Back Pain Support Group
Back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek medical care. In fact, about 3 in 4 adults will experience back pain during their lifetime! The term back pain includes pain affecting the neck, midback and low back. Acute back pain may begin suddenly with intense pain but typically lasts fewer than three months. Usually, chronic back pain is persistent, steady, and...
So my PM doc said he wanted to try a facet joint injection. I am not thrilled with all this "let's just mask the pain" mentality. I don't want the injections because I am so sensitive to meds.
So, the nurse called to schedule the appt and said it was for a medial branch nerve block and mentioned that they use steroids. After my last steroid injection, I DO NOT want steroids! I told her this and she put down that I request no steroids. I also told her I wasn't comfortable with the injection (especially since they changed it and didn't tell me about it until they scheduled the appointment)
I called work comp and told them I didn't want the injections and she said if I didn't do it, they would stop my checks. So I am SOL.
I called a lawyer on Friday but they didn't call back yet. The injections (three of them) are on Monday (tomorrow). I decided I am going to sign the consent form as "Signed under duress [my name]. Pam at work comp said if I don't do this, she will stop my checks and close my claim for non-compliance."
I am so uncomfortable with this. No PT, no chiropractor, NOTHING... they are just trying to mask the pain.
I am not sure what else to do.
So, the nurse called to schedule the appt and said it was for a medial branch nerve block and mentioned that they use steroids. After my last steroid injection, I DO NOT want steroids! I told her this and she put down that I request no steroids. I also told her I wasn't comfortable with the injection (especially since they changed it and didn't tell me about it until they scheduled the appointment)
I called work comp and told them I didn't want the injections and she said if I didn't do it, they would stop my checks. So I am SOL.
I called a lawyer on Friday but they didn't call back yet. The injections (three of them) are on Monday (tomorrow). I decided I am going to sign the consent form as "Signed under duress [my name]. Pam at work comp said if I don't do this, she will stop my checks and close my claim for non-compliance."
I am so uncomfortable with this. No PT, no chiropractor, NOTHING... they are just trying to mask the pain.
I am not sure what else to do.
Secondly, talk with your doctor again, and tell him that you "don't beleive that doing an invasive procedure without a trial of physical therapy and chiropractic is indicated". Spinal injections are a third tier treatment option after progressive treatment with NSAIDs, PT, and non-invasive treatment has failed after 3 to 6 months. You can find plenty of peer reviewed research supporting this on the internet. (if your a student you can use lexis nexus) If he insist, you have option three...
Report your physician for insurance fraud. Spinal injections should not be considered if you haven't seen a PT first, and they are contraindicated if you have had them previously with no positive response. Your doc is probably inflating your bill for the WC insurance.(my opinion only)
About your procedure:
If you should suddenly get sick on Thurday or Friday requiring a vist with your primary.....perhaps with an off/on fever with a headache with "no neck pain"(this opens another can of worms).... This will probably cancel you injection on Monday. As a responsible healthcare provider I wouldn't perform a spinal injection knowing my patient recently had symptoms that are similar to infection caused by my procedure....I would reschedule and wait for it to clear up. Of course, this is only if you should happen to get sick.