I have been suffering with back pain for the last 6 months, I am off on workers comp due to the work injury. I have had MRI on spine, and they found 2 tumors that they are watching. I recently had the epidural block, that did nothing for me in fact, it has made my situation worse. I spent the entire day in my bed today due to pain. I feel like they still have the iv in my back in the sciatica area. I have numbness that runs down my leg and into my foot. The dr said last time, when he scheduled the MRI that he would see me in 3 weeks at which time he will release me back to work. I don't think I can do it! My back hurts if I do nothing, if I move or go for a walk the next day Im in bed. Should I tell him this> also should I tell him about the fibro? I have applied for ssi but no word yet., I can't afford to be off work with no income. I normally drive cdl bus, with individuals all over Gettysburg PA, I don't honestly think I will be able to load the wheel chairs or even drive for the length of time of my shift. what would you all do In my situation?
Hi Jackie, tell him everything! I have had Sciatica for 8 years now, started in my right leg, quickly went to my left and stayed there. Only thing that touches it is Lyrica. I take 225 mg, 3x daily. They found several cysts on my back, probably interfering with the nerves, along with some bone spurs, My Chiropractor told me more about my recent MRIs than anyone, so I imagine the tumors are horrific! So very sorry to hear this!
Lifting is not a good idea for you, and you should have a Dr somewhere that is wise enough to know this and stand up for you. If not, time to look around, you can only afford to have Drs who are taking care of you and looking out for you. You are not too far from me, but far enough that you would not want to travel here for a Doctor. I'm closer to Antietam Battlefield.
If you cannot find a Dr who is taking care of you, Hershey may be the place. Go for the top guy if you go!
Sending you my best, hope you can get some relief. BTW, pain management shots only ever made me worse. I know they do help some, but if this is not helping you, don't do it!
Wishing you the very best,
SK
Jackie, you have to tell him you are not better !! I understand the need to work, but it will only make things worse, I wouldn’t even wait the three weeks, call & tell them you are still in a lot of pain… & perhaps they can see you sooner ? If you wait he may think you are doing fine.
As for the fibro… I’m not sure how that can change your workers comp case… They are two different issues, but I would call your SSDI attorney & tell them you are out of work from a back injury, and you are not getting better…
Perhaps ask the SSDI attorney if there is any reason you shouldn’t tell ( workers comp) about your fibro ?
This is a difficult thing & I personally would want some legal advice about the two things.
I hope those with a SSDI case & a workers comp case can shed some better light on this, I’m kinda in the same boat… Have had a workers comp case for my back, and just recently filed SSDI …
But I would let the dr. That wants to send you back to work, know you are not any better !
Hugs
dee
Hi Jackie,
Tell him all of this. You can't be driving around in that kind of pain, let alone loading a bus full of disabled passengers. That would mean getting the wheel chaired people on board via the ramp and electric thingie then chaining the chairs down, right? That looks to me to be a VERY physical job. Not only would your fibro probably be aggravated but you could risk having an accident from your fibro just going out of control as a result of too much hard work. Fibro does tend to do that when confronted with a lot of physical work. And it sounds like you've kind of reached your maximum "tilt" level, to borrow from pin ball language.
And I'd also ask him what's the deal with the horrific pain after the procedure. I mean, I guess your fibro could have flared up but i'm also wondering if more is involved.
I hope and pray you feel better soon. Please take it easy. Don't go back to work before you're physically able to. Fibro could really go after you with a vengence.
Sympathetically,
Petunia