May 08, allege that I am fully recovered and not in need of any therapy and medical attention. I have been to court since 1/08 3x's. They have not payed me a cent. they have also stoped paying for therapy, but still while in delagation in court continue to pay for med's. I have not stoped therapy or pain management throughout these 3 1/2 yrs. They have payed more than 78.000.00 in medical bills and never until 5/08 after 1rst hearing sent me to their doctors. I was told from the begining to treat with whatever doc of my chosing. I have been seeing by my family doc, a pain management specialis and done therapy in three diferent locations, but they claim that the report of a IME doc that saw me for a 10 minute visit versus all the doc's and specialist that have seen me is more acurate than my doctors. I have a lawyer, he says that this is going to take a long time because a deposition with their doctor and my doctor that pulled me out of work for my elavated neck, left shoulder and left armed were so elavated, I could not work. My lower back doctor had already put me on 4 hrs in 7/06, my accident occurd in 2/05. They did not pay me anything although they offered to pay for the 4 hrs I was not working do to the work related injuries because I told them that my employer was going to still pay me for a full days because I was a salary employer, but I wanted them to continue paying for therapy amd medical untill my situation changed and they agreed. However, now that my situation has worsen, and I can not work, they do not want to pay me anything. I did attempt to go back to work for one day, but due to the pain, I could not return the next day, and my doctor pulled me out of work again. My question now to the peers in this cite is, what are my chances, or do I have a chance at getting covered for this at all. My lawyer said that we will need to go at this for another 6 to 7 months before I will see any results. I ahve had 3 hearings so far, and nothing yet in my favor although the judge sudgested that they at least start to pay what they offered in 7/06. I am really depress4ed about all this, and my condition (injuries) do not seem to be getting any better. The doctors say that I have brochial plexus injuries, carpetonle, tendonitis case that has turned cronic, and lower back herniated disc and pinch nerves. However, no one is talking about any surgery. I have been getting injections in my lower back for more than three years every 5 to 6 weeks. I also 2 injection (epidural, and disc injection infusion procrdure) done in the hospital . Can someone give me some advice?

[AQA]

I really don't have anything to offer at this time. Other to say that you are not alone. I am sure that someone will be alone tomorrow that will have some info to help. As far as the back goes, you mentioned pinched nerves. Can you be a little more specific. Meaning what symptoms are the pinched nerves responcible for?????
Just curious.

Take Care

[maritza1]

No, they ere not pinchable, is L5 (ciatic nerve) if I am spelling it correctly. Thanks you anyway.

[AQA]

There are several people here with nerve damage due to a back injury. I believe there are a few from your state. They will be along tomorrow.

[maritza1]

AQA Wrote:I really don't have anything to offer at this time. Other to say that you are not alone. I am sure that someone will be alone tomorrow that will have some info to help. As far as the back goes, you mentioned pinched nerves. Can you be a little more specific. Meaning what symptoms are the pinched nerves responcible for?????
Just curious.

Take Care

I am sorry, you did say what symtoms. were to the pinch nerve. The symtoms are pain up and down my left leg, generating into the caft from the bottom of the heal and up the side of thigh into my mid upper buttom area.

[AQA]

What I believe you are speaking of is the S1 nerve. It is pinched at the left portal. The reason I say that is because that is what I have been living with for the past three years. My damage is permanent. I encourage you to seek help on the issue of the back. The longer the nerve is pinched, the less likely it is to return to normal.

[sparkey]

My injury was back in Jan. of 07. I had carpal tunnel recurrance,tendonitis, RSD, frozen shoulder, arthritis. These were all the things I was diagnosed with. I was found 32% permanent impairment by my Occupational doc. and 10% by the IC doctor they sent me to. Of course they found their doctor more credible at my hearing that was for med. payments and rating. This doctor they sent me to saw me only 10 mins also and he was more credible. I had no lawyer.

I got paid the award of 10% and I have been back to work full time doing a different career due to my hands. This is my dominant hand. I continue to go to PM and have injections ( gangloin) and my medical paid for, for now. I am sure they will come along at some point and try to take that away. They also took away paying for my meds and said my depression was not from work.

I live in NH and every state has different AMA guidelines. I decided to take the money that was paid to me, and get on with my life doing my new career and continue to go monthly to get my treatments. I am very disappointed in the WC system and got severly depressed with fighting about my rating. I decided just to accept that award and continue to get my health taken care of. To me it is not worth fighting anymore. I wish you luck, but found there seems to be a outcome that is always the same with most of the time the courts believeing the IC doctors. This is a disgrace to me. I wish you luck.

[Cycler]

Maritza,
You leave important details about your treatment to date out of your post that may alter my opinion but if one is to take the spine literature at face value it really is unlikely that more "therapy" is all that separates you from recovery for such a remote injury. Absent a specific treatment plan with a reasonable chance of recovery, such as surgery this far out, I think most Drs would find you at MMI and it really would only take about 10 minutes to sort that out as the IME's job is not to figure out what is wrong but only to comment on the patient as he finds them in relation to the treatment and plan to date. It's not a medical consult but an insurance evaluation. Just my opinion....

[capricorn]

Hi Maritza and welcome. I am also from PA but don't feel you have asked any state specific questions. It is correct that after 90 days you can see a Dr. of your own choosing. I'm also not sure that I fully understand your post. I believe your question is "do any of us believe you have a chance at collecting WC and having your medical paid"???? Anything is possible. I would be the first one to tell you to stick it out and get the help you need BUT I have to ask why the Judge has denied your claim 3 xs. Also a Judge doesn't "suggest" that an IC pay what they thought of a couple of years ago, he orders them to. Do you understand that? Now to all the epidurals. No more than 3 should be given in a certain time period. Am I understanding you correctly that you are being injected with steroid constantly for years now? You really need first off to change Dr.s and see specialists for all of your "injuries" Has a Dr. ever told you that all of your injuries are work related? If so could you please clarify exactly what your injuries are, how they happened and when. I am understanding that you have been working all along until recently. Are you happy with your attorney. It doesn't appear he has done anything wrong. Also what tests have you had done to support your injuries and when were they done. I believe a specialist should be reading all MRI's and EMG's. Can you clarify your post a little more?


CAP

[Timothy Belt]

I assume that if you have been before the judge 3 times that you have a lawyer. I am not clear as to whether you were being paid benefits and they were stopped or whether you are now pursuing a claim petition. Regardless, the process takes time. The reality in PA is that most petitions will take a year or more from the date they are filed until a decision is issued by the judge. Hang in there, and best of luck.