Frustrated, in pain, running out of options.
 

Hello fellas:

I'm a 32 y/o firefighter who's been battling with DDD to my lumbar spine for about 8 years after an on the job injury. As of the last 21/2 -3 years ive develop severe discogenic pain. Thankfully not sciatic pain unless I spend a long time sitting which I can never do bc sitting over 20 mins with the back pain I'm experiencing is a big no no. I have herniations and annular tears on L4 thru S1. Had a discogram to confirm it and it was positive. my L2-L3 is also showing sings of DDD.

With that said I went to a very prestigious Dr in Miami (I'm located there) and he recommended a MI TLIF to L4-S1. I'm telling you right now. Not gonna happen I refuse. This would mean I can't be a firefighter any more besides affecting my activities which I have not performed in over two years anyways but had the hope that some day thru the advances of medicine(joke right) I'd be able to do. ( as far as I know there's no issues with my facet joints and my bone density should be fine)
Enter ADR. I found out about this great option(granted not always successful but then I could live with the fusion knowing I tried everything and gave mysef a chance) Since Live in Miami I read around here and did some more research online and discovered I have a very good ADR surgeon in my backyard. Dr Rolando Garcia. Well as my luck has it I requested a Dr change to my WC manager and requested Rolando Garcia. All great but there's an issue. Garcia only takes WC that do pre-payments. Well my WC doesn't do pre -payments. So I just received the news from the case manager and I'm so depressed after hearing this. I really had my hopes on Dr Garcia. So now I ask the more experience people in here. Do you recommend or know any other Dr's the do ADR in South Florida? I went to my own Dr as well and he also said "after exploring all other non-invasive options I may have to consider surgery although he doesn't usually recommend it".

I've had therapy, cortisone shots, rest, pain meds don't help anymore other than make me sleepy. I was a very active person. Water Polo player at a very high level, use to mountain bike all the time and take my dogs (4) out all the time. This all started to faced out of my life little by little and now I'm just a couch potato. I'm tired of living like this. I want my life back so any help you guys can provide I'll listen to.

I've also looked at the M6 overseas but this is not a feasible option right now due to my financial situation.
Sorry about the long post.

Firemedix,

Welcome and condolences.

There is an ADR recipient on this site, which I believe from his description of his job, is also a fireman. He had ADR a year ago and is now back on the job, including lifting and carrying people (with no issues). And like you he is also very active when off the job. He had lumbar M6 with Dr Boree, which you said it not an option for you. He goes by the handle, zoticos. He doesn't post here very often anymore, but if you PM him I'm certain he'd respond to you.

As your surgery will be in the US, you will very probably get a ProDisc-L. I don't know your surgeon, but would strongly encourage you to check his history of successful.vs.unsuccessful outcomes with ADR before you allow him to operate. As you've observed there are no mulligans with lumbar spine ADR, and an unsuccessful surgery can leave you much worse off than before. I don't know if this will be an option for you, but Dr Zigler at TBI in Plano, TX reliably turns out a steady stream of excellent outcomes with the ProDisc-L. I would encourage you to look into that possibility.

Good luck, Jeff

Thank you so much. For the reply. I have research Dr Rolando Garcia and he has some nice credentials plus I've seen posts by a couple of patients on other sites who have had gr8 results. He was also the first Dr in FL to implant a Pro disc back when the trials first started and is also one of the developers or the Activ-L from what I read and hear.

As far as Dr Ziegler goes I've heard gr8 things as well but the issue is I doubt he will take an out of state Worker's Comp case. Even if that was the case I also doubt my WC would actually pay for the out of sate Dr. But I'll definitely look into it.

I've been in touch with Zoticos thru PMs. He's been gr8 help. If only I could afford the surgery I'd be in Barcelona already. (Dr Boree sadly passed away las year) I just keep playing the lotto in the mean time in the hope I get lucky. :sulkoff:

Thanks for your reply.

I haven't done this with spine surgery, but I did do it when I needed to see an endometriosis specialist. Call your spinal surgeon and get a list of WC that he takes. Then go back to HR and see if you can switch to one of those. You may have to wait until next year, but at least it can get covered.

Hi,
I spoke to a guy on another board who had a successful ADR (WC claim) in Connecticut back in 2009. He actually had a 3 level ADR. His surgeon was the Head of orthopedics at Yale New Haven Hospital. It's out of state, but might be worth the research.

I'm in a suburb of Tampa, and have an appt. with a doc in Lakeland on Mon. He does ADR. I'll let you know how it goes.

Hang in there!

Thank you guys for replying and the positive thoughts.
So here is the deal with my WC and why lots of Docs won't take our WC. I work for the biggest fire department in the Southeastern US which is also part of the whole Metropolitan Dade County so we are self insured(boomer) well as luck has it last year around may our WC changed to a different program. Now they are behind in paying their bills bc of the whole conversion. Since they haven't paid basically most of the Docs since May 2012 most of them either ask for pre-payment or simply avoid my department at all costs. Lucky me right? This is the explanation I got from my case manager. I begged her and cried on the phone with her to please do anything within her power to help me reach an agreement with the Dr's office so I can be seen. She has apparently contacted the office manager for Dr Garcia and is trying to get an agreement of some type bc they keep saying they will absolutely not pre-pay(this suck). Truth is I'm not very optimistic at all. Regardless I have to just sit and wait. Again thank you all.

What about going to the media? I bet you ANYTHING they will pre-pay if we get you enough coverage.

I used to be in PR, so let me know if you want help with that. The public outcry could be HUGE. Everybody loves firemen.

Media should be a last resort, BTW, so if you have an appeals process or what have you, let that play out first.

Lillyth thanks so much for the offer. I will keep it in mind but like you said let me exhaust my other avenues before taking that route. Good luck on your upcoming surgery.

firemedix,

Talk about a double whammy! In many companies a "self funded" insurance plan effectively means you don't have coverage; I hope yours is not such. And then to top it off your WC won't pay their bills either.

Short of the media card, I don't know what to suggest. I'll let you know if I have an epiphany.

Good luck, Jeff

thanks Jeff.