Workers Comp approved my surgery, but not the Pain Medication? Should I do it anyway?

by Rick Posted 2012/08/19 17:58:25

Related Topics: Drugs, Medication, Surgery, Workers, Drug, Meds

94 votes
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	Cowboy up and tough it out.	68 votes	72%
	Wimp out.	8 votes	9%
	Get the drugs illegally.	18 votes	19%

I need this surgery to get better. I'm in a catch 22. If I have the surgery without pain meds, it will be unbearable pain for a few days. If I don't have it, it will be pain for life. What would you do?

+20

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Just me ∞ijm♥G☮F♀U∞ 2012/08/19 23:01:12

Wimp out.

+5
I would contact an attorney. Not only is that unethical, but I would think illegal as anything that has to do with your injury has to be covered, but of course, that may mean that you buy the pills now and get reimbursed by the WC later on. Be sure to keep your receipts!
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More polls by Rick

kikidistiles 2013/03/11 15:11:48
Mikey Bravo 2012/11/20 17:43:20
sjalan 2012/08/21 08:15:45

Cowboy up and tough it out.

+1
They cannot deny you pain medications if the doctor prescribes them. They MUST pay for them as part of recovery treatment.

If they have said they will cover the surgery get it and get the prescription AT THE HOSPITAL as you leave and have it tagged onto the bill.

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elvira 2012/08/21 02:29:16

Wimp out.

+1
Don't understand why they approved one and not the other. I personally would not want to be in pain for the rest of my life.

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Veritas 2012/08/21 01:47:55

Cowboy up and tough it out.

+1
Either find a way to pay for the pain medication or find a really good workers' comp lawyer. It's unreasonable to have surgery without pain medication.

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polkastria 2012/08/20 15:23:03

Cowboy up and tough it out.

+1
Pain for life sucks... I've had degenerative osteoarthritis for most of my life.. got diagnosed with it at 16 years old and I'm 43 now.

Take it from me.. surgery and a few days of pain that you can deal with.. pay for the prescription yourself if you have to (a decent beg and plead may get you some from your doctor in "samples") Is better than a lifetime of pain and knowing you could have done something about it but didn't.

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Barbi Rose 2012/08/20 14:55:45

Cowboy up and tough it out.

+1
Worker's comp sucks FACT. It only helps if you got a boo boo if you are really hurt they can make you suffer I saw what they did to my uncle

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bluelady 2012/08/20 13:20:32

Cowboy up and tough it out.

+1
whats the surgery?? Go to Walmart pharmacy...pills like Vicodins or Percocets are not that expensive ...you can get half the number of the script and ration them out to get you thru the first day's
aleve, or tylenol ARE effective ...ICE helps too

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La 2012/08/20 12:12:56

Cowboy up and tough it out.

+1
Can't you pay for your own pain meds?

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Rick to La 2012/08/20 19:56:46

+1
They finally gave in on the Oxycontin and Percocets.

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La to Rick 2012/08/21 11:42:08

+1
Oh good :)

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MlssCue =Go Blue= 2012/08/20 08:44:23

Get the drugs illegally.

+2
If you know someone realllllly well.............or tough it out, better in the long run.

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brian.southworth.921 2012/08/20 08:19:03

Get the drugs illegally.

+2
Ask your friends. That's what I did when I broke three toes this summer. Just make sure your not allergic to any of it.

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Jesferkicks 2012/08/20 07:45:29
JingerJewels 2012/08/20 06:23:05

Cowboy up and tough it out.

+3
I am in the same situation with my back I rather cope with the pain for life because my doctor told me there is a 50/50 chance I may be the same or worse so I opted out no surgery

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La to JingerJ... 2012/08/20 12:13:56

+1
What have you got? Mum had a herniated disc and surgery helped heaps. She'll never be 100% pain free but surgery was definitely worth it.

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JingerJ... to La 2012/08/21 01:27:24

3 ruptured disc

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La to JingerJ... 2012/08/21 11:42:46

Damn. Do you go to pilates classes? That can help....

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Biki 2012/08/20 04:56:32

Cowboy up and tough it out.

+3
but bummer about the denial of pain meds, that doesn't even make sense, because science has proven that people heal faster if they aren't uncomfortable with their pain.

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Cliff 2012/08/20 04:46:38

Get the drugs illegally.

+2
Become an illegal immigrant

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JingerJ... to Cliff 2012/08/20 06:20:54

+3
You are really ignorant

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Cliff to JingerJ... 2012/08/20 12:10:29

You are really ugly. Are you an illegal immigrant?

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JingerJ... to Cliff 2012/08/21 01:28:17

No But you are a true ASSTARD

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Cliff to JingerJ... 2012/08/21 11:52:04

You are a true POS

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jubil8 BN-0 PON 2012/08/20 04:42:24

Cowboy up and tough it out.

+2
I'd suck it up and hope for the best.

Can't you get some pain meds? I would think the surgery would include a certain amount of post-op pain relief. Surely it can't be so expensive you can't have some. Work out a payment plan with the hospital or something and talk to someone about the best case scenario, generics, etc. Pills from Canada are often VERY cheap.

Gotta say, Rick, pain for life does NOT sound like a good choice. You may be scared now, but you can get through this. If you opt for no surgery, it sounds like you're screwed for good, no "maybe" about it. Severe pain is an invitation to self-medicating (alcohol, street drugs, etc.). I'm sure you don't want to go that route.

I'm sorry you're in such a bind. Good luck.

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Rick to jubil8 ... 2012/08/20 19:59:21

+2
Workers Comp finally gave in. The surgery is Wednesday.

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Christy to Rick 2012/08/20 20:57:00

+2
Good luck! Hope they get you all fixed up and without pain! :-)

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Rick to Christy 2012/08/20 21:36:27

+1
Thank you sweetie.

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John BNO to Christy 2012/08/20 23:24:44

+2
You should get a special insurance card (probably Care Mark) from workman's comp insurance company to cover you prescription form the surgeon. You regular insurance won't cover the scripts nor the surgery but the WC insurance will cover everything.

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jubil8 ... to John BNO 2012/08/20 23:39:09

+1
Excellent, Bill.

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jubil8 ... to Rick 2012/08/20 23:38:40

+1
Whoo-hoo! Well done, and very, very good luck. Let us know when you're out of the ether. :)

How aggravating and insulting that you had to fight for this -- it should have been a slam-dunk.

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MsTlynne 2012/08/20 03:56:43

Cowboy up and tough it out.

+2
You didn't provide enough info. What is WC's reason for not covering the meds? They have to tell you. I'm not saying you are one of those, but many recovering addicts aren't given certain pain meds no matter how much they would like them.

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Rick to MsTlynne 2012/08/20 20:00:50

They gave in and gave them to me. They were saying the case was too old. I called them and told them the case was still active.

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MsTlynne to Rick 2012/08/20 20:02:52

+1
Great! Good luck and speedy recovery.

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ruru 2012/08/20 02:35:04

Get the drugs illegally.

+1
I have had a lot of surgery, you will need the pain medicine. Workers Comp is not being reasonable.

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Jackie G - Poker Playing Pa... 2012/08/20 01:54:18

Cowboy up and tough it out.

+2
Pain is temporary - you will have pain meds right after surgery and they will be part of the doctors diagnosis and billing - when you get home, you can make it.

Just got my hubby home from surgery - compound fracture of his right leg - he took aspirin the first day and nothing since. He has a high pain threshold and is bull headed in the bargain but he says he has no major pain.

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Biki to Jackie ... 2012/08/20 04:58:49

+2
my husband just had surgery to have a tumor removed that was wrapped around his saliva gland and he did the same thing! I just shook my head. He say's he's okay with just some OTC motrin. But a compound fracture...great googly moogly!! That is one tough dude you've got there Jackie!!

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Jackie ... to Biki 2012/08/20 13:57:37

+2
Ouch - hope your husband is doing great - Mine seriously insists he has no pain and I have been watching, he has no signs of pain either. He is, however, getting a little grumpy - cannot put any weight on that leg for at least 6-8 weeks so he is relegated to the bed, chair and couch with hops across the room with a walker (wheel chair to get him to car) High activity guy now held down. I may have to start drinking heavily those last few weeks - just kidding.

Again hope your love is doing great and you, have a great day

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Biki to Jackie ... 2012/08/20 18:03:10

+2
I will. I love Mondays! =-) He's having problems with swelling because of the location, (it's saliva collecting in the pocket where the tumor was) and so they had to open the incision and drain it, they put him on a steroid and we are still waiting to see what the personality changes will be. =-) We aren't sure if they will be good ones or bad ones. LOL!! I may need to start drinking heavily myself to get through this, because they said this could go on for months. =-/

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BlytheSpirit~bn0 2012/08/20 01:53:44

Get the drugs illegally.

+1
This works for pain.........

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