First a little background info.

In May 2001 I was working as a Unit Secretary at a nursing home. One of our residents stood up out of his wheel chair and I tried to get him to sit back down (no nurses or CNA’s were around at the time). He didn’t want to sit back down (he couldn’t walk and fell frequently). I pulled him one way.. he pulled the other and I felt and heard a “pop” in my back.. but got him to sit. I also felt pain in my lower back and numbness down my right leg. I reported it but never went to the doctor. I left that job 2 weeks later. The pain and numbness continued and in June of 2001 it got really bad that I went to the doctor. He told me it was work related and to go back to the nursing home and get them to approve a visit with their doctor. I did that and went to their doctor, had xrays and a MRI done. The MRI showed a herniated disc. They referred me to their orthopedic doctor and he recommended a discectomy. Then all hell broke loose. The nursing home’s insurance company refused to pay for anything because they decided I did something “after” I left my job. So… I took my happy ass to a lawyer and went thru 2 years of pain and hell but got the insurance company to pay for everything. I had the surgery in August 2003, got a nice little settlement and worker’s comp payments every week. I went to court for the final in November 2003 and was to continue receiving payments for 2 years and had the right to reopen within 2 years if necessary. I was to receive 27 1/2% partial permant disability benefits. A few months later the pain and numbness worsened. The case was reopened and I went again to their orthopedic doctor… had another MRI and lo and behold the same disc had reherniated. He suggested spinal fusion surgery. It took them awhile to approve it all but I had spinal fusion surgery in August 2005. Now it’s time to finalize everything again.

I got a letter from my lawyer today. He and the worker’s comp lawyer had a conference with the judge. After reviewing all the doctor reports from my doctors, the lawyers doctor, workers comp doctor the judge decided that I’m to receive 50% partial permanent disability benefits! I’ll get a nice little chunk of change minus my part of the lawyer’s fee and an overpayment the insurance co made. I’ll still be getting over 30 grand! This will help so much until I’m able to find another job or get called back to this one. Between this and unemployment… I should be in good shape!!

Finally… something is going my way

I still have pain sometimes and I cannot sit or stand for any length of time. I get leg cramps often. But I will not have surgery again. I will just have to deal with it the way it is.