Hi. Im a 34 male. Not taking any prescription meds. Im so glad to find this place! On 6-23-14 i fell off a loader 12 feet backwards. My left elbow and back took most the blow. So now im in the awesome work comp nightmare. I have been going to physical therapy 3 times a week for over a month now. Its nice. I like having my back shocked and rubbed but it doesnt help. Ok so severe lower and mid back pain on my left. Hurts very much to walk much more than 10 feet. All on my left. My hip my but back of my leg knee and calf tingling in my foot mainly my big toe side and my big toe. Doctor read my report and had his nurse call me and tell me everything came back normal on my mri. Im off work at least until the end of august because im on 10 pound limit and there is no such thing in my field. As time goes on my leg is starting to hurt me more than my back. I came across this site while im here in my car waiting for my daughters cheer practice to end. I will post the mri report when i get home in case anyone wants to see it. Ive tried looking up the terms used and i cant find.much matches

Ok here it is

Findings
there is anatomic vertebral alignment seen. I dont see any acut fracture or dislocation. Normal marrow signal is seen throughout thr visualized osseous structures. There is mild intervertebral disc space narrowing seen at the l5-s1 level. As well there is desiccation of the intervertebral disc signal at the l5-s1 level


L1-l5 normal
l5-s1 posterior central disc protrusion is seen causing mild central thecal sac stenosis. No significant neural foraminal narrowing is seen

Impression
mild subacute to chronic degenerative spondylosis of the lumbar spine most severe at tge l5-s1 level. Anatomic alignment is seen without acute fracture dislocation

Welcome briansmith.

Someone will be along to help.

Well I see these-
l5-s1 posterior central disc protrusion is seen causing mild central thecal sac stenosis
mild subacute to chronic degenerative spondylosis of the lumbar spine


I know with comp it might be tricky to see a chiropractor, but that's what I suggest. Of course finding a very good one is important.

I had a RSI claim long ago and PT wasn't doing as much as I wanted and I had been reading about chiropractic, so I happened to run into a DC at the local fair..
he could tell by looking at me that I was hurting and he knew right away how to help me... He knew I had a claim so I paid cash so as to not complicate the claim...

I'm thinking your hips got misaligned when you fell and now things are a bit off..all the PT in the world won't fix that unless perhaps a adv spinal PT..

I really did get the best results with good chiropractic.
MDs rarely will refer you to a DC

Brian, may be you should ask of your doctor if the changes to your lumbar sacral junction (L5-S1) are the result of the fall or if it is likely there has been some deterioration of this joint over a long period of time - the phrase "mild subacute to chronic degenerative spondylosis of the lumbar spine" may suggest that the deterioration has not happened overnight. If this is the case then you could then ask of your doctor why these changes are taking place, may be there is something in your posture / lifestyle / work that is causing undue wear and tear on your lower back - Seriously you do need to get some good professional advice, long term lower back problems need to be avoided like the plague.

Thanks for the advice. The doctor really talks to me and treats me like im faking. My pt really sees it though. I found out yesterday that im released to full duty no restrictions so i will be going to work tonight. I have no idea how im going to do it. My left leg gets worse everyday and im running on no sleep. My newest started yestrday. My left leg is numb from knee down. I dont see the doc again until august 28. Im beside myself because im going to do my best but my job is much more physical and fast paced than what i can do right now. I get in and out of my fuel truck about 100 times a night plus pull about 100 pounds of hose about 100 feet from truck to truck and piece of equipment to piece of equipment fueling them

Is the dr the work comp or employers doctor , or a doctor that you chose?

Do you have a work comp atty to help you , sometimes you need a good one , and they may know of docs that will help with care & comp issues..

Hes a work comp doctor. Yeah i got a lawyer last week. Glad i did. The docotor has pulled a fast one. No one but the doc and insurance company knew i was fully released. My lawyer said he is pretty much scum. My lawyer is setting me up with his doc but said it will be 2-3 weeks though. I have no idea how im gonna make it. Makes me very sad

that's heavy work and could be why your back is showing some signs of wear! be careful how you treat it, you only get one spine and when they go wrong it can be very disabling and life changing, and from my experience no one seems to be able to do a very good job of fixing them. I ignored my pain for too long and now i am in a mess.

Do you only have access to one doctor, I would be looking for a second opinion and some answers to why you have the pain and symptoms you have.

I agree , you only get one body , if you have to do that work, be very slow and careful..

I had many RSIs when working and never knew they could add up to chronic issues..
esp as we age even more so...

Does atty know about & have any ideas on the going back to work problem?
FMLA /vacation time?
call in sick??

My restrictions - per my doc - was no repetitive hand use and no wrist rotation at first - the HR lady had me putting papers in thick & heavy 3 ring binders...
hello?? that didn't fit the restrictions at all, but I tried to do it. pain increased in an hr.. so called doc and she was miffed that they tried that..
so then I was NO hand use at all.. they had me patrol the parking lot for 2 weeks - still had to open the heavy doors at work & drive to work, eat, do basic care of self..
then they decided they couldn't keep me doing that longer as my restrictions didn't change and fall /rains were starting. so they sent me home, no jobs to fit restrictions..

..it is all a complicated mess sometimes..
basically you have to play out the wc game and do the best you can to protect from worsening the injury.