NEED ADVICE FUSIONL4/5 AND L5/S1

[utterpain6]

Hi I am new to this but have read alot of the topics on this site. I injured my back 7months ago at work, first visit to my doctor that it was a back strain and take four weeks off through workcover, pain persisted and worsened 2nd trip to doctor he thinks we should get an xray, showing I had a disc protusion l4/l5 and slight degenerative disease in the l5/s1. After 3 months they decided to send me to an orthorpedic surgeon, he immediately orders MRI and stops all physio and exercise. In between that I had to see my doctor again for medical certificate for workcover, he then informs me he thinks there is something at work as to why I don't want to return eg bullying in the workplace. Then workcover rep calls me to suggest I see a psychiatrist for my problem at work. Thankfully mri came back and revealed disc protusion on the nerve root and that was what was causing the pain. My surgeon then orders a discogram, to find exactly which disc is the main problem. Yet more pain.

Surgeon has requested surgery to fuse l4/l5 disc and l5/s1 disc. So workcover has decided that they will pay for l4/l5 disc and not l5/s1 disc as it is pre existing illness, Had I not injured my back at work I would not require surgery so the degenerative disc would never of been known.

Has anyone experienced this and if so would you pay for the second disc fusion and if so how much would you pay.

[mick63]

HI - a lot of questions there to take in.

First I am not so sure your GP has your interests at heart if he suggests other reasons at work are causing your back pain. Dont just think you will get past this as a minor hurdle as the longer the issue drags on, and back issues drag on, the more likely you will regret having him as your GP. Think about a change if its needed before workcover and insurerer gets too involved, but always choose your own not the insurers dr.

I would think a visit to a solicitor may be needed. Now I have been thru this and was one to not see one, but I got run around more than I care to remember. I think i may still have a job if i seen one earlier.

I believe from my experience, that a solicitor may prove that your L5S1 disc has been aggravated by the injury and as such should be paid for by the insurer. Unless you have previous problems and pain in the L5S1 area before, how can they say you should pay for it.

You may not even need surgery to the degenerative disc. It may not even contribute to your pain or symptoms. Many people have degenerative discs on film that cause no issues. Your surgeon may seek to fuse it as well as the "injured" one so you do not complain of pain later which maybe caused from that disc. No surgeon can say exactly how much pain is from which disc.

Be careful that you have the correct surgeon for you. Some are gun happy to run to surgery, where as many (believed to be the better surgeons) do not conduct any surgry for 12 months to try fix the problem conseratively first. That is unless of course there is a specific reason you need urgent surgery, but from your description you dont (apart from the pain etc which are not reasons for urgent surgery) You should try get a second opinion from someone independent from your first surgeon. Plenty of people on here may be able to suggest one for you or one to avoid, but you need to let us know what area you live in, and then dr names etc would come via a PM (or email) not a general post as per the conditions of this site.

Not sure if I have helped, but unless you have health cover to cover the second disc, you may need to proceed with some extra advice as i have said. Good luck....

[waz57]

Hi I am new to this but have read alot of the topics on this site. I injured my back 7months ago at work, first visit to my doctor that it was a back strain and take four weeks off through workcover, pain persisted and worsened 2nd trip to doctor he thinks we should get an xray, showing I had a disc protusion l4/l5 and slight degenerative disease in the l5/s1. After 3 months they decided to send me to an orthorpedic surgeon, he immediately orders MRI and stops all physio and exercise. In between that I had to see my doctor again for medical certificate for workcover, he then informs me he thinks there is something at work as to why I don't want to return eg bullying in the workplace. Then workcover rep calls me to suggest I see a psychiatrist for my problem at work. Thankfully mri came back and revealed disc protusion on the nerve root and that was what was causing the pain. My surgeon then orders a discogram, to find exactly which disc is the main problem. Yet more pain.

Surgeon has requested surgery to fuse l4/l5 disc and l5/s1 disc. So workcover has decided that they will pay for l4/l5 disc and not l5/s1 disc as it is pre existing illness, Had I not injured my back at work I would not require surgery so the degenerative disc would never of been known.

Has anyone experienced this and if so would you pay for the second disc fusion and if so how much would you pay.

Stand your grounds with Workcover as they are the only bully's . You need to be two steps in front of them at all times and only tell them the bare minimum and always be very vague in doing so.
I have had 3 diskectomy 1 epidural spinal block, 1 laminectomy and a fortnight ago a fusion, pin and plated on L4, L5 and S1 and my problems only started in March 2010. I took things in to my own hands and got referrals to an Nero surgeon and had that covered and worked from there, once i had my W/C number it was good but the did try and say it didn't happen at work but they had to accept liability.

Also have you been to see a solicitor as you will need one and again don't let them know. You will also need a complete and accurate journal contain all phone conventions with W/C bills paid wages lost, holidays and superannuation not paid etc I also scan everything and keep it in a file, every chemist bill and in QLD if you travel over 22 Kls you can claim traveling too.

Hope my bi helps you

Wazza