You lack transportation to and from your medical appointments. And paralysis may result in the need for home health care or placement in an assisted living facility. You develop an infection after the surgery that damages the spinal lining (epidural abscess) or one or more vertebra (vertebral osteomyelitis). Historical returns do not guarantee future results.. We provide the best possible personal injury financing services and rates available in the market and can ease your financial burden today. Work-related back injuries fall into the following categories: Your spine is held in place by muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Because spinal fusion surgery is so expensive and so risky, most insurance carriers will deny your claim for authorization and payment of the fusion and try to find some defense to your workers comp claim, even if they have paid for everything else without hesitation. If you are aninjured workerreading this article, then one of three things is probably right: 1. But, you are hesitant to have the surgery and want to negotiate aworkers compensation settlement. Before you decide, ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and experience. Carpal tunnel $32,100 +. Work-related musculoskeletal injuriesresulting in days missed from work often involve the back. Capitalize on growth opportunities with competitive rates, and certainty of execution.. With offices in Richmond, Newport News, and Maryland, I help employees with back injuries across the state, including those of you in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Hampton, Williamsburg/James City County, Petersburg, Fredericksburg, Staunton, Stafford, Manassas, Fairfax, Winchester, Roanoke, Harrisonburg, Bristol, and Abingdon. Case value must be at least $200,000+. Unless your permanent disability is rated 10% or less, you should strongly consider speaking to a workers' comp lawyer about your options for settlement and what a fair amount would be for someone with your medical impairments. From what I have seen, the number of complex fusion procedures performed has increased over the past five years. This sum includes both settlements and awards given at trial. The average payout for workers compensation cases, in general, was found to be $21,800. Based on this study, workers compensation back injury settlement amounts (and award amounts) tend to be slightly higher than the average settlement and award for workers comp cases in general. Calculate how much your non-recourse loan will cost. It compared final treatment outcomes including return to work, disability, and the use of opioid drugs for pain management. Call now for a free consultation: 804-251-1620 or 757-810-5614. Or just call us at 888.711.3599 to apply. Pushing and pulling equipment, machines, or carts, Stocking shelves or filling orders at a distribution center or warehouse, Stressful work environments with loud noises, gases, fumes, and dust, Working at heights, such as ladders, scaffolds, and roofs, Working the night shift (graveyard shift), Decide if I need to subpoena witnesses to testify about their observations of the clients pre- and post-injury capabilities and changes. You may decide that spinal fusion surgery is too risky for you, no matter the amount of pain you have. Tanzsportclub (TSC) Pocking e.V. A cervical or lumbar fusion is a surgical procedure with substantial risk. But you must act fast you have only thirty days to give written notice of the accident to your employer (you can use my sample work injury report letter) and two years to submit a claim to the Workers Compensation Commission. A Grade C herniation is a lateral herniation that protrudes into the intervertebral foramen, where the spinal nerves travel. Medication: Your doctor may recommend over-the-counter pain medication to treat your lumbar strain. These services, designed to find alternate employment, are expensive. But you can fight the insurance companys denial and. Our services give out thousands of clients fast access to tools and transparent information so you can get the needed funds with competitive rates. Put simply, a spinal fusion, also called arthrodesis, is a welding process. Call me and I will be glad to discuss all of the facts of your case with you. Spinal Fusion is a Major Surgery. These activities put you at risk of suffering a back or. However, spinal fusion is the most complex treatment available in back injury cases that can dramatically increase the value of settlement claims. Generally, a successful lawsuit resulting from a back injury and the need for spinal fusion surgery can recover between $150,000 and $200,000 in compensation. Its a world of danger out there. You may be familiar with popular workplace injuries such as slips, trips, and falls. Some studies indicate that you have a 30% chance of success after two surgeries, a 15% chance of success after three surgeries, and only a 5% chance of success after four back surgeries. Teacher or Childcare worker: Taking care of the educational and basic needs of children is a physical job requiring lots of lifting and exposure to tripping hazards. Our experts break down complex ideas in a way that's easy to understand so you can stay informed on current trends as well as tips and fact checked information by the CEO and founder, Daniel Digiaimo. WebWorkers Comp Pays for Surgeries that are Reasonable, Necessary, and Causally Related to Covered Work Injuries. The information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship. The average workers comp settlement amount for failed back syndrome is from $125,000.00 to $650,000.00 or more. A herniated disk can also cause sciatica. Call now for a free consultation: 804-251-1620 or 757-810-5614. As a nurse, you probably spend most of your shift on your feet, moving heavy medical equipment and transferring patients. The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry has published a fact sheet detailing the concerns associated with lumbar fusion surgery. Amputations $113,000 + average. That should equal $63,671.4. We do not provide investment, legal, tax, or financial advice and prior to making any financial decision, please consult a financial advisor, an attorney, or tax professional. According to Martindale-Nolo research, the average back injury settlement was somewhere between $20,000 and $25,000. The location where the procedure was performed. Workers Comp Lifetime Benefits Explained You will have functional loss and may require surgery. If you suffer a spinal fracture, including a compression fracture, you may require surgery. Grade II Lumbar Strain: A Grade II strain results in some damage to muscle tissue with swelling, tenderness, and bruising. This is the case even if the cervical fusion is completely successful and completely relieves all In that case, you may receive workers comp benefits and a settlement. Failed back syndrome is a big problem. There areseveral surgical options for back pain. Most of us will have asymptomatic degenerative disc disease when we reach our 30s. One study found that more than 60 percent of workers comp claims that involved spinal fusion surgery was first reported as cervical or lumbar strain or sprain. for back injuries and the possibility that you will be out of work for an extended period. The distinction is significant because some states workers comp laws do not cover cumulative trauma injuries. Statistics published by the Workers Disability Compensation Agency show Based on data collected by the National Safety Council, the highest workers compensation payouts based on the type of injury include: Unsurprisingly, on average, amputations have the highest workers compensation payouts. According to OSHA, the average cost of a workers comp back injury claim is between $40,000 and $80,000 per employer. Your doctor may recommend cervical fusion if you both a positive myleogram, CT, or MRI (meaning it shows a herniated nucleus pulposus or spinal cord impingement caused by central disc displacement or something else) and one or more of the following neurologic signs: Neck pain alone, without other neurologic signs, is usually not a sufficient basis to undergo a cervical spine fusion. What are the Different Spinal Fusion Techniques Used to Treat Injured Workers and Accident Victims? Workers' Compensation Lawyer in Brunswick, GA Website (678) 783-8554 Message Book a Time Posted on Nov 7, 2012 Yes future surgery cost should be a part of any settlement. In my opinion insurers raise this argument because the younger you are when you have the spinal fusion, the greater the likelihood that you will need a revision fusion or an extension of the fusion to other levels as you age. As with liability injury claims, a compensation settlement is unique to the injured individual. , there is a risk you will be diagnosed with a, . Physical therapy: Each therapy session costs between $50 and $200 per visit. Your claim has more value if you require pain management for the rest of your life and will have permanent light-duty restrictions that prevent you from returning to your pre-injury position. JLARCs analysis did not include contested (denied and disputed) Copyright 2023 | Lawyer web design services by DELT, According to the Operational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), there were, It is important to know the importance of speaking with a. if you have been injured on the job; even if you have (or will) receive workers compensation. You might never returnto full duty workafter a back injury. Please consult your attorney and your financial and tax advisors before making any decisions. Conservative treatment for back injuries includes: Some of you will require more than conservative treatment for your back injury. The criteria for return to work were met by 29.9% (n=205) of subjects. You have a stressful domestic life (spousal abuse, divorce, etc. The data indicates this type of procedure is unlikely to relieve your pain. *** Baker Street Funding, LLC has NO affiliation with other firms or individuals who have business addresses in the same premises or building of our business addresses. You might never return, The BLS defines musculoskeletal disorders. There are different spinal fractures: compression (wedge), burst, flexion-distraction, and fracture-dislocation. Treatment for sciatica includes doctor visits, physical therapy, prescription medication, and pain management. Suppose you are unable to return to your pre-injury job because of a work-related back injury. A Grade A herniation occurs at the midline. you have. Many of my clients reach that decision after talking with their treating physician, seeing another orthopedic surgeon for a second opinion, and discussing the surgery with me and their family. If this conservative treatment fails, your orthopedic doctor may recommend surgery. Utilize legal funding to maximize the value of your future cash flow, through single case fee advances for attorneys. You may also request vocational rehabilitation services to try to help you find a new job if you are unable to return to your pre-injury job because of the fusion. The potential for surgery explains the difference in typical settlement amounts for upper and low back injuries, and even with similar injuries and lumbar spine conditions. Read through the latest Baker Street Funding news coverage. It is not unusual for a spinal fusion This puts you in awkward positions that lead to back injuries. Electromyography (EMG) and Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS) that confirm lumbar radiculopathy, Ultrasound that detects tears in the lumbar muscles, ligaments, and tendons, and, Discography that attempts to reproduce symptoms to determine their origin. Injuries to the neckand back are some of themost common injuries suffered on the job. Burst fractures are the most severe type of spinal fracture Ive represented many burst fracture victims who became paralyzed. If you have had a back injury and suffered a spinal fusion, you may not be able to continue your employment for now. Sciatica is the term given to pain radiating from the low back into the legs and feet because a herniated disc compresses a sacral or lumbar nerve root. But there are other types of injuries you might not know about that happen in the workplace every day. Additional restrictions may apply. But, if these two treatment levels fail to reduce the pain, medical personnel resort to spinal fusion surgery. As spinal infusion is the most complicated form of treatment, it dramatically increases the potential of a settlement in back pain injury claims due to the following reasons: Generally, three levels of medical treatment are available in a back injury case. This is known as a herniated disk. Radiofrequency Denervation (Ablation): This procedure uses electrical impulses to interrupt nerve conduction. It is not unusual for a How Much Did You Earn When You Hurt Your Back? It requires the surgeon to navigate an area with countless nerves and muscles. Alleging a failure to file within the statute of limitations for initial claims for benefits or change in condition applications. Types of Back Surgery in Workers Comp Cases, Cost of Medical Treatment and Surgery for Back Injuries. Chris cant go back to workers comp for more money, even if he develops unforeseen complications.