Have not read about this anywhere?

[LONDON53]

Perhaps someone could advise me here. Ill use real dates. On March 12th, I had an appointment with my WC Ortho. I was on my second steriod shot (the 12th day) and it was working, I felt pretty good..not 100 percent but pretty good. So here is what happened, my Dr immediately wrote up a restriction form that i was released to work "full duty"..no restrictions. The very next day the shot stopped working and I was worse than ever. In other words, the restrictions no longer applied. I immediately called the Doctor, the adjuster, the Nurse Case Manager and my employer and told them what happened. Their response was mostly "too bad" and they cut me off from TDD right away and are still going by the "full duty" even though it does not apply anymore. So now I am not working(impossible) and have no income(no TDD) . Almost 6 weeks now and they still refuse. My Laywer said they usually don't accept phone calls or e-mails and get it in writing. So i sent them a letter explaining what happened and by law they must reinstate my TDD...if they don't within 30 days..I have to take them to court and they could be fined and penalized for refusing to comply. Has this happened to anyone before and must I wait the 30 days? It is past the 30 day deadline and no reponse from them so far? What happens next? I thank you in advance for your response.
London53 PS..My State is Nevada.....

[Wink]

London~
I had 4 ESI's in my lower back over a period of several months and after each shot  I felt much better.  The relief never lasted, though, past a day or two.  Fortunately, in my case, I only saw the Ortho 2 to 3 weeks after each shot, so by then the doctor could see me in my true state.  Of course, had my WC doctor's appointment been on the day of the ESI or day after then he would have sent my butt back to work because I would have reported no pain.  I'm sorry that your timing was off between shots and the ortho appointment.  It happens sometimes.

Question: Why did you have to write a letter?  Why didn't your lawyer take care of that for you?  What is he now saying about your case?  I don't know about your state, but perhaps your lawyer can file for an Expedited Hearing on your behalf.  You may need to push your lawyer. I know it's rough but hang in there and don't give up.  Others will be along shortly to offer their opinion or advice.    

[Pooh]

I agree with Wink on this - your attorney should be the one writing the letter to the insurance company trying to get you another appointment since the shot wore off sooner than expected and it is quite frequent that the shot will have a positive effect a day or 2 after it is given.

I don't know about epidural injections, but I do know that with cortisone injections in my shoulder, I have not gotten more than a few days relief at most. I have had a doctor return me to work full duty 3 weeks after a cortisone injection even though I complained that I was still in pain - but he is an idiot and deaf to iw's. That's why eventually I need a total shoulder replacement.

But it was my attorney that fought to get additional appointments and such for me. I didn't hav to do anything other than complain at work constantly that I was still in pain which I was.

[Lilly]

Hi....
I never had an ESI...but would have to leave work to get cortisone injection ..then immediately return to work. Cortisone never did a thing for me, except warm the area of the injection site...pain never left.
Take care, Lilly

[Bad Boy Bad Boy]

London, I know these things happen, and I fully believe you.

But now, you also have to look at what the employer, the IC, and the Doctor are looking at. Their thinking, once your sent back to work, all the sudden you say something is wrong. Now, we know different, for these Injections are only Bandaides, their not a Cure. Very seldom do these injections cure you. They mask the pain for a while is all. 80% fail, 15% mask pain for awhile, and 10% to 5% just do nothing at all. What you should have done in my opinion, was go to work, start your day, no matter how you felt or looked, and then told your boss you became in great pain, and send you with a slip to go back to see the Doctor. This showed you tried to return to work, you went, you went to the Doctor, and then all your bases where covered in full.

[1171]

Unless the doctor reinstates the restrictions you are still considered released to full duty. Disability payments require medical authorization. Once you have it you have a better chance at getting the comp court to order resumption of disability benefits.

[red1030]

Hi London 53...I am sorry to hear about what has happened. When a steriod shot is given it decreases any swelling in the area where it is given therefore your pain is masked. Unfortunately as the steriods leave the system, and you continue to move the injuried part of your body, the swelling comes back and so does the pain and difficulty of use. The ortho doctors should know this. Have you considered making an appointment to see him or her about the changes. If you can't see the original ortho, then make an appointment with another doctor so you can recieve medical assistance. My husband was cut off after 6 weeks of TTD because the W/C ortho reviewed his MRI and said there is nothing wrong. Then when we went to a doctor of his choosing and took the same MRI reports with us, both the radiologist who read the films and the orthopod said he has 3 cerivical herinate disc. However, even with a lawyer and these doctor reports, the IC is fighting his claim. We are waiting for a court hearing now. He was injuried 12/05. It has been awhile. Best of luck.

[Bad Boy Bad Boy]

RED, (radiologist), would you like to explain to the people here, that they can have 10 radiologist read a X-ray, MRI, or even a CAT Scan, and they then will see they have 10 reports, each being different from the next...   I also read up on this issue before in a Medical Journal, that they performed a study on radiologist & reports...

[red1030]

Bad Boy...it is true that Radiologist reports may differ. It really depends on why the referring physician is asking for the report. For instance, when a doctor assesses a patient and believes that the patient has appendicitis, he or she will order a CScan to confirm his assessment prior to going to surgery. In this case, the radialogist who reads the film will center his report on this request. There are a lot of reasons for this. First, this radiologist has been ask to determine if there is an appendicities so the person can go to surgery. Second of course there is what the insurance companies will pay for, and third, this radiologist does not have the time to look at other factors. Therefore, another radiologist who is ask to read the film without a focal point, and a patient is not waiting for surgery so he or she has more time may see other parts of the film. A CScan that focuses on an area of an appendix may see stones in the patients kidney etc and not put it in the report. I think you can compare this to regular every day pictures. What I mean is, if there is a new picture of my granddaughter, all I see his her smiling face etc. Another person who has not been to DC may see the Washington momument she is standing in front of. Our eyes are directed by the consult that is recieved.

Also too clarify what I said above. The radiologist report was the paper report found in the film that was reviewed by both doctors. Both orthopods read the same report from the same radiologist only one said it was DJD and the other said what the radiologist said originally and that was 3 herniated cervical disc. Thanks for asking for the clarification. I hope this helps some.

[LONDON53]

Thanks everybody for your helpful advice.. twice it is mentioned "why didn't my Lawyer write the letter"..The answer to that is because at the time I did not actually have a Lawyer...it was just advice from a Lawyer which I have finally retained. If the IC does not respond to my letter on 30 days which it is now, then she is my Lawyer now and will fight this in Court. In thr meantime, I have a follow-up with the same Dr that orginally wrote the "full duty" ..that is this Monday the 23rd. I am going to take it from there. In the meantime once again I thank all for replying!