[__ Prayer __] Prayers For Husband

[Luminous_Rose]

No, he hasn't had any imaging done. They know what the issue is and they're confident they know what they're seeing without the tests (cervical sprain/whiplash injury). They mentioned that with injuries like this that neurological symptoms can be expected (inability to focus/concentrate, brain fog, numbness, etc). He went into an urgent care because it's quicker and had his boss actually sent him to the ER on the day of the incident instead of him dragging himself to urgent care 4 days later, I'm sure it would've been a different scenario. Although, I'm not sure how extensive our MRI's in the hospital here are...they might need to be done in the city and it hurts him to be in a vehicle (mostly the stops/turns). The doctors at urgent care are allowed to do referrals when they feel they are needed. They prescribed him plenty of anti inflammatory and pain medications. It would probably help, but I'm not sure if workman's comp will cover them after the fact or what insurance would think about it. So if he'd be interested in imaging tests then he'd probably have to press for them.

A lot of his symptoms early on do seem like signs of cerebral edema. He was foggy, hurting, just wanted to go home and his boss never sent him to the ER so he came home to relax. He couldn't take the pain anymore so he ended up in urgent care and figured he should because he knew he would need to press for workman's comp.

He was referred to physical therapy and I am sure if they suspect something worse they will mention and I'm trying to keep an eye on him at home so I know what's getting better; what's not.

The workman's compensation is good that it's available. It's kind of sad he had to fight for it because his employer ignored his injury. His boss sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen, supposedly she did this to another employee. I think the HR department chewed her out for that.

I'm hoping he won't need a neurologist because there are few in this town. Most of them are in the city so it is a drive. Many of the few neurologists we have drive here 1-2 days a week because they work in the city. Because of this, they often cancel because of their already busy schedules and inclement weather. It is extremely difficult to get a neurologist appointment here.

 

[JohnDB]

This is an injury...you are going to have to do some things. His physical therapy is just one of them. He's got to be consistent in doing it and being careful about his posture that might make it worse.
It takes a while to get better.
It's annoying as all get out too.

Hang in there...

 

[Luminous_Rose]

He went to PT today and they are worried with the amount of pain he is still in. They said they will order imaging if it isn't getting better in these next few sessions. They are thinking he's going to need more than this month and a half of physical therapy. They were surprised they didn't already refer him for imaging and give him a neck brace so they're a bit annoyed at the doctors he has seen. Although, one of the doctors he saw isn't the most courteous and is good friends with his abusive father...yeah, small towns kind of stink sometimes and she works at the only urgent care we have. They said if it comes to the ends of his sessions and he still needs the physical therapy then they will put a prior authorization in for more to see if workman's comp will still cover it.

He's struggling with it and people keep telling him he should sue his boss, sue the kid's family...it's a mess.

His posture is kind of stuck as is because the stiffness is pretty bad. He can only turn his head 12% of the 70% it should be with his type of injury so it's pretty bad.

I suppose we're all doing what we can. I still don't enjoy driving a car so I hope he can drive again soon, but I have a feeling it may be a couple months.

 

[JohnDB]

The imaging with x-rays or MRIs aren't so that they can figure out what is wrong...they are so insurance will pay the claims.
Insurance companies had been victims of fraud by doctors over billing them for decades...today with digital communications they can digitally send pictures to an insurance company along with the explanation and get approvals quickly if the dollar amount goes past a certain threshold. Otherwise it's a stalling tactic created by a complex system designed to do the scut work of approvals for an insurance company.
You don't get a true professional in an insurance company until you get to the third or fourth level.

Besides... pictures are pretty.

 

[Luminous_Rose]

So far they haven't even requested imaging in order to pay his workman's comp claim. They are currently covering what all he needs so far. Although, of course, if he needs those tests then I would assume they would need to cover that all, too.

Yes, fraud is definitely a real thing. I'm not a stranger to it...I've seen the ugly while working in health insurance in the past. Although, when the frauds get busted, it's not so pretty for them.

 

[JohnDB]

So far they haven't even requested imaging in order to pay his workman's comp claim. They are currently covering what all he needs so far. Although, of course, if he needs those tests then I would assume they would need to cover that all, too.

Yes, fraud is definitely a real thing. I'm not a stranger to it...I've seen the ugly while working in health insurance in the past. Although, when the frauds get busted, it's not so pretty for them.

Workman's comp insurance is paying the bills...most high risk occupations like construction have a safety program in place.
All based upon man hours.
And his place of employment had a policy in place that might have rates go up a bit from his incident...but it isn't that much.

But safety protocols might be put into place because of this incident and that can change things and cost money...

Such as a barrier between the back seat and the front seat. Those vehicles used for unruly children.
That would definitely help in situations like this from happening.
And that's probably why the former employer is not happy. Outfitting the vehicles is expensive because likely there are only a limited types of vehicles that can be fitted... like a crown Victoria... like taxicabs have.

 

[Luminous_Rose]

Well, it seems that his work hasn't put anything in place, really. This kid that pulled his hair isn't even banned from services. If this was in a school, they would've expelled him more than likely. Nope, he still gets to go and receive services and still laughs at my husband's neck injury and calls him a wuss. Utter disrespect that I don't understand...he shouldn't even be allowed to have services. I think they are having a parent pick him up and drop him off. Still...I don't think he should be allowed back at all.

His boss hasn't been willing to change anything and my husband was with a worker doing transport because she was older and didn't know how to use her GPS. She decided to brake check one of the kids without a seat belt knowing about my husband's neck injury. He has been in a lot of pain again...

It would be great if they were willing to upgrade their company vehicles with a barrier between the children and the driver so that they aren't able do something of this sort again. I think it would do a lot. They aren't allowed to even have the child locks on the car for their flight risk kids because it's "a hazard". They want the driver to be able to reach into the back seat in case of an urgent situation (like a kid trying to stab another kid with something).

I wish they were actively looking for a solution so that it doesn't happen to anyone else, but it doesn't seem that they are working on it. The HR could be working on something as they are more worried than my husband's boss, but who knows? It would be great if safe guards of some kind were in place.