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njinjured · 09-14-2009, 06:52 PM

NJ. age 34
L4/L5 Disk herniation.
3 epidurals and a disctectomy.

I had the disctectomy and I am in alot of lower back pain and some leg pains still. I really do not want to go through any more surgeries or medical runaround from these doctors.

The insurance company's first offer was lower than I would even entertain and my lawyer is telling me because of my age and having had only one surgery that I won't get much higher % of disabilty.

What do I do now? I really just wanted to settle and not deal with all this crap
(more doctors/surgeries and long legal battles), but I'm hurt fairly bad. Everything other than laying down causes me some level of pain.

jayne · 09-14-2009, 07:32 PM

welcome to our world....WC does not pay pain and suffering...so unless there is something else your Doctor can do to help you out the payout is low....

pennilayne · 09-14-2009, 09:36 PM

Hi,
Sorry to hear of your pain. My daughter is 21 and because of a slip and fall,is having a discectomy on Friday (l5-s1). Did it not work for you? Im trying to understand what we may be in store for. She pretty much feels the way you do. I didn't realize age was that much of a factor in what you can receive.

njinjured · 09-14-2009, 09:51 PM

pennilayne Wrote:Hi,
Sorry to hear of your pain. My daughter is 21 and because of a slip and fall,is having a discectomy on Friday (l5-s1). Did it not work for you? Im trying to understand what we may be in store for. She pretty much feels the way you do. I didn't realize age was that much of a factor in what you can receive.

Somewhat, it calmed down alot of what was going in my leg.. tingling, numbness, shooting pains. I still have severe back pain though. From all the research I can gather my situation is not average and a very high percentage of people fully recover.

njinjured · 09-14-2009, 09:58 PM

jayne Wrote:welcome to our world....WC does not pay pain and suffering...so unless there is something else your Doctor can do to help you out the payout is low....

Yeah I understand no pain and suffering. I'm wondering if I should force myself back on their doctors or proceed with just trying to settle. From what I can find on my injury it seems like the only other option is more surgery of some kind or another and it scares me. It feels like the only way they will acknowledge my level of injury is if I let them keep cutting me open and trying more things hoping this next one works.

pennilayne · 09-14-2009, 10:17 PM

Apparently, good recovery is up to the patient, too. It's a lifetime of managing weight and keeping your "powerhouse" muscles strong. Like with yoga and pillaties. Regular everyday exercise and walking are good, too. She has the shooting pains, too. As well as a whole lot of pain in her heels. At the end of the day, she can barely walk! I'm hoping you are both feeling better soon!

1171 · 09-15-2009, 12:13 AM

if you are not going to take the offer then you have to get another atty.
you and your atty need to be on the same page as to what you will settle for.

njinjured · 09-15-2009, 10:26 AM

pennilayne Wrote:Apparently, good recovery is up to the patient, too. It's a lifetime of managing weight and keeping your "powerhouse" muscles strong. Like with yoga and pillaties. Regular everyday exercise and walking are good, too. She has the shooting pains, too. As well as a whole lot of pain in her heels. At the end of the day, she can barely walk! I'm hoping you are both feeling better soon!

Yep, the quality of the aftercare is paramount. I did everything right in that sense but I was in the low percentage of people that only recieved partial benefit from the surgery.

njinjured · 09-15-2009, 10:30 AM

1171 Wrote:if you are not going to take the offer then you have to get another atty.
you and your atty need to be on the same page as to what you will settle for.

I'm setting up a face to face with my lawyer, I have a feeling he really doesn't know the level of my injury.He might be thinking I'm good enough to work and worried that I'm just out for a larger settlement than required.