i.m.e says no more physical therapy

[timm90]

What is the name of your state?ny
hi, my docs want me to do physical therapy, i have been doing it. i have nerve damage and 2 large herniated discs in the neck. the i.m.e doc says in his opinion physical therapy is not doing much good , and he wrote this in his report, and sent it back to the insurance comp, he said by looking at my reports and examining me i am a good candidate for surgery,and in his report says i should have some consultion on this, now physical therapy says i cannot go there till they get any approval from comp because the i.m. e doctor always has the upper hand in what goes on, physical therapy said they would call me if the got an approval ,yet my docs they want me to have physical therapy, i,m stuck in the middle do these docs have to fight it out between themselves , anyone know how this goes
my docs who are neurologists say surgery would only be the last resort on herniated discs in the neck ,so what do i do sit under a rock and wait to see if it heals it been a long time 2 years with these problems, i,m getting tired of not getting on with my life i,m getting different opinions from all the docs what do i want to do well here is what i think
if i knew for sure that the heriated discs will not get worse as i get older i would not have surgery and live with the pain and pills,but if i knew for sure that it would get worse then i would have surgery but all docs are giving me different vibes and different opinions im afraid of making wrong choices,
do i go with the i,m,e doc or my docs, or do i just do nothing hope someone out there knows about large herniated discs in the neck i am 47, why do you think the i,m,e doc say i am a good candidate for surgery he checked out my m,r,i and e,mg,and read all three docs reports i have ,and gave his opinion
please help someone thanks guys
ps, idid have shoulder surgery ,last year i went back to work 3 days this year as i work on a assembly line and thats when i had to go back out as it gave me nerve damage and herniated discs and all related to the accident i had a work in 2003, so now because i made an effort to go back it messed me up more,what kind of settlement do you get when this is allover from 3 injurys from 1 accident do thanks again sorry its so long but thats whats happening need some responses

 

[Beth3]

You need to consult with a worker's compensation attorney on your current WC claim.

As to what settlement you will ultimately receive, no one here could possibly know. Any settlement will be based on the degree of permanent impairment you have (if any) when you reach end of healing.

 

[HomeGuru]

Yes that is correct. And the findings from an IME is not final. They are not gods.

 

[poopie]

last resort

This is not a legal opinion but your post sounds like you would like to hear some real life experience. Try to stay with the therapy. Also there are many types of therapy some you may find a little strange but give them a shot.If you are just doing exercises see what else they have.This would include how you do your daily movements and retraining the way you lift push things etc;.Explore all avenues. Surgery is the very last thing you want to try.I have had many fusions and it is a nightmare.There is no amount of money that would be worth just one day of sleep and doing normal everyday activities.Unless your MRI shows definite pressure on a nerve and is unbearable then surgery may be in order . I would consult with a neurosurgeon besides the neurologist and get another opinion.Take your MRI etc with you.Good Luck.
These are hard cases for a lawyer to take because of the costs and that is the sad truth no matter what any one of them here will tell you.I would chase down a good doc(another highly overrated profession as you are finding out)if possible and the lawyer and doctors hate each other anyway so there there you go.

 

[MMuehlbauer]

Timm90:
In 1970 I was forced to jump from a bridge, to avoid being crushed under a load of gantry rail being swung over my head. I landed, on the river bank, having a welders hood on my head was pulled back, the lower five vertebrate compacted, the disks, were messed up real bad. Enough so I could not sleep at night for the leg cramps and back pain.

Later on, after trying to live with the injury, having given my body time to heal itself, still, the damage done was too much, the pain growing more and more. I had a spinal fusion.

After the operation I was off work for three months. I returned to work (Ironworker) with a chair back-back brace, worked a lot on my knees (grating and deck) and sitting (bolting up, welding). After about two years I took the brace off, for good, and, you talk about pain for a while -terrible. Nevertheless, after a while I returned to normal, as normal as could be, and I returned to doing all the kinds of work involving Ironworking.

For sixteen years I did alright, until, here in Florida, working at an arena, high up on a lift, installing ten inch cast iron down-comers (for roof drainage), working as a Pipefitter; anyway, one of the pipes was pulled out of its hanger by my buddy. The result was, the wires sewn into my spine snapped. I truly am, out of the game now.

My point: take the operation if you really need it, trust the doctor. You'll be surprised at just how much relief you can get, and, you can work again, sleep again. Just don't get, caught under a load, again.
From Mike

 

[automanfl]

have you seen a pain mgt. dr. theres different types of procedures that help control pain.one is an rfn, its a needle they use with heat ,and it desensitizwesthe nerves I live in Fl. and had a w/c case, thank God i was finally sent to him. heres a good site that you can check out,it has chronic pain forums,w/c ,ssdi. im 48 and glad I found the site yrs. ago.good luck