[mpolice]

Hoozdo, I am sorry to hear that it didn't work for your husband. I wonder why. Was the herniation too serious? Some of the patients said it wasn't covered on insurance and then others said their insurance covered a percentage. But with an 86% success rate, I'd be tempted to try it vs surgery. At least your husband is 90% better. I hope he can enjoy life now. Marie

[nowplayingEDRN]

Originally Posted by Hoozdo

I am newly back injured with a herniated c4/c5 c6/c7 c7/t1. I fell at work when this happened. Workman's Comp is a pain in the ass to deal with. To top it off, in my state, the max workman's comp disability payout is ONLY $375 a week! My pain is severe including pain around the scapula, down the L arm and partial numbness in the hand.

Hooz...I don't know what state you are in but in NY state they have a program called VESID(Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities) they help you try to find something that you can do so that you can return to work and be more productive. When trying to stop a stretcher with a fresh post op patient from smashing into the wall and some equipment in the hall (my transport attendant decided that they did not need to help anymore at this point and walked away! yes, they still have their job and I am sidelined from the work I love) I developed Facet Arthropathy at L4-5. While i realize that this is not as serious as herniations and the like, I do have hronic back pain and it interferes with my ADLs, standing, sitting and laying. i can not lift more that 10lbs on a regular basis and ocassionally I can only lift up to 20lbs, so of course I can no longer go back to working in the recovery room. In NYS the max worker's comp pay out is $400 bucks, of oc urse I am down to 300 a week and now they want to cut it even more. I don't know how I am supposed to survive on even less when my poor hubby is on disability and has to take most of him money to pay for his medications! Of course comp pays for my medication. I had 3 facet joint blocks, which helped a little, I did PT is 2 6 week increments 3xweekly but that didn't do much for me at all except fire up my sciatic nerve from the intake exam! My next step is a median branch nerve block at the L4-5 level (I am currently awaiting authorization, something I won't get till I go to court at the end of this month.). I have trouble walking for longer than 5-10 m inutes and standing becomes aproblem usually after 5. It makes doing things around the house interesting and I don't dare take the jug of milk out of the fridge with 1 hand. In addition, non work related I have severe herniations at C5-6 and C6-7 but being out of work for as long as I have, I have no benefits to get that fixed...but I ramble.....

Back to VESID....they are helping me get a certification in case management, not exactly what I want but it will give me a pay scale close to what I am used to and I will have access to health benefits and it will be easier to keep the physical restrictions my doctor has set for me. They do also send people on for BSNs or MSNs as well as other continuing ed courses things that have good marketability to get you back into the work force.

To the young lady that started this thread....I take it that when you suffered all those herniations that you were not a surgical candidate? I realize that surgery is not the end all and be all of pain management and I know that most folks that go through back surgery still have pain but is it an option? Acupuncture is just a pain management tool and does not solve the whole picture. Maybe you should try to find the best neurosurgeon or orthopod specializing in spine surgery in your area for a consult. You may have to go as far as 2 hours from your home, if you are able to travel that far. I worked in an orthopaedic specialty hospital in NYC when I sustained this back injury (ironic, isn't?). My heart goes out to each and every one of you that have had such injuries. And I look forward to discussing this further with you all.

~C

[Hoozdo]

Good post Christie. We share your pain

Do you have unbearable pain in any extremities? If so, check out my post on RSD. Do not have ANY surgery until you read up on the symptoms of RSD (reflex sympathetic dystrophy)!
Heartfelt hugs to you

[nowplayingEDRN]

Hooz..

Thanks for taking the time to read my post. I am blessed that I do not have that sort of pain in any of my extremities, nor do I have any symptoms of RSD. I have intermitten pain down the back of my leg(from the sciatic) and intermitten pain running down the outside of my left leg into my foot. My toes pretty much stay numb as well as the bottom of my foot which is why they keep looking for herniations but they can't find any! I am a medical mystery!! Hehehe! No, surgery is a last resort treatment for facet arthropathy, which I have decided is a fancy name of pack pain that they can pigeon hole under any other diagnosis!! And so I pop my percocet with valium and zanaflex(for the spasms) and plug along!

It's horrible to feel betrayed by the very profession you devoted your self to and gave 100% to. It's like the minute they know you are hurt, they don't want to be bothered with you. It's my back, not my brain that's hurt!

I just hope and pray that the end result of some of this retraining is a job that will allow me to pay my bills and have health assurance!

[hennesm81]

Good luck to everyone here!

[nowplayingEDRN]

I would strongly sugest that if anyone is planning on applying for SSI/SSD that they get themselves a lawyer as well. They usually take no fee if you do not get awarded SSI and if you do get the SSI, they take between 10-15% as their fee and it is well worth it in my opinion. Also, having a doctor with with you have a good rapport, that keeps excellent records and is willing to assist you in attaining SSI is also a plus. The urged my hubby to apply for it immediately in 2000 but he had hope he would get better but he didn't, he applied for SSI on 2006 and was awarded a retroactive award to 2004. The judge asked why he did not apply sooner and when we told him, he shook his head and said amazing! Each state has different programs for Medicare drug programs.supplimental insurance, for the best assistance, your local office for the aging can assist you in choosing the plan that best fits your needs. I wish you the very best of luck in this venture. Be advised that if during the hearing for SSI/SSD, the judge rules that you can do some sort of work, you could be sent for career retraining(that's how it works in NYS).

[ingelein]

Originally Posted by nowplayingEDRN

I would strongly sugest that if anyone is planning on applying for SSI/SSD that they get themselves a lawyer as well. They usually take no fee if you do not get awarded SSI and if you do get the SSI, they take between 10-15% as their fee and it is well worth it in my opinion. Also, having a doctor with with you have a good rapport, that keeps excellent records and is willing to assist you in attaining SSI is also a plus. The urged my hubby to apply for it immediately in 2000 but he had hope he would get better but he didn't, he applied for SSI on 2006 and was awarded a retroactive award to 2004. The judge asked why he did not apply sooner and when we told him, he shook his head and said amazing! Each state has different programs for Medicare drug programs.supplimental insurance, for the best assistance, your local office for the aging can assist you in choosing the plan that best fits your needs. I wish you the very best of luck in this venture. Be advised that if during the hearing for SSI/SSD, the judge rules that you can do some sort of work, you could be sent for career retraining(that's how it works in NYS).

Hi, I am disabled due to Spinal Stenosis ,DDD, DJD, the works. I agree about getting a a lawyer for the SS appeal process, some lawyers will start at the beginning at the application stage but most will tell you to apply then wait for the inevitable denial at the initial application stage and the reconsideration stage, then the lawyer steps in for the appeal stage. 65% of initial applications are DENIED, then at reconsideration 85% are denied.Then at the hearing level 65% ar APPROVED! What gives here?Sadly the waiting list for an ALJ hearing is now 2 years plus in many states. here are 750,000 people nation wide in this waiting list and during this lengthly wait , some either die, loss all their savings and home , car etc. Sad eh? Ther is a very good support and information group called the Social Security Disabilty Coalition , just google it and you will get to its website and forums, VERY helpful info there.

[chisgirl]

I was kicked by a patient coming out of anesthetic back in 1975... it's a long story. Additionally, that evening shift I was the only person working a floor with 24 patients... talk about being short-staffed, even that far back. I had no orderly, LPN, RNA... no one. When I couldn't get up and walk the next morning, I persevered even though it took me three hours to get dressed. My charge nurse, bless her, sent me to the ER, where I waited 3 hours to be told to go home and rest. No mention of Worker's Comp... nothing. Two weeks later, still no word from anyone and rent due, I tried to go back to work. the long and short of it... I couldn't do normal duties, tried doing light duties, and woke up paralyzed from the waist down when L3-4 and L5-5 herniated severely enough in the night that parts of the facet joint wound up embedded in my spine. Four operations later, I'm in pain, but I'm walking and managed to have two kids... not without some difficulties. I tried to nurse... not possible in a hospital at all. I tried working in a clinic but my back went out too often and eventually I gave up. I did go back to school and learned to be (another long story). My job upon graduation.... providing health information via the public library's consumer health information service... I got to use my medical background and use my new skills as well. The point of the whole thing.... when God closes a door... He opens a window. You just have to look for it, or at lease, slow down and feel where the breeze is coming in.
You are NOT alone in your pain and we all seriously know that your pain is VERY REAL. Don't let anyone tell you that you are exagerating your pain or making it up... believe in yourself... you are your own best doctor. More than trusting in yourself though.... trust in a higher power (whether you call it God, or Allah, or Bob...). When you are offered help by your friends... say yes once and a while... it makes them feel wanted too. Don't become identified by your pain (Oh, you're the back patient...). Know that there is a plan for you...you may not "nurse" in the traditional sense, but "once a nurse, always a nurse", it's in your blood. You just need to let God use you... open your mind and your heart to the possibilities and try to focus on that, not the pain. (That's easier to say when you are reasonably well medicated/treated, I know)
Good luck to you and I will keep you in my prayers.

[woody62]

In March of 1988 I suffered a herniation, at L4-5 right side, when I helped a 100 pound old gentleman get up in his bed. I underwent a percutanous diskectomy in May of 1988 and suffered a reherniation four days after my surgery. It took an attorney and a hearing, and a second opinion before I underwent my lami on November 29, 1988. On January 30, 1989 I was returning from my neurosurgeon's when I was hit by a big rig and suffered serious injures. Because I was returning from my WC doctor's appointment, my insurance company was responsible for payment of the medical bills and my continued disability.

I applied for SSDI. It took me 18 months to get a hearing before an administrative law judge and three months later I received my first check. I got an attorney who specialisted in SSDI hearings after my second turn down. I recently read that because Bush has refused to put in for a biger budget, the number of law judges hearing these case verses the number of cases is increasing. The curent projected time is thirty six months. And no increase is projected to increase the number of judges. If you are going to apply be willing to wait the thirty six months.

I returned to graduate school in 2000. And had to drop out in 2003 when I suffered a three place fracture of my left anklie. And later had a case of blood clotts. If you can return to school and are not too close to 67, do try it. Best place is public universities, they are not as expensive and the private ones.

Woody

[rehab nurse]

****UPDATE******

Hi everyone...I am the lady who started this thread. Well, in the few months since I wrote it, have lost my home, my car, my everything. My two young children and I moved back with my parents in their tiny home. It's been difficult, but at least we have a roof over our head and heat during the cold winter. And I again have internet, I had gone without for a long time during this period.

I was finally awarded medicaid for my kids and I. I am in the middle of the nastiest divorce ever. I am in another court battle with some of my credit cards, I now have a lien on any future property or wages until their balance is paid. A lot going on all at once. Good thing I was awarded the medicaid, because my COBRA was just about to expire.

Other than that, it's the same old same old. Still in a ton of pain, despite nearly 500mg of morphine a day. To the poster who asked if I was a surgical candidate...no I was not. I did seek out 3 opinions. I went to the best I could get...and they all agreed that my injuries were too severe and too far gone to operate. They also agreed that my pain issue would not be resolved by surgery. My pain is basically due to the irritation of the nerves that are constantly bathed in irritating chemicals. I had read about the IDET procedure, but both my main docs both said the IDET was not an option for me, and that its success rate was poor.

So anyway, that's where I am. Still trying to navigate the SSDI paperwork, however, I do not have any doctor that charts well enough. I have learned that docs sure don't chart nearly enough as they should. I am apalled at how little the docs chart in your medical records. Also, none of the docs understand that I CANNOT go back to work on the amount of medicine I take. They don't understand what a floor nurse does. I couldn't pass a physical for a job if I wanted to. I can barely walk as it is, I can't stand more than 5 minutes, can't walk or sit more than a couple of minutes without my pain flying off the scale. It is hard enough getting through the daily grind of things to do, like laundry, grocery shopping, getting the kids ready for school, etc. I am in pain constantly. I have learned how much I can do and not do to keep my pain level as low as possible. I know longer remember what a pain-free life is, but I survive.

So how is everyone else doing? And does anyone who has successfully gotten SSDI, does it matter what your educational level is? The whole SSDI system still seems so "foreign" to me.