Good news/bad news from my car being hit....
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Good news/bad news from my car being hit....
The good news: DH took photos at the scene. We sent them to both insurance carriers and immediately got a call from other company that they will take 100% liability. So now 100% of repairs and rental is covered. YAHOO!
The bad news is my MRI came back changing my status of injury and I was strongly advised to get a lawyer now. I was so hoping it wouldn't come to this. My whilplash changed from a mild strain (aka whiplash) to a moderate whiplash, so it went from a 3 to 6 on a scale of 1-10. Besides some torn ligaments and other words I can't remember, I have a ruptured herniated disk. As explained to me, that means the little sack cushion between the bones has moved and is getting squished as well as leaking fluids. This also changes me to a "surgical candidate" status. So now I have to go see an MD. My chiropractor says that "surgical candidate" does not necessarily mean I will need surgery, it just means this is something that must be looked at and decided upon and could change over time. Thus bringing more worries of ongoing costs that we can not forsee at this time.
I'm thankful I had the MRI, but am really not looking forward into a law suit of ANY kind.
Any words of advice will be appreciated.
As for my comfort level, I am actually feeling worse now than I did last week. Before my first adjustment, my bones were SOOOOO TIGHT I really didn't have any room for movement, so my pain was subsiding. I had a killer headache however that almost did me in. Then I got adjusted. OMG there must have been 25-20 pops in my neck alone. Several more in my mid back and even more in my lower back where the other pain is. I felt so much better the very next day. Headache gone, but now my bones were able to move and I was crunching and popping all day with even small moves. I've had 3 treatments including that first one, and the popping is not as bad during the adjustment any more. The dr said that mobility was coming back to my back and neck. It is nice to have range of motion back but it hurts when I move now. All of this from someone elses mistake. SIGH.
At least the worry of this other guy claiming I had some fault in this is over. I am so happy!!!
Yes, you definitely need a lawyer. Email me - klipvm at rcn dot com - and I will try to get some reliable referrals for you. And you need a good orthopedic specialist or neurosurgeon or both.
As is probably clear, I'm not a big fan of chiropractic treatment *except* under guidance/treatment instructions from an M.D. I'm glad your chiropractor understands the seriousness of your condition. I really, really urge you to get to a specialist ASAP. And I would urge you to not have any more adjustment treatments until you've seen one or both of these specialists.
You may not need surgery. But only a specialist who is qualified to do the surgery can make that decision. Sometimes ruptured/herniated disks heal - mine did. But in the meantime, you need the best treatment possible.
Thanks Ginny. We just met w/ the lawyer. My DH likes him, and so do I. DH is pretty tough w/ this kind of thing so I feel great that he liked this guy.
My next step and very IMPORTANT step is to find the right dr. I mean I am looking at what to do w/ my neck and possible surgery. I don't want someone who just wants to cut on me. So now I am on the search for that.
{{{{{Dana}}}}} I'm so sorry you have to go through this. I hope you can get everything worked out, especially the medical issues. More hugs.
Dana, I'm sorry your news isn't all good, but it's not surprising. Soft tissue injuries like whiplash normally get worse after the first day, before they get better. I'm really glad you had the MRI!!
And if you DO need a surgeon, see a neurosurgeon for neck surgery! I'm a veteran of 2 back surgeries due to ruptured disks, and I have 3 more herniated disks in my back and 2 in my neck. And Ginny is right, not all disk injuries require surgery, each case is different. You can email me if you want to as well, I'm sure everyone on the board is tired of my disk stories by now! LOL
Ditto on seeing a specialist!
(((((Dana)))) I'm so sorry to hear of all this. I definitely agree with the advice given above.
I wish I was nearby to help with things. I know you already have your hands full with your cute little ds, but to be in so much pain I'm sure is only adding to things. How are you feeling today?
Hi Dana, It's Letishe. Oh I'm so sorry to hear this, but I hope you do fine he right doctor and get the proper treatment. Glad to hear you and DH have settled on a lawyer. And yes it is a relief that you don't have to worry about liability that the other driver has owned up to there responsibility in this.
Like Sandy I too wish I was near you so that I could help out especially with the kids. Pls. know that you and the whole family are in my thoughts and prayers. It can only get better.
Thank you ladies. The last two days have been difficult, so I didn't come online to reply. Keeping up with the kids and still trying to keep them happy with fun things this summer, I over did it two days in a row. Infact, today I over did too. But not feeling as badly. Evenings are my worst. But still managable.
Saw the chiropractor again today and he will give me some names as well on MD's that specialize in this. The one he wants to send me to is a neurosurgeon, but it involves a somewhat long drive to another city. I bring my kids to my appts at his office, so he knows that means I would have to cart them around w/ me for any trips to that dr. So he is going to give me the names of others closer to me. So that is on the list of things to do for next week.
I got a name of another dr that 3 other people recommended.
As far as the pain I feel now compared to last week, he said that is very normal for this type of injury. So I don't feel as badly about it as I did. I felt like somehow it was all in my mind than real. Ya' know like getting hurt and you feel "okay" until you see the blood, then it all changes? LOL. But he says it is real 
Looking forward for things getting better because I really miss being able to dance w/ the baby when a silly song comes on. That seems like the smallest joy that used to happen every day that makes a difference in my life. The big stuff I'm not doing I notice too, but oh, it's the small things I miss most for now.
{{{HUGS}}} I would have missed dancing with the baby, too.
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