10 replies to this topic

[Scubatooth]

Its been a while since I updated anyone on my back and how things have been going.

In late September I had surgery to repair a L5-S1 disc I damaged back in January. Since then recovery has progressed and physical terrorism, i mean therapy and is continuing and my strength is slowly coming back. PT has shown how much strength i have lost since getting hurt and that even though it is slowly coming back, there is still a long road to go, and it will be probably summer of next year before I have a good level of strength back, and could work on the ambulance again according to my physical therapist.

I saw the doctor last week for a 8 week post op check up. Things went pretty good as things are progressing, and a "work hardening" program which is more of a work specific Physical Therapy because unlike standard physical therapy normal insurance would cover, Workmans Comp only covers so much Physcial Therapy before a different treatment option is needed. The program is supposed to me more work specific to my job but will have wait and see on that front.

At the appointment the doctor also released me to "light-duty" on a week from today (12/13), so will be going back to work but not on the ambulance. Last friday I also went and talked to my division director to see what my options are going forward. I did this because as I have learned through this that Workmans Comp is not in place to help the injured worker, but to get the insurance company off as cheaply and quickly as possible. I know that even if after this "work hardening" program the insurance company will say "all good to go" even though I wont be even close, and the risk of getting hurt again is extremely high if things happen the way workmans comp and the insurance company do things. I will most likely have to work Physical Therapy on my own or pay for it out of pocket so things can be done right.

In the meeting with the division director I asked him what other options were out there, so that I could take care of myself and recover properly. One option was to go back to what I did prior to my surgery which was paperwork pushing and doing odd jobs no one wanted to do, which drove me nuts as it was mind numbing. The other possibility was going to work in the communications center as a call taker and potentially work up to getting a Emergency Medical Dispatcher certification. The only down side is that I would have to sign a 1 year commitment to work in the communications center and transfer out of the ground division and the level of OT possibilities I had. The second option was more appealing as it gives me the time i need to get stronger without the risks hurting myself again. The director said he didnt know for sure if he had a opening in the communications center but wont know till this week and would let me know. My fingers are crossed that the second option comes through as even with the one year commitment it would be a good opportunity for me in the long run. Needless to say my fingers are crossed.

Tooth

[Hipshot]

Best wishes for a quick and complete recovery, Tooth. I'm sure that whatever choice you'll make it'll be the right one.

Rick

[Scubatooth]

Beyond work and medical from this series of event, I have come to realize that sometimes what looks not so good on the surface are actually a blessing in disguise. Lots of downtime to think has a way of causing one to reflect on things in life and what you truly want.

Prior to getting hurt I now realize that I was burning the candle at both ends and it was only a matter of time before something happened. In the year and a half leading up to getting hurt I was living the life, or so it seemed. In that time i was working a fair amount of overtime (averaged 88.4 hours a week for 18 months), and on my days off I was typically not at home as i was hundreds of miles away doing something else (traveling, photography, diving, etc). I enjoyed what I was able to do, accomplish and see, but it did have its toll. It will be a effort that will take a bit of time to iron out, fix and get things back to a sibilance of normal. Now to get things back to to where they were will in take a number of sacrifices to get there, but it will be worth it.

Like a phoenix that rises a new out of the ashes of the old to live again. Hopefully the coming year will be better as I dont want to jinx anything as my fingers are crossed but hopefully things work out that are going on and lead to better days ahead.

[ScubaTex]

Dan

Glad to hear your up and around, and I know you'll work hard to rehab, it's no fun at all. WC is their own worst enemy, spend $10 to try to save 10 cents. My case nurse called me at 4:30 pm the Wed before T-giving to ask me questions, concerning my last Dr visit, when she had his report right in front of her. I had 2 labral tears repaired 11/2. Hopefully, surgeon will release me for PT & hardening on 12/17, meanwhile I spend my days working on ROM stretches. I'm having second thoughts to going back to the job I was doing when I was injured, but I will still work in the industry. I'm wondering when WC is going to cut me off, problem is all the work I do requires the ability to lift at least 50 lbs. All I know the sooner I can go to work, the sooner I can go divin.

We need to get PPM to set up a HH, although we probably should wait until after the first of the year.

Bill

[peterbj7]

I had a bad accident in the late '80's - I was in hospital for three months, two of those in traction to reposition the two halves of my completely severed pelvis - but then made what was described as a "miraculous recovery". There was nothing miraculous about it - I worked incredibly hard at the physiotherapy, driving myself ever harder and further, and achieving more in the first two weeks than the hospital had expected in 10. After serious surgery or realignment, the best way to get back on your feet is very hard work. Less than a month after a really major accident which I hadn't been expected to survive I was out on the ski slopes. The best of luck to you as well, but mostly it's not luck, it's what you force yourself to do.

[WreckWench]

Tooth I am sooooooooooooo happy to hear at least progressive news...you are and have been in my prayers that all works out for the best...whatever that may be.

And yes difficult times have a way of hardening us and clarifying what is important. I'm right there with ya!

Bill it IS time for a DFW HH and since I'll be in the area a bit longer than usual after the holidays I will get an early one set up! I'll be in Rockwall so it may be closer to there than our usual Dallas Haunts but we'll have one none-the-less. I'll see if Kimmie is up for it and can extend our driving range...if ya know what I mean...I'm good for 30-45 minutes and then I have serious narcolepsy to deal with regardless of the time of day.

Ok back to the work of getting back from a tradeshow and catching up on old work as well as new work!

[UP Diver]

Tooth I am sooooooooooooo happy to hear at least progressive news...you are and have been in my prayers that all works out for the best...whatever that may be.

And yes difficult times have a way of hardening us and clarifying what is important. I'm right there with ya!

Bill it IS time for a DFW HH and since I'll be in the area a bit longer than usual after the holidays I will get an early one set up! I'll be in Rockwall so it may be closer to there than our usual Dallas Haunts but we'll have one none-the-less. I'll see if Kimmie is up for it and can extend our driving range...if ya know what I mean...I'm good for 30-45 minutes and then I have serious narcolepsy to deal with regardless of the time of day.

Ok back to the work of getting back from a tradeshow and catching up on old work as well as new work!

Kamala -

I will rattle the cages, pay all the bail bonds to get the exclusive members of the PIHHR together to start the planning for a "just after the new year" HH

UP Diver

Edited by UP Diver, 07 December 2010 - 02:37 PM.

[Landlocked Dive Nut]

Keep plugging away at the PT, Dan. It does get better, and easier, if you keep pushing just a bit! Meanwhile, it's good that you're already planning for your return to work in some capacity. You have to be tired of your living room by now!

[Scubatooth]

Well its been a couple of weeks i figured i would give everyone a update.

I returned to work this past monday and initially was just doing filing and boring paperwork, but on tuesday I got some very good news. There was a spot in the communication center and I was able to transfer into the communications center, and initially will be doing calltaking for non-emergency transports and from there can expand to getting my EMD/EFD (Emergency Medical Dispatch / Emergency Fire Dispatcher) in 6 months to a year. So far i have only worked 2 days but I think its something i can get used to doing, if I'm not able to return to the field (at all or for a long time). Not to mention some of the people on the shift im training on aren't to bad, most i knew from when i worked on the truck and a couple that I hadnt meet before and only came to the company after I got hurt. One in particular has been pretty chatty with me and has been subtly flirty as well:D.

On the progress on my recovery, things are still progressing as my initial physical therapy will finish at right around first of the year and then a secondary program is supposed to begin soon, which is more focused on the requirements of working on the truck as a paramedic. I will see how that goes as going from <25lbs to being able to lift greater then 250lbs its a very large step and typically less then 25 causes my back to hurt. Not to mention i have good days:D and days where muscle relaxers and pain medication is still needed:(

My home PT program continues and things are advancing; typical day takes about a hour twice a day, but on days i have been working i have been able only to get one session a day and then mini stretch sessions throught the day so my back does lock up or hurt to bad. There are a couple of chairs in the communications center (Comm for short). I also added some cardio to my routine and have doing 35min sessions on the treadmill and have over time built up from a little over a mile to today when i was able to hit the 2 mile mark, and have lost 15 lbs in the process so far in the past 2 weeks. During the sessions i have been trying to keep the speed up so that i can keep my heart rate in the target range to get the most benefit out of the time. Hopefully with the cardio and the nutrition plan Im on by may i will have dropped 30-40 lbs and will be stronger and looking good for the summer and can go without a shirt without being uncomfortable for the first time in over 10 years.

[ScubaTex]

Dan,

Glad to hear you're progressing with rehab, and getting back to work. Hang in there!!!

Bill

[Sonny Beaches]

Keep on the road to Recovery, and P.T. I know Personally , now, both are a bitch but the only way to get back to good health and feeling well!!!!