Originally Posted by ryguy

Syringomyelia is now a part of my life. I am meeting with a neurosurgeon on the 22nd at the request of my workers compensation. Theyre calling it an IME (Independent Medical Examination). What I'm really thinking, is that this IME doctor is going to tell me that i've had this all my life and that they are not responsible for covering me. This injury happened at work and I never had any back pain or symptoms before this. How can one prove that i've had this my whole life or if this was caused by work. Also, the pain meds (vicodin) that i've been taking are beginning to not really work. I'm taking as many as 10 5/500 pills a day. Is that too much, do i need to go to something stronger? Some kind of patch, injection, neurological pill, what? Very scared about the future, will someone please ease my mind a bit....please.

Originally Posted by Syringo

I am not sure what the workers' comp laws are in your state but in California, if you have an aggravation of a congenital problem which had never caused you any problems before, then the on-the-job injury would be picked up by the workers' comp insurance ALONG with the prior anomaly which was asymptomatic until your work related injury.
You may need an attorney if the insurance carrier causes you some problem.
Take care and I hope you find the right pain medication.
Syringo