That's was very informing....thank you for being so honest. I filed a WC case 3 years ago, had neck surgery 1 year ago and still have to deal with TOS surgery...but to this point I still have not hired an attorney. It seems easier to do my own research, so far they haven't denied anything and I have had only the best care, one test after another. I refuse to go by someones opinion. Give me a test, EMG's whatever. Confirm everything, no guessing.
May I ask a few questions?

Who did your surgery?

If you had to do it over would still hire an attorney?

Are you working now? if so what do you for a living now?

Thanks

My surgeries were done by Dr. Brantigan. I respect him highly, and I know that he has always been honest with me.

I would not have filed a lawsuit if I had known that my regular health insurance would have had to pick up the tab for my medical care after my PIP coverage ran out. I was approaching the PIP limit and I needed another TOS surgery which costs around $50,000.00. I asked my attorney about this--and never got a straight answer. Unfortunately, I didn't know anything about lawyers or going to court--so I went with the attorney recommended to me by a friend. Needless to say, that person is no longer my friend as the lawyer didn't do his job very well.

I am amazed to find out how many of us are unaware of how our insurance coverage works. I sure didn't know--Trust me, you find out how the hard way really fast. You think that you are protected--but you are not. Unfortunatly, the court systems are structured to protect the insurance companies--and the people the represent.

I like many here, am handicapped for the rest of my life. I do not work at this time--and I don't think I will ever be able to. My story is tragic--and I would be happy to give details if people would like to PM me. I do not want this to happen to anyone else.

Hi,

MY doc was Doc Brantigan too & I had surgery almost 8 years ago. I'm doing great. He too was very honest from the get go. I thought your doc was him because of the way he is very blunt, doesn't hide anything & tells it like it is. On the consent form he often writes, "might not work" so the patient CLEALRY knows going into it what the stats are. He never says anyone will be cured & for some it will or will not make their quality of life better, great or at least able to function at some level.

But surgery is not always the same for all. The same surgery can be a good result post-op or not depending on how the patient heals with or with out adhesions forming. Some grow more then others and faster too.

No kind of surgery is without risks. One has to do their homework on docs and make sure they get the best there is for TOS surgery. Doc B does many re-dos that other docs screwed up, but sometimes even the best docs can't fix what others have messed up.

I just wanted to add to this very informative thread --thanks for the legal info--which I am not promoting either other than a way of stopping the bad doctors...... but just to add that even Dr. Brantigan who several here like has to RE=DO his own surgeries. Just want to be sure folks understand you right. That even the surgeon who several here seem to like has done many RE-DOs on his own surgeries. That is the nature of the beast with these. I'm glad you are better BetterToser--and I hope you stay that way. The more surgeries one has--the worse I have always seen and heard about it. Tho maybe sometimes one gets lucky.
I saw a doctor today--yes, on Sat, who told me my situation is the WORST surgical Case he had EVER seen. He told me TOO much of my Neck was removed and there is nothing now to protect the important neck structures. I told him I'm still getting worse and he said that is because I haven't gone down as far as the injury is going to take me yet. God forbid---how far that is--but I think I know. He was very blunt--and then he told me to try to stay hopeful. I knew he was just trying to be kind. If anyone wants to help me write to OPRAH I would appreciate it. I'd like to go on as the woman with "half a neck". I figure with some name like that she might be interested--and it is TRUE. I could raise the awareness of TOS and maybe get a special mechanical air bed from some kind donor and maybe even find some clinic to extend my life. But, mostly to raise the awareness of this condition and the CARE that must be taken if treating it surgically. Anyone able to help me send a request with my website link would be appreciated greatly?? www.sonic.net/bjj Thank you. Triste

There's a huge difference between a doctor re-doing someone else's mistakes and a doctor re-doing surgery they originally did on a patient that formed adhesions or had a recurrence of symptoms. Doc Brantigan has done re-do's of many other docs TOS surgery including ones done in Denver by other docs. He did a redo on me too to HELP clean up adhesions and it helped a lot. No doc can tell how much will form or not, but not all docs will go back in to help clean it up, but Doc B does because he knows what he is doing. But many times more then not, the more you go back in the more adhesions it causes. But if something is hung up in it then releasing it would help somewhat.

If one has surgery and was screwed up by their doctor the last thing a patient should do is go back for more by the same doc. Often when patients that have had surgery done by another doctor and then go see Doc B because it dodn't work or whatever, the damage may be too much for even him to fix.

Do your homework before having any kind of surgery with any doctor for any reason. If a patient doesn't, especially for specialized conditions like this one, then the patient has to take some of the blame for the outcome. Doing a few surgeries or many of them is a HUGE FIRST CLUE as to the skill of the surgeon. When there are known top docs for TOS like in Denver, and there are a few there to choose from, most insurances WILL ok the patient to go out of the plan to get it done.

Insurance companies would rather have the patient have surgery done by someone who knows what they are doing then to have the patient cost the insurance company more money by having ongoing issues. It just takes a little bit to fight them.

If the outcome of the surgery depends on having a life back to be able to help support a family, one may have to spend a little money getting better care out of state in order to make more later on. It just takes fighting some insurance companies to do it.

I think we all need to remember that we are here to support each other and share information.

At some point, mentioning doctors names -pro or con- is going to create stress amongst the members.

Some some had good luck with some of the doctors and again some did not.
The scar tissue proves to be a very real obstacle that seems to vary by person and probably can't be predicted.

Warnings are good, as well as kudos, and both should be added to the Drs sticky.

I had no intention of bringing up the "Doctor" issue--and I'm sorry if anyone is upset. Someone asked and I told. Picking a doctor to do a major surgery like this is not always a personal decision. Most of the time Insurance Companies dictate who you can see--especially HMOs. My HMO tried to force me to use a different doctor for my re-do surgery and I had to fight them for 8 months to be able to go back to Dr. Brantigan. Dr. Brantigan went to bat for me --and we went after them from both ends. Yes, he did a re-do surgery on his own surgery--but it's not his fault that I developed scar tissue. A few months after my first surgery I caught a virus which caused violent coughing which I believe caused the scar tissue and actually caused my scalene muscle to attatch itself to my brachial plexus. I guess that I can blame my own body for that one. I admire him for hanging in there with me....

Triste--I didn't mean to hijack your thread....I just wanted to make sure that your eyes are open to how brutal lawsuits and the court system can get. You are talking about a medical malpractice suit--and I am talking about a lawsuit due to a car accident--which is over and done with. I am not the kind of person that would sue anyone--but the system requires that you sue the driver that caused the accident in order for Under Insured Motorist insurance coverage to kick in. I am not suing any Doctor. Sorry if anyone misunderstood. I agree with the poster who advised you to be careful about what you say---that is good advice for anyone who is involved in litigation. I was followed on a regular basis. I would bet that lawyers and insurance companies monitor these boards on a regular basis.....