Hyper sensitivity to touch after shattering T-12

October 26, 2019 will mark 5 year anniversary after fusion of T-10 to L-1 surgery. Actual injury happened 3 days before while surgeons waited, I guess, for inflammation to go down. I had previously been diagnosed with osteoporoasis a year before but after reading all the side effects of treatment I was scared to start it. However, I feel that this injury would have happened anyway as not enough time to have been on "Boniva". I was getting off my mule and I either let go too soon or while sliding off of her, when my feet touched the uneven ground I fell back onto my butt. I was not able to move my legs for over 12 hours. I thought I was paralyzed. I believe the 3 days of inflammation before surgery caused lack of blood flow/oxygen to the nerves from just above my waist line to my feet. It hurts to barely touch the back of my waist, buttocks, front of my thighs, front of my shin, bottom of my feet. If I sit or stand very long I loose feeling in my feet and lose my balance. I have fallen a few times because of that., I have been through physical therapy 2 times, been on 4 different meds for the nerve damage, have gone through having shots done in my lower back and Tramadol for pain (which doesn't work for the hyper sensitivity). One doctor has said no more climbing on a ladder or over gates/fences as I am a septic system inspector for a county and when I have to investigate a complaint I have had to climb fences and gates and walk in thick brush or debris where I can't see the ground. That doctor says I can't be fired from my job because I can't do that kind of work anymore, but I'm in Texas and an employer can fire for no reason. I've also been told I can't meet eligibility requirements for medicare or Medicaid. It hurts when driving and hit a pothole if I don't lean forward or brace my whole body against the truck. MRI's have indicated some arthritis in several spots on my spine. I am on Boniva now and my bone density has increased some, but one doc says only one more year to take it as usually only take for 5 years. I will be 62 in December 2019, I am really getting frustrated with the type of job I have and the pain I endure because of it (besides some normal, everyday things I do that hurts....) Any suggestions? Thanks, Mary

Hi Mary, welcome to Healing Well. First of all, if this is your real name, please change your username, this is to protect your privacy. To change your username, look at the darker blue bar at the top & click My Profile. There are edit options, there is an option to change your username. Once you have changed it, scroll towards the bottom & click Submit.

What a horrible accident that you had. Surgery in the thoracic area is a tough one too. How long were you off work before going back? It sounds you have permanent nerve damage. Have you seen the dr recently or had any testing?

Here is a thought, have you considered applying for Social Security Disability? Check out SSA.gov to read about disability. Keep in mind, with disability you are not eligible for Medicare for 24 months. Example, I was awarded disability 6 months of filing my claim. I was eligible for Medicare 18 months later. Since you work for county you should be offered Cobra, but it's only good for 18 months & then you would have to get insurance on the open market. Disability pay is higher than regular retirement benefits too. Your dr will need to be onboard with you filing for disability. I urge you to obtain a copy of your job description from human resources at the county. I think you would have a very good chance of being approved.

Here is another option. Does the county have Short Term & Long Disability? You can find out through human resources if they offer it. I bet they do. If they offer both, you file for Short Term first, then you apply for Long Term. You would be responsible for your monthly insurance premium through the county. And of course your dr would have to be supportive of this. Given all of your residual problems, I don't see why your drs would disagree.

I am sure your work activities are not helping your situation at all. You are right, Texas is an employment at will state & a person can be fired regardless of their medical condition. Anyway, I wanted to put a couple of things out there for you to look into.

Take care.