New guy on the block.

[Guest guest]

Where to start?

Well, I was injured at work in May 2002,I was knocked off a machine

and landed on my tail bone on a concrete floor.The company nurse

referred me to one of those workplace doctors in a strip mall,x-rayed

and told I had a lumbar sprain.I was given a seven day steroid

treatment and celebrex,later they added a muscle relaxer I think it

was flexeril or something like that.I had to attend physical therapy

while continuing to work in a limited capacity,which allowed me a 20%

reduction in my work load.In sept of that same year I could no longer

work in any capacityand began seeing an orthopedic Dr. who

immediately sent me for an MRI,the results were that I had 1 slightly

bulging disc in the lumbar region,I was sent to work hardening

therapy and continued this for 3 to 4 mos continuing to complain that

I was not getting any better in fact I was in more pain and

discomfort than ever.

Only after securing an attorney was I informed of my rights as an

injured party to a second opinion and choice of Doctors,I was seen by

a nuerosurgeon in may 2003.The Dr. read the MRI taken Sept. of the

previous year and said there were 2 severely herniated discs and 1

collapsed disc.Anyway I had the fusion L2-L5. 13 mos. later I had the

hardware removed.I was lead to believe the band of muscles were to

large and didn't allow enough room for the hardware,we'll get back to

that in a minute.then another 13 mos. passedI was convinced a less

invasive procedure involving electrodes being inserted thru large

gage needles and then singing the nerve ends to reduce the pain,that

didn't work.So now back to the lack of clearance in my back,turns out

the Dr. now says the fusion has eliminated the arch in my lower back

tilting my pelvis and causing additional complications both above and

below the fused area,with new x-rays the Dr. has revealed to me

that the disc at the top of the fusion is tilted forward as well as

the fusion itself being to straight.I was told of 2 surgical

procedures one that would try to correct the tilted disc,another

entering through the stomach and cracking the fusion attempting to

add some kind of curve .That is where I stand today awaiting a second

opinion from an orthopedic surgeon and attending aqua therapy 3 times

a week...........SO NOW WHAT? ..........I would appreciate some input

from others dealing with these types of injurues or that are in this

medical field.