Accident dragging on!

mommy2princess

I disagree that it is psychosomatic.

I saw a chiropractor today out of desperation to get some help for the pain. He did an examination and found that my L4 vertebrae was VERY tender to touch (something the ortho never found out as he barely examimed me). He noted that my muscles around the area were very compressed which is a sign of trauma, ie. jarred spine/muscles from the accident. He has recommended that the MRI scan be reviewed, as although the MRI won't have missed anything, the doctor who reviewed it (ie. the ortho) may well have and it does sound likely. He also noted that the motion of the lumbar region was stiff, something that a person cannot willingly do themselves.

This is why I want to pursue the claim. I am considering going to see a neurosurgeon and paying the consultation myself. Then if he agrees something is seriously wrong and likely from the crash, I will apply to the court for a second opinion.

I'm in too much pain to let this go

Sgt_Pepper_2

mommy2princess wrote: »

I disagree that it is psychosomatic.

I saw a chiropractor today out of desperation to get some help for the pain. He did an examination and found that my L4 vertebrae was VERY tender to touch (something the ortho never found out as he barely examimed me). He noted that my muscles around the area were very compressed which is a sign of trauma, ie. jarred spine/muscles from the accident. He has recommended that the MRI scan be reviewed, as although the MRI won't have missed anything, the doctor who reviewed it (ie. the ortho) may well have and it does sound likely. He also noted that the motion of the lumbar region was stiff, something that a person cannot willingly do themselves.

This is why I want to pursue the claim. I am considering going to see a neurosurgeon and paying the consultation myself. Then if he agrees something is seriously wrong and likely from the crash, I will apply to the court for a second opinion.

I'm in too much pain to let this go

This is why we are all paying through the nose for our insurance.

sabretoothtigger

One of my neighbours is a neurosurgeon, he is practically a deity

In his lieu Im prescribing you acupuncture and regular radox hot baths, it worked very well for someone I know with a ripped knee ligament from skiing. People would not believe snow could do so much damage either.

The stress and work of a trial may be the worst thing for you and cause further trauma and symptoms to occur

vlad_the_impaler

mommy2princess wrote: »

I disagree that it is psychosomatic.

I saw a chiropractor today out of desperation to get some help for the pain. He did an examination and found that my L4 vertebrae was VERY tender to touch (something the ortho never found out as he barely examimed me). He noted that my muscles around the area were very compressed which is a sign of trauma, ie. jarred spine/muscles from the accident. He has recommended that the MRI scan be reviewed, as although the MRI won't have missed anything, the doctor who reviewed it (ie. the ortho) may well have and it does sound likely. He also noted that the motion of the lumbar region was stiff, something that a person cannot willingly do themselves.

This is why I want to pursue the claim. I am considering going to see a neurosurgeon and paying the consultation myself. Then if he agrees something is seriously wrong and likely from the crash, I will apply to the court for a second opinion.

I'm in too much pain to let this go

Well, if a Chiropractor said it - it must be true then! You are taking this 'diagnosis' over the advice of everyone else because it is someone (who you are paying) telling you what you want to hear.

I have a prolapsed L4 and L5 and have had for 10 years now. You can see this on an MRI scan. The pain does subside if you get fit, lose weight and be positive - but you have to make this happen yourself. I dealt with loads of different people on my journey to getting healthy from a consultant neurosurgeon professor in London right across to an accupuncturist, and indeed a chiropractor or two.

In my experience:

The Ortho surgeon will only operate if you are fainting on the floor of their office.

The Neuro will give you epidurals (which do work!), and only operate as a last resort.

The accupuncturist will tell you that they can cure you (which is crap), but does help calm your nerves (in my experience). I found being in lots of pain made me lose my normally easy-going approach to other people!

Both Chiros I tried were expensive, useless charlatans - only interested in my money. They told me whatever it took to keep me coming back every week. Eventually I sussed this and conspired to test the last one by telling them something I knew should have meant they should cease working on me until the issue was resolved (a white lie!). I got a lame response suggesting I should keep on coming (any paying) for 'non invasive' work. Never went back after that. This is not of course to say all of them are like this; DYOR!

You have no physical damage, and medical opinions suggesting that what you are feeling has no obvious cause. You are also seeking compensation. You can I am sure see why people are thinking badly of you. I for one believe you really are in pain - but you have to understand that sometimes life ain't fair, and there is not always a happy ending. This is one of those times. You are going to have to take it on the chin that you are not getting money for this, and concentrate instead on getting better. When I was chronic, I would have done anything to get away from the pain - channel your energies into that. If it helps I came out the other end years later 2.5 stone lighter, running 20k a week and focused like never before. All good things I very much doubt would have have occured if I had not hurt myself. Every cloud and all that.

Good luck.

sarahg1969

OP, quite aside from the private consultations and reports you are having as part of your claim, what has your GP recommended? Have you been referred to specialists through the NHS? If so, what diagnosis and treatment have you received from them?

mommy2princess

Sarah - My GP has prescribed painkillers - and offered stronger ones - to the point where I'd rattle if I agreed. He suggested exercises which I have done for more than a year with no effect. He told me that he could refer me, but in his exact words: "There is no point unless you need a wheelchair because they won't do anything until then". Lovely eh.

Vlad - a lot of what of what you say makes sense. Especially the bit about no-one operating until a last resort. I have heard of spinal injections etc. but IME the epidural I had in labour was ineffective (my feet were slightly numb but I was able to get up and walk, no pain relief at all) so my concern would be the effectiveness of these.

I guess atm I am just really angry - not because I won't get the money I deserve, but because I might end up finding out I have a permanent injury and no justice for that!

I know how everyone feels about the rising car insurance - but that is what it is for, to get help for injured people in accidents and accidents. Yes, people take advantage but that is true of almost anything these days.

DUTR

mommy2princess wrote: »

Sarah - My GP has prescribed painkillers - and offered stronger ones - to the point where I'd rattle if I agreed. He suggested exercises which I have done for more than a year with no effect. He told me that he could refer me, but in his exact words: "There is no point unless you need a wheelchair because they won't do anything until then". Lovely eh.

Vlad - a lot of what of what you say makes sense. Especially the bit about no-one operating until a last resort. I have heard of spinal injections etc. but IME the epidural I had in labour was ineffective (my feet were slightly numb but I was able to get up and walk, no pain relief at all) so my concern would be the effectiveness of these.

I guess atm I am just really angry - not because I won't get the money I deserve, but because I might end up finding out I have a permanent injury and no justice for that!

I know how everyone feels about the rising car insurance - but that is what it is for, to get help for injured people in accidents and accidents. Yes, people take advantage but that is true of almost anything these days.

You have to understand that whilst you are still suffering symptoms, then no compo will be paid out.
Imagine if they paid out say £10k as a final settlement, and then later due to the injury you could never walk or work again, the £10k would not be fair compo, so whilst you have the symptons the full extent of a claim cannot be assesed. hth

sarahg1969

OP, you need to concentrate on getting treated, and not on the compensation. You need to press your GP for a referral and a firm diagnosis and then a treatment programme. It's getting better that is important, not the money. If you have not seen anyone other than your GP, then that's not going to aid your case. Also, the stress of the case is not going to assist you (it's known that it can prolong/heighten symptoms for some people). Put that to one side for now, and deal with your medical issues.

bobthedambuilder

DUTR wrote: »

You have to understand that whilst you are still suffering symptoms, then no compo will be paid out.
Imagine if they paid out say £10k as a final settlement, and then later due to the injury you could never walk or work again, the £10k would not be fair compo, so whilst you have the symptons the full extent of a claim cannot be assesed. hth

I don't think that's correct. Many people will continue to suffer the symptoms of their injuries for the rest of their lives. It is the job of the medical examiners to determine the extent of the injuries, and whether they have a long-term effect. If so, there are other experts who can quantify the long-term cost of dealing with those effects.

Just take as an example someone who loses the use of their legs. They will suffer symptoms of that for the rest of their lives and a cost can be put against both the suffering and the measures needed to deal with the injury. That's what compensation is really for.

Occasionally you will find that a PI claim settlement is delayed while time is allowed to see if a full recovery is possible, but this is exceptional rather than the norm. Insurance companies don't want lots of outstanding claims on their books.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

you may well find my post rude, but often people being told the trueth hurts.

in my experience solicitors can drop cases such as these as soon as it becomes a dark teritory, wich is what you could be entering if you pay for all the reports to despute the original medical report submission, easily thrown out of court as they would be seen as non independant sometimes bias, a solicitor rarely backs himself into a courner in court desputing independant reports infront of a judge to suit his clients own payd for reports. youll find your solicitor would rather cut his losses with you there and then rather than go to court and try and do this for you.

youve also signed the report, wich is an official declaration to say you have read understood and agree with the reports findings so thats going to be one thing to be upheld in a court also. if you did not agree with the report, but was told to sign it and send it back by your solicitor you sign it with a statement of duress and disgreement.

that way a solicitor would have had a statement of reason behind the signed under duress and that would have been report desputed it would have been able to go to the courts so another report would have had to be made with a different assessor.

anything you pay for now can be easily desputed by the otherside due to signing in agreement with the original report. judge wont look at your reports and no solicitor would try and argue any despute you may have.