Log #147 (Insurance Run Around)

I've been having a rough couple of weeks physically.  Mainly, because of a kidney stone that is taking it's dear sweet time coming out, but as always, I have to deal with the chronic pain in my legs.

I went in to see my Pain Management Doctor yesterday and he is nearly convinced, now that I've had so many epidurals and the fusion surgery, that my sciatic nerve is seriously and permanently damaged.  This is not surprising to me, but it is a bummer to hear a doctor actually say this may be the case.

He suggested that I look into a spinal cord stimulator (SCS) to help manage my pain, but he said I should really research it first before deciding.  I'm glad he told me to do the research.  If I would have made my decision based on the DVD he gave me I would have jumped at the chance to have the stimulator implanted.  The way it works is through wires attached to the nerves in the upper back that lead to the brain.  The stimulator is implanted under the skin and it sends electrical signals through the nerves and confuses the brain into thinking there is less pain and in its place is a feeling of vibration in the pain areas.

After reading up on this I think I'll pass on this idea because the possible downside is to great.  I have no problem with trying something as long as the result leaves me no worse off that I was before, but when the possibility exists that I could be in much more pain that is not reversible then I have to say no.  Here is a link, in case you may be thinking about having this procedure done on yourself, to a forum with comments by those considering it or have already had it done.  (healthcentral.com)

If I would have been dealing with this problem longer than I have then I might consider it, but at this point I will hold out for better technology.

I wanted to report that I won my Social Security Disability case.  WOO WHO!!

On the other hand, my fight with Workmen's Compensation continues.  They have finally agreed to let me get some therapy for depression, but they have to make everything so difficult.  If I didn't have to deal with them, my depression would be much more manageable.  These guys want me to travel 40 minutes each way at times that are inconvenient for me and they don't want to do anything about getting me there.  They expect my wife to take time off work each week to drive me to the appointments.  They know full well how I manage my pain and that I can't drive, but they still hold their ground.  Remember, these are the same people who are supposed to be looking out for those who have been injured on the job.  Dealing with them is like having a root canal done every day.
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Log #22 (Bogus WC doctors)

I almost got a full night of sleep last night. Being totally exhausted and taking Ambien will do that.

There isn't much to note today except for a phone call I had with my lawyer today. Workman's Comp is denying things left and right these days so I had to see what my lawyer was doing about it. I found out that they are getting a deposition from Dr. Brooks. He is the QME (Qualified Medical Examiner) who did my "examinations" for Workman's Comp. He is an old fossil. In January of 2009 he gave his official report that said I could go back to work, I couldn't lift anything over 50 pounds, and that all I needed was physical therapy and back rub creams. He also said I didn't need any surgery. TOTAL CRAP!! I tried to get a second doctor to do the examination, but Workman's Comp said no way.

I went back to Dr. Brooks in May of 2009. This time he said I had real problems like not being able to walk, stand, sit down, or sleep. He said I shouldn't lift anything over ten pounds. Why the change? I didn't take any pain medication before seeing him. He requested that I get a new MRI and EMG (electromygram). EMG tests for nerve damage. The test came back positive.

Dr. Brooks (Shown here) then wrote his final report for Workman's Comp and based on the EMG and the things he said in May I felt pretty positive, but it was totally premature and my faith was unfounded. In his final report he took out everything about my sleep problems, said I shouldn't lift over 50 lbs, nothing about my inabilities to walk and stand and so forth. He said I should have epidurals and if that didn't work, a discectomy. At the time of the report he knew that I'd already had four epidurals in June. He also knew that I had two other doctors say that my disk was almost gone and I needed fusion surgery. Dr. Brooks left all of that information out. When I called to find out why he did that his nurse gave me a line of crap about, "in his expert opinion."

So my lawyer has supinad all of my medical records from the two doctors who said I needed fusion even if it didn't relieve the pain. With those records and all three reports that Dr. Brooks wrote up, he will depose the Fossil of a doctor and ask why there are inconsistencies in his own reports and why he contradicts the other two professional medical opinions. This will take place in May.

Most of what Workman's Comp is denying is what they claim took place after the statute of limitations, which is bogus because everything is a continuation of the original injury that was claimed on the day it occurred like it was supposed to be.

An interesting thing has changed in Workman's Comp position. Originally they were trying to say that my back problems had little or nothing to do with the original injury, but when my lawyer says I have depression problems now because of them and he wants to do a colonoscopy and endoscopy to see if the pain medications have done damage while making me constipated, all of a sudden Workman's Comps says they are willing to except full benefits for my back problems. They just won't except the depression or stomach problems because they are just finding out this stuff even though I told their doctor two years ago I was feeling depressed. He told me that it was a problem I needed to see my primary care doctor about and never noted it in my medical record.

I've said it once and I'll say it again. Workman's Comp is a fraudulent and criminal organization. Their "doctors" are like their henchmen in their employ. I don't know how anyone who is sane would work for Workman's Comp Insurance. How can they live with themselves or sleep at night? One thing is for sure... they know they damn well better not get injured on the job because they know first hand that the system is a complete sham.

Daily Log #2 (Depression from CP)

I received a few different letters from State Fund Workman's Compensation Insurance and I can tell you, with 100% certainty, that there is nothing insuring about it. The Workman's Comp system is organized and run by criminals and the only people that suck benefits from them are other criminals.

From the moment I faced the fact that I may never work again I started a downward spiral into depression until it got so bad that my church leadership had to intervene and get me in to see a therapist. My Lawyer then sent me to a Psychiatrist approved by both him AND State Fund. As is usual, when a professional says their claimant has a serious problem, State Fund denies all services. Even though the professional reports that my depression is directly related to my injuries, the insurance company says it's not.

I won't go into all the details of my depression, but I will say this... There have been times when I was ready to give up everything and I knew exactly how I would do it. When it became all too apparent that I was sinking fast, Anya made the phone call to get me some help.