What do I do...

In Texas, we have the right, by law, to change treating doctors if we are unsatisfied with the original doctor. Of course you have to go through the state's compensation board to do so. You don't even need a lawyer to make the move. Although I do understand that each state has different laws.
Liberty Mutual sucks. About five months after shoulder surgery LM got impatient and sent my records to a doc 350 miles from where I live to give a second opinion. He review my records, never saw me or talked to me and came to the conclusion that I didn't need surgery to repair my rotator cuff, that PT would do just as much good. He decided that PT after the surgery was not called for and that I showed no progress, which was pure BS because the progress was obvious but not yet complete. Anyway, LM used that quacks assessment to stop PT treatment and force the MMI evaluation.
My point here is, LM could care less if you are ever healed as long as they don't fork out anymore money than they absolutely have too. LM is in the money business, NOT the health care business.
 

Fishbulb

Well-Known Member
LM has absolutely no code of ethics & im sick to my stomach having to deal with these people. As far as going to the bathroom I had trouble before I got the meds from the ER, its kinda weird & gross to talk about it but its not that I cant go, its that its very painful to push it out. The recommended Colace which is a softener & that seems to help. Im in NJ & my lawyer explains that it is possible to get LMto switch docs for me but its near impossible & would involve a lot of legal battles. Im really not even concerned with the courts & the fight I have ahead of me, I just want to be able to walk without excrutiating pain & be able to do basic household chores. If it wasnt for my wonderful girlfriend my house would be a mess because i cant even do laundry or dishes or take the dog out. I havent shaved all week because I cant lean over the sink.
 

dannyboy

From the promised LAND
First off let me throw out some information on discs.

A herniated disc is one that has the cushion pushed out of the place it should be. Sometimes it goes outward, and while painful, does not affect the nerves as much. Sometimes they bulge inward, and that does pinch on nerves, and can be very painful, and cause all sorts of issues from tingling to problems with organs working properly. After all, the nerves direct the body to work properly, or not, depending on the signals.

Case in point, what happens to your heart and the rest of your body when you break your neck? The whole thing shuts down, immediately. This could also be why you are experiencing your failure to excrete waste properly.

For the vast majority of herniated discs, a chiropractor can make the world of difference. IT will be done without surgery, and usually with 3-8 visits a week for a while, then down to maybe once a week or month.

A ruptured disc is one where the disc itself has a hole in it. This allows the gel on the inside to escape, and there is not much that can be done except surgery. In some of the more extreme cases, spinal fusion will need to be done, although some surgeons do/have done it for herniated discs. (which in my opinion is malpractice)

With any back injury, you have the right to go to a chiropractor as one of the panel of docs. Use that right. IF he cant help, then you can get the surgery done. Once they cut you, the chiro is of limited help, if any at all.

Fish. In your case, I would go to one anyway to see if he can help with the other problems that have developed since the surgery.

For all the other UPSers, regular visits to a chiro can help you prevent problems with your backs.

d
 

toonertoo

Most Awesome Dog
Staff member
My husband just had the radio transmitted lesioning done, and its been 2 weeks. He is out riding his MC around the lake as we speak, so Im thinking it helped:happy2: Not a long ride, just a ride. They burn the mylar off the nerve that is giving you the problem. Its nice to see him walk tall again. This doesnt fix it, the brain just doesnt know it hurts anymore. But the arthritis that builds up over time is bad, and he still has real bad days, but seems to help quite a bit. He had to have the 6 nerve block injections, even though the doctor said they would not help, before he could have this. They said required by insurance.
 
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hseofpayne

Guest
LM has absolutely no code of ethics & im sick to my stomach having to deal with these people. As far as going to the bathroom I had trouble before I got the meds from the ER, its kinda weird & gross to talk about it but its not that I cant go, its that its very painful to push it out. The recommended Colace which is a softener & that seems to help. Im in NJ & my lawyer explains that it is possible to get LMto switch docs for me but its near impossible & would involve a lot of legal battles. Im really not even concerned with the courts & the fight I have ahead of me, I just want to be able to walk without excrutiating pain & be able to do basic household chores. If it wasnt for my wonderful girlfriend my house would be a mess because i cant even do laundry or dishes or take the dog out. I havent shaved all week because I cant lean over the sink.

My lawyer asked LIB MUT to allow me to change dos, they said no. My lawyer file with the State Workers Comp board, Lib Mut called up and asked where I wanted to go. It has been a fight the whole way, and I took it personal in the begining, but now I know my rights and I know how to plat the game. You tell your lawyer to file for change of doctor, you shouldn't have to go to a doctor you have no confidence in. There is no way you are at MMI with the pain you are in. Play hard ball, I promise you Lib Mut will.
 

dannyboy

From the promised LAND
Play hard ball, I promise you Lib Mut will.

I might add, while they propose to help you, remember, they would toss you out the door any time they can. They will document every conversation, and record most if not all. Every utterance, every moan, everything. And in some cases, they will have their version of the guardian angel to watch you every day. Just to make sure you dont have any problems in your life:laughing:

Besides calling in the injury originally, I would not accept a call from or talk to them. As much as I hate lawyers, I hate insurance adjusters more. So get one, even though you think you dont need one.

THEY ARE NOT YOUR FRIEND!!!!!

d
 

Hedley_Lamarr

Well-Known Member
lm Has Absolutely No Code Of Ethics & Im Sick To My Stomach Having To Deal With These People. As Far As Going To The Bathroom I Had Trouble Before I Got The Meds From The Er, Its Kinda Weird & Gross To Talk About It But Its Not That I Cant Go, Its That Its Very Painful To Push It Out. The Recommended Colace Which Is A Softener & That Seems To Help. Im In Nj & My Lawyer Explains That It Is Possible To Get Lmto Switch Docs For Me But Its Near Impossible & Would Involve A Lot Of Legal Battles. Im Really Not Even Concerned With The Courts & The Fight I Have Ahead Of Me, I Just Want To Be Able To Walk Without Excrutiating Pain & Be Able To Do Basic Household Chores. If It Wasnt For My Wonderful Girlfriend My House Would Be A Mess Because I Cant Even Do Laundry Or Dishes Or Take The Dog Out. I Havent Shaved All Week Because I Cant Lean Over The Sink.
oooohhh Meester Sparkle!!
 
I have degenrative disc disease, spinedilthsyis all in the lower spine region I have been out for 8 months on workers comp. My primary care doctor which is the doctor UPS took me to the day of my injury referred me out to a ortho surgeon. I recieved a panel of doctors from Liberty Mutual and had an appointment after 20 minute evaluation he released to full duty no restrictions. I have had two FCE's done I barely made the standard 70 pound lifting and after that I was in pain. This injury that I suffered on the Job has changed my life in major way before my injury there wasn't much I couldn't do on my own 150 pounds at ups was nothing for me now I struggle with 50 pounds. I stuggle with my duties at home know mowing the was my weekend thing that I enjoyed now it is something that causes me pain and I have take 3 or 4 brakes in between. My primary care Doctor knew all the Liberty Mutual was busting his butt to release me for full duty and he didn't feel comfortable doing that without input. So the nurse case manager got him to refer me to ortho and low and behold off to full duty no restrictions. That idiot told me go back to work if you start have pain in your legs come back and I can operate. Librty Mutual is going to do whatever it takes to get you off their books even if you can't do the job.

:angry:
 

Fishbulb

Well-Known Member
Ok, another update for anyone who gives a poop. & thanks for the reference Hedley, lol. Thats HEDLEY!! Went to the ortho specialist yesterday who's also the guy who did the surgery. He tells me it may be scar tissue pressing up against the nerve or possibly a bone spur. Im ruling out the bone spur because I had an MRI done a couple months after the surgery & I figured it would have shown at least some sign of that on there. LM wants to send me to a neuro surgeon specialist guy to be reveiwed. Oh & the ortho specialist is sending me for another test, i cant remember the name, sounds something like milo....something something. Basically they're going to inject a dye into me & see if it travels all the way down my leg, if it stops at a certain point then they'll know that thats the area which is causing me trouble. The whole time in there with the doc yesterday my LM scheduling coordinator was with me, she cleared it with my attorney first. I had no problems with that, any1 can see that i can barely walk will know im in serious pain. However she tells me she wants to schedule a meeting at my house & see my living conditions. Now I have nothing to hide but I think that would be a little intrusive on LM's part. I called my attorney & he was shocked to hear that they wanted to do this & is double checking with the state to see if they're overstepping their bounds. as I said, I have nothing to hide but I dont trust LM as far as I can throw them at this point so I dont want to her to say something ridiculous like "Oh well I see you live on the 2nd floor which could be attributed to your back injury...etc...". Obviously I'm exaggerating but who knows how they could twist things around to their favor. Has anyone ever had this done? or even heard of anyone getting an in-home visit from a LM rep?
 
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hseofpayne

Guest
Ok, another update for anyone who gives a poop. & thanks for the reference Hedley, lol. Thats HEDLEY!! Went to the ortho specialist yesterday who's also the guy who did the surgery. He tells me it may be scar tissue pressing up against the nerve or possibly a bone spur. Im ruling out the bone spur because I had an MRI done a couple months after the surgery & I figured it would have shown at least some sign of that on there. LM wants to send me to a neuro surgeon specialist guy to be reveiwed. Oh & the ortho specialist is sending me for another test, i cant remember the name, sounds something like milo....something something. Basically they're going to inject a dye into me & see if it travels all the way down my leg, if it stops at a certain point then they'll know that thats the area which is causing me trouble. The whole time in there with the doc yesterday my LM scheduling coordinator was with me, she cleared it with my attorney first. I had no problems with that, any1 can see that i can barely walk will know im in serious pain. However she tells me she wants to schedule a meeting at my house & see my living conditions. Now I have nothing to hide but I think that would be a little intrusive on LM's part. I called my attorney & he was shocked to hear that they wanted to do this & is double checking with the state to see if they're overstepping their bounds. as I said, I have nothing to hide but I dont trust LM as far as I can throw them at this point so I dont want to her to say something ridiculous like "Oh well I see you live on the 2nd floor which could be attributed to your back injury...etc...". Obviously I'm exaggerating but who knows how they could twist things around to their favor. Has anyone ever had this done? or even heard of anyone getting an in-home visit from a LM rep?

Lib Mut nurse is allowed to come to dr office on your visits, but you don't have to allow her to go in to see the doctor with you. If she wants to come in your house, tell her to get a warrant.
 

Fishbulb

Well-Known Member
Update: just came from the orthosurgeon after having another test done. Was called a CT-Myleogram & it was pretty damn painful. Basically they inject your spine with a dye to see how far down it travels to find out where the blockage is. So they guy is telling me how he uses all very small needles & i'll just feel a bit of pressure & it only takes about 30min. K, no biggie i'm thinking. I'm on the table & they got the monitor right in front of me, im on my stomach by the way, & I can see this friggin 10 inch needle going into my spine. He literally drove it into my spine, i'm guessing through the cartilidge or soft tissue area, was like someone knifing me in the spine. Got results, doc says same thing as last time I got my post-op MRI's done. Shows some residual herniation which is exactly what the examiner who did the CT-Myleogram wrote in his report. So now this guy is scheduling me for a 2nd discectomy, the exact same disc! I wanted to punch his friggin teeth out. Thankfully Liberty stepped up & is sending me to a neurosurgeon for a 2nd opinion. But seriously, this friend'ing guy who cut me open the 1st time....I'm just fuming.
 
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