Question
Thomas:

I recently was involved in a car accident with injury to my L2 vertebra. I am currently wearing a brace as my doctor as prescribed and I must wear it for 13 weeks. At first, he spoke of surgery to fix the back, but has seemingly said the brace should heal the problem. The diagnosis is:

805.4    Fracture of vertebral column without mention of spinal cord injury, Lumbar, closed.

He told me I do have some bone fractures close to my spinal column. Needless to say, the surgery option, or possibility of it, scares me to death. Everybody tells me "once you mess up your back, you mess it up for life."

My question is: my car insurance company is assessing my situation in order to award me "damages". My fear is that they may consider this minor and only issue me a few bucks. I fear that if I might need surgery in the future if this brace doesn't heal the injury, and I'll be stuck with the bill because the insurance company considered this minor. How major or minor is my condition? Should I push for possible future surgery monies, or am I listening to people too much and letting it cloud my judgement?

Thanks for your opinion!

JA  

Answer
Hello, Jack.
My name is: TOM.
It sounds to me you are a very focused, And Smart Person!
You are on the right track. I would say yes to your question
Insurance Companys are in the business to " NOT " Pay. I myself are in the same boat as you, I just had a Three level fusion to my Lower three lumbars, And they put in six long screws, And four cages, And two Titanium rod's. I quite possibly might need another surgery down the road, I hurt my back at work, So Mine is a workers comp case, But! I
Constantly am fighting for what is supposed to be comming to me. I am not asking for a free handout, I Just have to fight with the " INSURANCE COMPANY " for no reason. This is the way they do busniness. If they can get away without paying, They will.My advice to you is: Get a second opinion from another " ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEON ". CONSULT A LAWYER!! If you have not done so already, It sounds to me that if you were to have bone fractures that close to your Spinal cord, You are Most likley to have some spurring, And I would be very concerned about that! As to the " MYTH " About back surgery's, If I did not have the two that I had, I Would most likely be in a wheelchair by now! Back surgery's can be a life changing thing. It all depends on the person, If said person was a strong willed, And has a good outlook on life, With a Positive attitude, They come out really good, The percentage of patients do just fine, I myself can't wait to go back to school to be retrained for another job, My Surgeon, And doctors, Won't let me return to the work I did, So they Have to pay $16K for me to go back to school to learn a new way of living, I am 36 Years old,I was a welder, Now I am thinking of being a "Photographer ". I really haven't decided yet. It is either that or "Computers"
If I were you, I would be pushing for everything I could, Because " NO ONE " Is going to help you, Unless you have a Lawyer, It is a really hard game to play with these Insurance company's, GET ALL YOU CAN GET FROM THESE PEOPLE!!
Your future depends  on it, I don't think that wearing a brace for 13 weeks is going to fix it. But that's just my opinion. Do not be scared of what you hear, Everyone has had a bad thing happen to them in their lives, Not everyone is the same, Here is two websites for you to get alot more Information on the subject of your condition, And also to the " MYTHS " of " Back Surgey ". WWW.ABOUT.COM - WWW.WEBMD.COM  These two websites will give you everything you need to research, And learn of what is, And what Isn't.
As far as your back. Check them out, If you know the Answers, You will not be Affraid of the questions. I want to thank you for writing me Jack, I do hope everything goes your way, It is your body, You are the one who knows how it feels, You need to take care of it.I wish you all the luck in the world, You take good care of that back, You are going to need it down the road. You take good care, And thank's again... THOMAS J HOSKINS