What would you do? Back Surgery Scheduled on Sept 14, 2021. Updated, Sometimes you just can't win.

[Maddog McCoy SASS #5672]

Update- Monday 09/13/2021.

Job never called on Friday so I don't have a status on it.

Hospital called and did the screening for surgery.

Doctor office  called and CANCELED my surgery at 4:00 pm today. My insurance had not approved it yet.

Reschedule for October 14 providing the insurance approves it.

Called insurance and asked what is the deal. They stated they requested more information on 09/10/2021 (Friday).

They called the doctor's office but records was already closed so they will call me back tomorrow.

I emailed and called the contacts at the company i had the job interview and left messages that I can start the job right away. 

( Was close to 5:00pm so maybe I will hear from them tomorrow.)

 

 

Ever since I got laid off March of 2020 due to the virus, it has been one $#$%?><! after another. 

In 6 months I can start shooting Senior.

In 2 years and 6 months I can get Social Security retirement. ( but not medical insurance)

I talked to a friend yesterday that told me how to get insurance for about 1/2 of what i am currently paying, I may switch once i get my back fixed.

My guess is nothing will ever get back to normal. However, I will never give up.

 

Thanks to everybody that made suggestions and wished me well, If I ever get this straightened out, I will let you know.

 

Maddog

 

 

 

Long story, But I will post the short version.

When covid hit, I lost my good job last March 2020. I sat at home until January 2021 when I when to Bloomington IIl for a job.

(1st mistake- never take a job after having 2 phone interviews and never seeing the company or meeting anybody in person)

June 2021- Company sent me home stating I was not a good fit for the job.

( Real reasons- (1st) Union plant and the union ran the plant. I was a supervisor and made the mistake of trying to get employees to work and not sit in maintenance shop streaming movies. They complained to HR about me. (2nd) I had my back lock up and had to be taken to the hospital one day while at work. They did not let me back in due to policy stating no light duty unless you were hurt at work. (Did not Qualify for FMLA).

 

Waited 2 months for COBRA on my insurance to take effect. Finally got MRI and got in to see the back Doctor. He stated I need L3-L4 fused and would be down possibly 12 or more weeks to recover. Surgery scheduled Sept 14, 2021. No more shooting or anything else for the rest of the year. Recovery requires 5lb lifting limit for 1st month or so.

 

Been looking for a new job. Had several phone interviews and one in person interview that would not require relocation. When I told them about my back at the in-person interview, they told don't worry, we get back to you next week ( 5 weeks, heard nothing.)

 

Had a phone interview this past Monday. I told them about my pending surgery and they stated they would get  back to me. They called today and want me to come in for  an in-person interview on Tuesday and they want somebody to start ASAP.  When I mentioned my surgery, I was told they discussed that and want me to come in for the interview. So I agreed to be there Tuesday afternoon. This is a local job that should be good pay/benefits about 60 miles one way each day (all Interstate, light traffic) and should last me until retirement (2.5 to 7.5 years).

 

If they offer me the job and ask me to put off my surgery, how would you answer them on Tuesday? I have been eating a lot of ibuprofen and I can get around ok, but I need the surgery to fix my back. I guess I will know more on Tuesday afternoon, but just wanted to see what you all think.  My mom ( retired RN) told me not to put off the surgery, but I would hate to miss out on a good local job since they are few and far between. ( most things I have seen require relocation). They need 2 people for the job and they have lost both of them in the last 2 months and want somebody with experience as they don't have anybody that knows the job.( I have 10 years experience in the job).

 

Just wondering what you all think?  

 

Thanks,

 

Maddog McCoy

 

 

[Pat Riot]

I would try going to Physical Therapy. Try sleeping on your back with your legs elevated to take the pressure off your lower back. 
 

I have had surgery in May 2020 to clear the spinal cord canal due to a herniated disc between L4 and L5. The disc between L3 and L4 is very compressed. My surgeon told me that if I kept having numbness in my legs snd pain that I would need fusion surgery. 
I do PT and elevate my legs at night to sleep and take ibuprofen when needed and my issues have diminished a great deal. I can ride my motorcycle and do my work. I have some pain but nothing like it was before I got proactive with PT and training myself to sleep on my back with raised legs. Ibuprofen PM is a godsend for sleep. 
 

I would take that interview and see what’s offered, but if possible before then I would try Physical Therapy to see if you might be able to put off the surgery until you can get some time in at work and prove yourself to them. 
 

That is my recommendation. 

[Chili Ron]

Howdy,

Just keep putting off that surgery.

And one morning you wont be able to get out of bed and walk.

Ask me how I know.

You do need to be sure you have insurance and that the hospital and docs

will take the insurance you have.   

If you find a company that will work with you that sure sounds good.

PT can help and exercises set up for you can help a LOT.

But of course you have to DO the program.

And for most of us dropping a few pounds will help.

Best

CR

 

 

[Maddog McCoy SASS #5672]

20 minutes ago, Chili Ron said:

 

And for most of us dropping a few pounds will help.

Best

CR

 

 

 

When I saw the Doc last week, he told me to lose 120 lbs and I should start a 1200 calorie a day diet. 

I think that is 2 pieces of lettuce and a class of water a day.

 

When I told him i was 315 lbs last March 2020 and was now down to 285 lbs, he was not impressed.

 

[Crazy Gun Barney, SASS #2428]

By all means go to the interview. They may make you an offer you can’t refuse and if they need your expertise they may be willing to let you impart your knowledge remotely while you are recuperating. I had a C5/C6 fusion. You don’t realize the full extent that the pain changes your life until the pain is gone.

After the surgery, the most important suggestion I can make is listen to your dr and do what he says. They give you restrictions for a reason. Do everything they say, and don’t try to push it to heal faster, it doesn’t work that way. 
good luck with the interview!!! Let us know how it comes out. 

[Joke 'um]

There are many jobs.  One back per customer.  A job cannot make your back better, no matter the pay.  Pain stinks.  Fix bsck now.  Find job later.  Good luck.

[Yul Lose]

Get the surgery.

[Blackwater 53393]

Yeah!!  Walking is more important than the job!!

 

Get the back fixed and then worry about employment.

 

Go to the interview.  Then, if you can’t work around the surgery, thank them kindly and pass on the job.

[Go West]

Everyone's situation is not the same, but I would recommend following medical advice first and not let that interfere with a job.

 

I ruptured a disc many years ago and kept on working despite horrible sciatica. This was probably due to a physical job, but couldn't be proven. A few months later, I finally had surgery, but discovered I damaged some nerves by not dealing with it right away. Decades later, my leg and foot (which have been numb all this time) are getting worse, making it difficult to walk. I asked the county to keep my application on file while I had surgery and got the job in the assessor's office a few months later. I pretended I was fine post-surgery during the interview and they liked me enough to hire me and keep me for 23 years. My biggest regret is not dealing with the disc sooner, I may have been able to recover normally. My doctor doesn't recommend ibuprofen because it's bad for my organs. 

 

I hope it works out for you. Good luck.

[Snakebite]

Nothing will help you more than loosing the weight. I would take the job, push the surgery back if I could deal with it, just long enough for them to see that I am the person they need in that job. Then when things look solid I would take another look at the surgery. PT can do wonders, it helped me avoid surgery on L3, L4. No matter what, do anything you can to drop that wright.

[Widder, SASS #59054]

 

Only you know your health pains, etc.     Only you know the importance, or unimportance, of surgery

to solve your back issues.   And only you know how much you trust the advice of your doctors.

 

..........Widder

 

[Trailrider #896]

Have you gotten a second opinion on the need for surgery? Must be eight or ten years ago, I had bad sciatica attack along my left leg.  Went to a fine orthopedist who treats everything from backs to ski injuries.  She had an MRI, and showed me L4/L5 narrowing, and referred me to her surgeon. She showed me the MRI and I could see what she was talking about.  Went to the surgeon. Figured he might do the surgery with a rusty bayonet right there in the office!   He looked at the MRI and told me that 40% of the time surgery will help; 40% will make it WORSE; AND 20% will have no benefit whatsoever!  He recommended injections and physical therapy, which is the route I went.  That worked, and I don't have any problems lately...so far, so good!

I'm NOT saying your surgery might not be necessary, but I'd sure get a second and even a third opinion.

Best of luck!

[Chili Ron]

Howdy,

Second opinion could be real good idea.

I once got opinion from a specialist then took what he said

back to my general doc.  

I asked him about what the specialist said.

That worked for me.

Best

CR

 

[Allie Mo, SASS No. 25217]

No to postponing the surgery or going to work ahead of when the doctor thinks you are ready.

 

I know some one who did both. The latter made her back hurt so much worse than before the surgery.

[Trailrider #896]

Not about my back, but I had a endocrynologist who during a routine check for my diabetes, out of the clear blue suggested the possibility that I might have a serious blood disease.  NOT from any indication except that it can sometime pop up in older men.  So she had some additional test made, which did come back out of spec.  She said to talk to my primary care physician.  He ran a bunch of x-ray tests which came back NORMAL.  A week later he calls me up and suggests I see a hemotologist (blood doc).  I took off to the Mayo Clinic and saw my endo doc that I see annually (along with my wife who also gets checked for stuff).  Mayo doc took a look at the out-of-spec result and told me that was probably normal for ME.  That was years ago, and if it had been what the first sawbones suggested, I have been long since dead!  Haven't gone back to either the first doc or the PCP!  Important thing is to get baseline data as early in your life as possible.  Then if there is a change, you can detect bad stuff early.  If you have a particular baseline test that is just past the "three-sigma" range, and it doesn't change, then you don't have to worry.

[Maddog McCoy SASS #5672]

I guess I should add this about my back. 12 years ago I had surgery to fix the same disc as it was herniated. I did therapy, and shots  and finally had the surgery. They told me them that in about 10 years i would have to have it done again as the surgery I had would only last about that long and fail. The first time, my entire leg was numb and i would be walking and it would quit working and I would fall down with no warning. I am reasonably certain I need it as I have been having back pain off and on for a year or so until I collapsed at work that day back in June. My right knee is bad so I have pain in it and limp and that does not help my back. After I get my back fixed, I will have my knee checked and I had 2 surgeries on it and the last time I had it checked they wanted to replace it and I really did not want that done as my dad both replaced and one works and one does not.

 

Getting old is so much fun.............................

[Maddog McCoy SASS #5672]

Well, I went to the interview yesterday. They asked a bunch of questions not really related to the job, it felt like a supervisor interview. I found out he is also short an maintenance supervisor and got asked a bunch of questions about training employees.  They asked me if I had questions about the job 3 or 4 times and we had a good discussion about it. When I mentioned my current medical status, all I got for a reply was "yes, we know about that". I also go a comment that they have a procedure for hiring and we have to complete the process. The interview was with the same two people I talked with on the phone. I got told they had other interviews(Standard comment) and they would get back with me by Friday. The interview ended and the maintenance manger walked me out of the plant and we spent another 10-20 minutes talking in the parking lot about maintenance stuff. I found out it is an hourly job that pays $29+/hr which is good for this area. I guess it went ok, I will know more Friday and update this then.

 

I am not going to change my surgery, too many of you all agreed that I should get it done. Today is the 12 year anniversary of my last back surgery. 

[Crazy Gun Barney, SASS #2428]

It sounds like the interview went well.  Like I said, they may be looking to you for your brains and what you know as much as your ability to get it done.  It is hard to find somebody who knows what they are doing, and when you do, you need to hire them.  I have no doubt that if you are the man for the job, they will hire you on, give you the time that is needed for the surgery and recovery and probably set up some sort of remote access so you can impart your wisdom onto your minions while you are recovering before you can physically make it to the plant.

 

Good luck with the surgery, glad you decided to get it done without delay.  Living in pain is a horrible path, especially if it can be avoided (or at least lessened).

[Maddog McCoy SASS #5672]

Thanks for reading this . Updated original post.

 

Had everything ready for surgery tomorrow, No good drugs for a week, cleaned the house, finished most of the laundry and mowing, was putting  all the equipment away for the year when they called. Guess I will work on some of the stuff I had put on hold.

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

1 hour ago, Maddog McCoy SASS #5672 said:

Thanks for reading this . Updated original post.

 

Had everything ready for surgery tomorrow, No good drugs for a week, cleaned the house, finished most of the laundry and mowing, was putting  all the equipment away for the year when they called. Guess I will work on some of the stuff I had put on hold.

Postponing the surgery because of Covid?

[Maddog McCoy SASS #5672]

Postponed due to not have approval to do the surgery from the insurance company.

The next date I can get for surgery is  October 14, 2021.

The forms were sent to the insurance company for approval 4 weeks ago.

The insurance wants more information before approval and requested it last Friday. (Sept 10)

 

 

[Maddog McCoy SASS #5672]

I talked to the doctor today and I found out today that the insurance has approved the surgery.

My Doctor got the approval Tuesday afternoon late. ( 24 hrs too late to do the surgery Tuesday morning)

As always, A day late and a dollar short.

 

Hopefully it will happen this time, I will post on the October 14th I right before I head to the hospital.

 

 

[Tyrel Cody]

3 minutes ago, Maddog McCoy SASS #5672 said:

 

 

Hopefully it will happen this time, I will post on the October 14th I right before I head to the hospital.

 

 

 

And we'll keep you in our prayers for a successful surgery and quick recovery.