Insult to Injury

[78Sprocket]

Last month I injured my back at work and have been out pretty much ever since. The initial report of injury got me a trip to the ER and went home with Naproxen, Robaxin and Ultram. Followed up with a Workman's Comp approved doctor 2 days later. An x-ray was ordered and beings that the x-ray appeared normal and I have no neurological symptoms, I was prescribed 3 weeks of physical therapy.
1 noticed mild improvement for the first week but had really no change in the way I felt day to day from then on. Basically I wake up every morning with pain in my lumbar area on the right and muscles are very tight on either side on a regular basis. Pain is generally 3/10 and can increase with exhertion.
Each time I went to the clinic for follow-ups I got a different doctor that said basically the same thing and prescribed me a different muscle relaxers and anti-inflammatories. None of them wanted to give me an MRI. They kept telling me that more than half the people walking down the street right now would have something show up abnormal in an MRI. As if my complaint wasn't worth the evaluation.
So Wednesday I was approved to go back to work and given an Rx for Motrin 800 mg. Went to work Friday morning. Back was aching as usual. Had our first 911 call and had to lift a 170 lb patient on the stretcher into the ambulance. Noticed already that my back was beginning to spasm again. Transported patient to the hospital and called my supervisor.
Went back to doctor and was told again that it was probably a strain. Doctor also claimed that she could tell whether or not i had a bulged or slipped disk by looking at x-rays. Finally after I mentioned it, the doctor stated "So you want an MRI?" I said "It would sure make me feel better." She seemed to have an attitude towards me and wrote on my paperwork that I "requested an MRI and stated that I can't work", which I never did. All I said was, when asked if my work had light duty, I said "no". She also claimed that she would have to report that I wasn't taking meds as prescribed because I hadn't gotten the prescription for Motrin from 2 days prior filled yet.
So currently I'm waiting WC to give me a location to go to for the MRI. In the mean time I'm left with more anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxers which haven't really helped. Can't wait to get the MRI results so I can throw it in their face. Maybe it is a strain, but I have a feeling it's gonna show something more.
Dunno if I really have a case, but I've considered calling Czia & Gallagher for advice. Seems to me that they should have done the MRI before putting me thru 3 weeks of therapy that did nothing. I wouldn't put it past them to lie about the results, so I'm gonna request to see them.

[Stricken]

I had the same problem. I pulled my lower back at work and when I woke up I couldn't get out of bed. To a ride via ambulance to the ER but they only took an xray, sent me home with the same meds and physical theropy. The theropy didn't seem to do much except when she pushed my leg almost past my head while I was laying down on the table.
It takes time but you can't be lifting this soon. I know how you are feeling but it will get better!

[Jamie]

Same here. I have been dealing with this for 3 years. Pinpoint pain 3 MRI s 10 xrays. Just threw pain meds at me. I was up to 2 morphine and 3 vicodin every day. Had to wean myself of them. Miserable experience. Now I just take motrin when its really bad. Whatever you do stay away from the pain Meds. They just prolong a real diagnosis. I finally gave up on trying to get a answer. All pain all day. Got used to it. Still deal with the pain daily.

[Scottly]

78:

You're a victim of an over-loaded workers comp system with too many freeloaders claiming false injury. Now there's you, a guy with some real shit going on, and the WC docs are treating you like the idiots that fake it all the time.

It's a battle, but don't give up.

[ApogeeNow]

Ask for and wait for the actual MRI films.
Go see Dr. Donald Smith at the USF Group across from TGF.
He's a neurosurgeon.
He saved my wife's life (after removing a cancerous tumor from her lower spine, so at the very least kept her "walking"), removed the tumor from my brain, and has been working with me regarding my back problems > one bulging disc, one completely ruptured disc.

There's also an excellent Pain Management doctor there as well > Dr. Daniel Marin
He as done 3 epidural steriod shot treatments on me.

MRIs , e-rays, all done there, surgeries across the street.....
One stop shop there.

The phone # is 813-974-2201


Btw-It seems that I will finally have my spine fused; we've tried everything else!
Dr. Smith has been trying to avoid it...........

[yesorno]

Okay I know not everyone is a fan of chiropractors, I wasn't for a very long time, I had lots of back pain and spasms for a real long time off and on like10 years. Two years ago I decide suck it up and see what a chiropractor might do even though the thought of someone grabbing me and twisting me etc scared the heck out of me. Long story short relief started after the third visit but the only thing was the spasms not so much so when i was in of one of the treatments it just so happens its acting up so I guide her hand to where its started. She feels around and tells me that i have a rib out of alignment and its pushing into the muscle in my back causing the spasms. I won't go into how she but it back and yes it did hurt when she did but then the hurt went to sore which went away in a few days and I have had no more spasms. Not saying thats what you have but it made a believer out of me regarding chiropractors.

[78Sprocket]

In a way I hope they find something so I don't feel like an asshole. Just wanna get to the bottom of it so I can heal up.

[Papa Jon]

Tim, I told you at bike night to get that MRI!!!!!...Glad you finally got it

Tommy, he has to go for treatment where they tell him to, and won't be able to see your guy...

[djoe81]

I have had back issues for about 5 years now. Some days are better than others. In feb it went out on me again, so I go to the doctors, they gave me a pain killer, anti inflamatory, and ordered a mri. They found out I had a herniated disk, and the following week I had a qortizone shot in my spine. That was 2 months ago and my back feels 90% better.

[78Sprocket]

Cool, djoe. I was hoping to be back to work by now. Was planning to go to the Dynoworks track weekend but dunno at this point.

[RICO]

I hope your wrong!
Back injuries are no joke.
Hope you heal up quick!
Get your azz back to saving people!

[vfrsam]

I've got a heriated disc to, thw pain will come and go,but ya lay off the pills all they do is mask the problem.

[leanyamr6]

Auto accident left me with bad bulging discs between L3 all the way to S5 (Basically my entire lower back). I had a high level of pain daily. Lack of being able to do many daily activities including weight training or most types of exercise resulted in depression. Dealing with a lot of pain everyday is truly exhausting. I thought surgery couldn't make it any worse! Physical Therapy never helped much. I wanted to get back in the gym! I wanted my life back!

I almost had the vertebrae fused by a neurosurgeon at about 3 yrs following my auto accident, but after having a bad reaction to a mylogram(sp?), I decided no surgery for me! I saw what life would be like if I had to be flat on my back forever. Decided to take anti-inflamatory (Mobic 2 x's perday) and vicodin when I couldn't take it much longer. It is a catch 22. They tell you to strengthen your lower back, legs and butt, but all of the exercises which are most effective (lunges, squats, leg presses, etc.) cannot be done due to the level of pain they cause! Then I found an answer.

I started weight training and using an elliptical machine (minus the arm part - that made me lean over aggrevating my back pain). Trainer could only work my legs using seated leg extensions, seated leg curls. She had me ride a bike with the resistance turned up and I really pushed hard. Vicodin and Mobic really helped me during this time. I figured, I might as well work out - it is going to hurt in the gym or sitting at home. Might as well get off my azz! My trainer didn't focus on my legs much, but working the rest of my body was so refreshing.

I eventually tried spinning. I stayed seated during the entire class but took spinning 2 - 3 times each week. My weight training reduced to toning and lighter weight/higher reps. I kept focused on my cardio and spinning was a great leg workout! (It beat the same two exercises I was doing for legs everytime!) I also took a step class once each week. I noticed my hamstrings and glutes getting stronger and stronger. One day I found myself thinking, Wow! My back doesn't hurt. I don't think it hurt much yesterday either! From that point on, I have taken spinning and I no longer have daily pain. I KNOW that is what finally helped me. Dr. says I have arthritis in my spine worse than some of his 60+ yr old patients. I call it old lady syndrome. I know when I am having muscle spasms vs. the pain I have when the swelling is really bad inside...You may have that "catch" of pain when you go to lean over (like to spit in the sink) - it takes your breath away...use ice, tens unit, vicodin, and stay on the anti-inflamatory religiously until that swelling goes down (the "catch" goes away)...oh and DON'T lift anything - not even groceries, for at least a month or 6 weeks.

I still have pain after doing certain things, but I have learned to live with it. I only take my vicodin when it hurts really bad - to take the edge off. I will always have to have my mobic, but I have experienced times when I have gone off of it for three or four days each week. Now, I smile every time I reach down and pick up a laundry basket full of clothes....because I can!

[78Sprocket]

Wow, heck of a story. thanks for sharing. Funny thing was I was doing P90X and just did the best I could up until my physical therapy started. I didn't want to skew the results of what the had prescribed so I post-poned the workouts. I'm doing my best to follow what they've said kind of as a test to see if it really work. I work as a paramedic and have unfortunately seen doctors make not very good decisions. Basically the PT was maintaining some of the strength I had prior and the heat and muscle stim treatments felt good but every day I left still having pretty much the same pain. My PT ended Thursday and planned to start up P90X again after I got settled back into things.
This morning was pretty rough. Took Naproxen and muscle relaxers and went back to bed for a bit. Started taking Motrin 800 today and haven't taken any pain killers. Finally got the MRI scheduled just now, for Wednesday. I'm looking forward to the results and finally having that part behind me.

[scioneyes]

I sprained my lower back a few years back while i was sleeping and aggrivating it really bad when I would get in and out of my truck, then one day I jerked my truck to miss a car and was in so much pain I couldnt walk...

I did the visits to the doc's and all that crap.. I decided since the brace they were putting me in were not working to help the issue I went to a chiropractor.... found out that the reason my back was still hurting me so bad is that my hip was out of place and was causing more stress on my lower back.

I went through the electro zappy treatment to relax the muscles enough to push my hip back to its correct position (my leg was 3/4 of an inch shorther than the other) ... its been 5 years and I occasionally go back to get adjusted from top to bottom..

I dont have bulging discs but I do have degenerative bone disorder (osteoporisis) (spelling). so I worry about my back and issues with it all the time. But feel so much better when I do see my Chiropractor knowing even after his massive car wreck where his neck was broke he can fix me

[The_Jarhead]

Welcome to my world.

3 blown disks, 2 fractured vertebrates, muscle spasms so bad you can see them under a shirt from across the room.

Been though everything from PT, steroid injections (if you leak spinal fluid you get the worst headache imaginable) was even in traction during healing of one fracture.
My only option is fusion and I refuse to have it done. Seen it cause more harm then good in way to many cases.

So like Jamie
learn to live with it the best I can.

[The_Jarhead]

the electro zappy treatment to relax the muscles

Tens unit................I have one of those it helps a LOT

[leanyamr6]

Saw a typo in my previous post. Injury is from L3 to S1...

Jarhead, the reaction I had to the mylogram was the dye they put into my spine got into my brain (they didn't tell me to keep my head propped up on my hands and I had turned it to the side for a bit). UGGGHHHH! The pain, preassure, nausea, and headache was the worst! They tried a blood patch, which usually works because the side effect is from leaking spinal fluid, but it didn't work!

5 Days of not being able to put my head higher than a pillow sucked!!!!! Turned me against surgery too since I saw what my life would be like if something didn't work out. Watching Vaughn iron my son's shirt and rushing around the house to take care of everything was agonizing too. Fusing vertebrae together is my last option - like when I am really old and can barely move!

There are more cripples riding sportbikes than I realized!

[Steve]

Wow, heck of a story. thanks for sharing. Funny thing was I was doing P90X and just did the best I could up until my physical therapy started. I didn't want to skew the results of what the had prescribed so I post-poned the workouts. I'm doing my best to follow what they've said kind of as a test to see if it really work. I work as a paramedic and have unfortunately seen doctors make not very good decisions. Basically the PT was maintaining some of the strength I had prior and the heat and muscle stim treatments felt good but every day I left still having pretty much the same pain. My PT ended Thursday and planned to start up P90X again after I got settled back into things.
This morning was pretty rough. Took Naproxen and muscle relaxers and went back to bed for a bit. Started taking Motrin 800 today and haven't taken any pain killers. Finally got the MRI scheduled just now, for Wednesday. I'm looking forward to the results and finally having that part behind me.

Hey buddy come see me and let me spend a few minutes stretching you out. It sounds muscular. After the MRI if it is muscular shoot me a PM. I have great success with pain relief for back problems. I will give you a free 30 minute stretch session. I can also talk to you about some exercises you can do to help.

[triguy98]

That sucks. I had a similar issue with my wrist. At first, it was "just a sprain." They finally did an Xray two months after the injury and found a fracture. After the cast came off, it felt better, but my PT was sure there was some other issues. Doc disgreed. Of course, the PT was right. There were stretched ligaments and necrosis that wasn't showing up. Later had surgery when the necrosis finally showed on an MRI.