nightmare

[burra]

hello all i have posted here before i would like to know if the IC can do this to me i have had 2 sugerys the last one was a 3 level fusion in august 07 im still off work because of pain and the fact that no will hire me they set up a settlement hearing for january and sent me to IC doctor in november 2 weeks after the IC doctor i get a letter saying they are stopping my benifets that there is nothing wrong with me and that the 2 operations i have had were not warranted so now i have no money no meds and im on gabapentin which im told you can not go cold turkey on so im a little worried my attorney is fileing for a hardship hearing to have my benifits reinstated i dont know how they can do this its so unfair if anyone can tell me if this is legal id be grateful for any advice thanks im in MN

[sparkey]

Right after I was sent to their wc doctor they stopped paying for all my medication and lowered my rating. Yes they can stop paying your medication and I would not know about your work unless you were put at MMI.

This is the type of cruel stuff that WC does to a injured worker. I hope you have a lawyer, as I did not and went to a court hearing and they found the IC wc doctor more credible. The doctor was nothing more than just typing up what the IC paid them to do. I am working now and have insurance that pays for my medication. I do get treatment monthly at a pain clinic and that is what keeps me working now. If I did not get treatments, I would not be able to work and know I would be disabled due to the terrible pain I live in daily.

[oblivyous]

Nothing wrong with you???? Why did they pay for the first 2 surgeries????? Rediculous !!!! Unfortunately it is legal . The IC can and will do anything to get you to agree to a settlement of lesser value . Stick to your guns and force them to pay you what you are worth. I know its not easy to play the game, but you have to if you want a positive outcome. Contact your Dr and get his opinion in writing and submit it to WC. Hopefully your lawyer can get you a hearing sooner than expected. Best of luck and ill be praying for you. Sher

[1171]

if it's based on a medical opinion then yes.
More then likely as your case approaches finalization they are trying to create a dispute with the greatest range between outcomes as possible. This facilitates a mid-point settlement of the case at the lowest value.
This is what the legal system does; it's the opening round of the settlement game.
You're the pawn in the middle as the legal system tries to extract the most out of each other.

[stiffnecked]

You have an attorney. He'll probably do his job if he wants to get paid. Otherwise there is no "EASY" button.

[Cycler]

You do not have to worry about abruptly stopping gabapentin when used for neuropathic pain as in your case. Weaning only need be done in seizure care.
Not much but one less thing to be worried about.

[burra]

thanks cycler im also on oxycontin and oxycodone any info on them you can help me with im lowering my dosage already with what i have left i hope this may lessen the withdrawl process i have my hearing on the 19th so between now and then its going to get very interesting i only have about 4 days of meds left thank you all for your help

[oblivyous]

Please contact your primary physician. He may be able to help you thru this by prescribing something less expensive or cheaper thru Walmarts med program of 4 dollars. I went off narcotics and was prescribed Tramadol. I didnt feel the effects of withdrawal.

[Cycler]

Let me clarify that abruptly stopping gabapentin can certainly cause some unpleasant side-effects and so generally weaned at about 300 mg per week according to pain literature but it has only been reported to have induced seizure in a non-epileptic who was on an extremely high dose that was three times the normal therapuetic dose.

Of course you can threaten the agency who is stopping your meds by telling them of the package warning to NOT stop abruptly ( as it applies to seizure patients) and maybe they will back off a little rather than face a potential lawsuit if harm comes your way through their actions.

[capricorn]

burra....I had to reread your post. I must have read something wrong. When I got the news that we were settling the first thing I said to my attorney was "what am I supposed to do about this medication I'm on" I was also on Neurontin and frightened that it would take too long to stop it. It didn't. I strated having side effects at between 600 and 900 mgs. I dropped 300 mg.s every couple of days until I was done with it. I might have had a little anxiety through it but nothing odd to me. As the others have said Walmart and Walgreens are tooof the best. Also most TV commercials for medications say at the end now that if you can't pay for your meds they will try to help. See who the manufacturer is and maybe you can get what you need free. Best of luck.

CAP