Husband has a severe pinched nerve – can’t even move. Chiro says its the worst she’s seen in many years. He works at a place like UPS/Fedex and she says it was probably caused from repetitive movement and carrying and loading large boxes, etc to deliver. It’s costing us a fortune in xrays and chiro visits. Is it even worth the bother to try and get money from workmans comp?
ETA: if it isnt better within the week he will be going for an MRI – i’d rather fix the problem then go to a medical doctor and have them put him on vicadin and muscle relaxers to mask the problem and temporarily “fix” it – i believe both medical doctors and chiropractors can be quacks – you just have to do your research to find a good one of either. I also think there’s a time to see a chiropractor and a time to see an MD and other times both. The xrays that were taken clearly show his vertebrae together where it should have an opening for the nerve. An MD isnt going to fix this without surgery – a chiropractor will.
Should also add that I had chronic ear infections when I was little – dr repeatedly prescribed medications and nothing worked. My mom decided to try a chiropractor and I havent had an ear infection since. Same thing with a friend of the family with her little boy with his tonsils – constantly had strep throat and tonsilitis and was told he needed them out – went to our chiro and he’s fine – no meds needed – no streap or tonsilitis since. Trust me – we’ve done the research and seen it first hand.
This wasnt something that happened all the sudden – it just progressed over the weekend (when he wasnt at work) He was in so much pain Monday morning he couldnt get to work and went straight to the chiro – he called his work today to ask for a claim form, but it wasnt like it happened at work and he could ask that day.
#1 by RT(R) on July 9th, 2011
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nope..suck it up..everyone at some point has back problems…its just natural cuz humans arent made for continuous hard work like this. and there is no way to prove his job gave him this, unless he had a specific motion while at work that made his back go out. and chiros arent real doctors and have no say. and chiros are quacks anyways.
#2 by MisMischievous on July 9th, 2011
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A chiropractor is not the person that would have to evaluate this situation to determine whether a disc was involved or not. This would take a medical doctor with MRI and such documentation. Workmen’s comp would insist on it and would almost certainly ignore anything less. When workmen’s comp is filed, they also will call and question your husband up one side and down the other about ‘the incident at work’ that caused the injury. I personally went thru this with an injury with my back.
There are law firms that do take cases of Workmen’s comp with a free consult. You could look for them in your phone book and see what they say. It may help, but make sure to write down all your facts before you call.
#3 by bc12012 on July 9th, 2011
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first of all stop seeing that fruit cake chiropractor, see a real Dr and get an MRI.tell your Dr you have numbness in your feet.this freaks them out and they wont want to screw around , you will get an MRI with out any problem.next see if there is any herniated discs, herniated discs you can get a settlement on,bulging discs no.then try Physical Therapy for 6 months if the pain doesn’t go away see a spine surgeon or send your films here where i went. http://www.getadr.com/?OVRAW=artifical%20disc%20replacement&OVKEY=artificial%20disc%20replacement&OVMTC=standard
and figure out if you want to do surgical intervention.see a comp laywer, they bill your employeers insurance co if they win,they wont take cases that are loosers.so you can get free advice from them.i went through all this 2 yrs ago.it was cheeper for me to pay out of pocket and chase down my employeer after the fact.i work for the 5th largest utility company in the world.if you stay out on comp for over 6 months UPS etc can let you go, if he is permannatly disabled your lucky to get 1/2 your pay and you will have private detectives following you around from time to time ,if they havent been already.good luck ! if you have any questions feel free to email me.
#4 by ca_workcompadvice on July 9th, 2011
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Read this whole thing. I’ll try to answer your question and address issues brought up in others’ answers.
It sounds like you haven’t even filed a claim.
1. File claim with employer.
2. Ask about reimbursement for all out of pocket medical costs.
3. Get medical treatment. They may not allow you to pick your doctor at the beginning of the claim. If they don’t, you’ll need to find out when you can elect your own doctor.
4. Discuss treatment options with the doctor. If he doesn’t want vicodin, explain it to the doctor.
When you finish with your treatment, it either means you’ve reached a point where there nothing else that can be done, or he cured. The doctor will issue a final report.
If he is not cured and there’s nothing else that can be done, that means there’s some permanent disability left. Every state has a way of determing the percentage of permanent disability based on that final report. That percentage translates into a dollar amount that you are entitled to as Permanent Disability benefits.
That final report will also determine if he should have any permanent work restrictions, and what type of medical treatment he should have access to for the rest of his life.
You asked if it is worth it. Yes it is. You don’t know the extent of the medical costs and how those costs will financially impact you. Also, your health insurance company would frown on the fact that they are paying for something that they shouldn’t. Your husband would likely be entitled to some permanent disability benefits but that shouldn’t be the focus. Getting your husband healthy enough to go back to work is the focus (which I can tell it already is for you).
Regarding comments made about chiropractors, I wouldn’t dismiss a chiropractor just for that reason. Medical treatment is a personal decision for the patient. If the patient is not comfortable with one’s methods (whether it be an MD or chiro), then that’s not the way to go. A chiro can request an MRI just like an MD can. The only time you absolutely cannot use a chiro is if surgery comes into the picture and you opt for that.
Regarding proof of whether or not this did happen at work, you already have that proof. You have medical evidence that your husband’s back conditions is from what is called Continuous Trauma because your doctor already said so. It doesn’t matter that he’s a chiro. This is trauma from repetitive motions like movement and carrying and is covered by Work Comp. Medical proof is going to be what determins whether or not this is work related.
#5 by 2 Cents on July 10th, 2011
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ca_workersomp above me is absolutely right. The very first step is to have the employer file an injury report…they will send you to a doctor and all expenses will be covered. Here in Mich. you can pick your own doc after 10 days from the day the claim was filed.