My question involves workers compensation law for the state of: NJ
My question involves workers compensation law for the state of: NJ
Severe Back injury on the job in 2006. After months of pain management and PT, 3rd party WC handling claim (they have a nurse case manager that makes the appointments and comes to the appointments as well) insisted on second opinion, they chose doctor.
THAT doctor repeated MRI and found L3,4,5 collapsed, surgery only option...surgery is approved, fusion surgery performed by same Dr., case settles partial permanent with lifetime medical, I am now 51. Returned to work after 6 months physical and occupational therapy. Live with pain but still do same job with same company. 4 years later started having severe pain, made an appointment with same dr. MRI reveals some shortening at T12-L1/L2 (common problem to have surrounding discs get weaker ) PT made pain worse, dr recommends pain management to try and avoid additional surgery for as long as possible. Same 3rd party handler says go for IME. After about a week they send me for a second IME. 3rd party calls my attorney to say not approving pain management AND can no longer see dr that did surgery (that was their 2nd opinion pick 5 years ago)
I haven't gotten any letters, nothing to appeal. Can they deny and discontinue my treating dr. ? None of this is being handled correctly by 3rd party handler. Still working with horrible pain every day, just want relief. Can't take narcotics and perform my job, just hoping to get some relief through pain management. Now they say I can't even see the doctor they sent me to to begin with. This is the 1st time I've needed medical attention since returning to work almost 5 years ago, the very first time out of the shoot they not only say no, but say I can't see THAT Dr anymore? Will a judge let them do that? My health insurance will not cover anything related to my back because they know it's workcomp and related to my previous injury.

