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CHRONIC PAIN FROM HELL – Part VIII
Dedicated to JUSTICE and Legalization of Medical Marijuana

Jana C. | April 4-03-04 | Original reader material

April 2, 2004

Dear Dept. of Industrial Accidents:

Cc: Dr. Marc Linson
Dr. Thomas Kaye
Dr. Paulino Lagac
Bill Farrell, Esq.

I’m writing in desperation to get information on a problem I’m trying to resolve for my husband, who lives in constant, severe, intractable pain. He’s now reduced to being in bed most of the day, and is very near to paralysis because the ball has been dropped on his treatment.


My husband, Don Fowler, was injured on the job working as a Nurse in April of 1991. Since then, he has had multiple surgeries (2 discectomies in his neck, two shoulder operations). He had two successful lumbar laminectomies in the 70’s and 80’s. However he is now in need of immediate lumbar surgery, and another neck surgery to correct the botched first surgeries.


His Workman’s Comp insurance was through Risk Enterprise Management (Home Insurance) out of Quincy, MA. About a year ago, we were informed that Risk Enterprise was going bankrupt, and that Don’s case would be transferred to one Guarantee Fund Management Pool in Boston, a state-run agency.


For seven months we have been trying to obtain approval for surgery on his neck first, and then his back. He was being treated by Dr. Marc Linson of Springfield at the time, who recommended another MRI of his entire spine. Before Guarantee Fund would approve that, they sent him on an IME back in September of 2003, as if after 8 surgeries, there would be a need for that! They could have just looked at his previous MRI to see all the damage. My husband can barely stand to be in the car. The doctor never showed. We had to re-schedule – more waiting. The IME doc, Dewitt Brown, approved the MRI, and it was scheduled.


Upon arriving for the MRI, we were told Don had to wait for a whole hour, due to a mix-up. Because of his pain, we had to re-schedule. Even more waiting and frustration.


Throughout all of this waiting, Don was also turned down for Mercy Pain Clinic because the Guarantee Fund refused to approve it. So he was WITHOUT any pain medication until December when Dr. Linson’s office was kind enough to prescribe something.


The MRI was done on 11/10/03. We subsequently returned to Dr. Linson’s office for a follow up. The results were quite horrifying. All but about 5 of his discs are either herniated (ruptured) or diseased and pressing on his spinal cord, but the most severe areas are in the neck and lumbar spine.


Dr. Linson recommended a myelogram for Don’s back, but that was not to be considered, because 3 years ago, Dr. Linson did a myelogram and couldn’t even get the needle into the spine because of scar tissue from the 2 previous surgeries. It took several people to hold Don down to do this procedure, which was torturous. Don told Dr. Linson he could NOT endure another myelogram.


Dr. Linson said, “well, then I have to get a 2nd opinion”, and referred him to a Neurosurgeon, Dr. Thomas Kaye. The appointment was scheduled for March 2, 2004. The doc took one look at Don’s MRI of his neck and said “I believe I can help you”, with a smile all over his face. He pointed out the problem area and explained how he would put a steel plate in Don’s neck and correct the previous surgeries. He also looked incredulous and said “Dr. Linson recommended a myelogram? It says right here, there was no room to even get the needle in, I wonder why he’d recommend another one”. That makes 3 of us.


GOD, for the first time in a very long time, we had hope. It was decided that Dr. Kaye would do the neck surgery, and not Dr. Linson. So far, so good.


Last week we got a call from Dr. Kaye’s office. They told my husband they would not be doing the surgery because there was a disagreement between Dr. Kaye’s fees and what Guarantee Fund would allow. My husband became irate on the phone. He threatened to take his story to the media. He was so hurt that this doctor gave us so much hope, knowing his severe condition and all, and then because of the almighty dollar, dropped him like a bad habit. We were brokenhearted truly.


Subsequently, I spoke to Don’s lawyer, (Bill Farrell of Springfield) and also Guarantee Fund about what the next step would be. The adjuster informed me “gee, we were all set to negotiate with Dr. Kaye’s office for surgery, but now they refuse to operate because your husband got nasty”. That’s B.S. If that were the case, why didn’t someone just say that? That they were trying to negotiate? But, NO, they did not say anything like that. The adjuster said to me “look at it this way, if not for our help, your husband would be up a creek without a paddle”. Oh yes? She told me she’s not the type of adjuster to just approve all surgeries, and has scheduled even ANOTHER IME for April 16. I find this criminal. I find this abhorrent. That this person suffering the tortures of the damned has to be jerked around like this.


So now we’re back to Square ONE, basically. We have to go through these murky channels all over again, waiting for approval, waiting for communications between doctors’ offices and insurance companies to consume what’s left of our lives? I have ruptured discs in my neck and back as well and live in constant pain too (it kills to even type this letter, but I must), and I’m telling you, this is a volatile situation.


How could this be allowed to happen? I have some questions about Workman’s Comp. What are my husband’s legal rights regarding this situation? What if, in the interim, he commits suicide (which he talks about often), or becomes paralyzed? Is the state of Massachusetts responsible? Isn’t a person who was guaranteed money for the rest of his disabled life through Workman’s Comp entitled to that compensation for the rest of his life? Who can help us now?


I would certainly appreciate some answers and any help you could provide. Thank you so much for listening. PEACE..


INVISIBLE and Forgotten in Massachusetts,


Jana C.


PS About 10 minutes ago, Don spoke to Dr. Linson’s office, who had been informed by Dr. Kaye’s office all about their conversation with Don last week, and now Dr. Linson will not operate on Don’s lower back, saying “Dr. Linson can’t do anything for you”. Gee that’s funny, 3 years ago Dr. Linson had recommended surgery for Don’s lower back, and now they can’t help him.


I hope no in this sphere of the medical profession has to endure the debilitating pain Don suffers. What ever happened to the “Hypocritical Oath”. Aren’t doctors here to help those sick and suffering? Or have I studied medicine for 4 years for nothing?


Anybody out there with a similar situation?

Contact me at angelsink_jana@yahoo.com. PEACE

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CHRONIC INTRACTABLE PAIN FROM HELL
Article Nine in Book of Pain
Or YET ANOTHER REASON TO LEGALIZE MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Author: Jana C.

April 12, 2004

Ehhhhhhh, what’s up Doc?


It’s me over here in LaLa Land – I WISH.

I wrote that my husband was in a coma. He’s starting to wake up – slowwwwly, though. Wish I could have put a big fatty in his mouth. That would bring a smile to his face, but he’s still on a respirator, so that’s not an option. I know I didn’t mention marijuana use much in my last article, but the truth about my husband Don’s use is really so hideous, unnecessary, and very sad.


I wrote about the fact that when we DO NOT HAVE MARIJUANA to smoke, he switches to alcohol to kill his Chronic intractable Pain. Well, that’s what happened this past week-end. As you know, pot is the best muscle relaxer around. Without it, there’s no telling what might happen. With alcohol, his behavior is so erratic and unpredictable. While taking alcohol, his decision-making skills go out the window. We fight like cats and dogs, because his pain is so intense he snaps OUT, which is what happened Saturday. He must have swallowed an overdose of Valium after drinking because he was so desperate. This would not have happened, if pot were affordable to buy and we didn’t run out. He wouldn’t even have had to ask for Valium, if pot were available. He hates man-made pills.


On the flip side, when there’s cannibis, I know who I’m dealing with. A person who’s sweet and lovable – as opposed to a madman running amok. Marijuana takes away his sense of lost hope, by curing his depression over his probable nasty future prognosis and multiple surgeries.


Why can’t the Feds see this? Why can’t they listen to reason from people like me who have chronicled this phenomenon? Why can’t a person choose what they put in their bodies? Why, when there is real help through marijuana use, is a person made to suffer the tortures of the damned? What are we supposed to do to obtain medical marijuana without refinancing our home and breaking a ludicrous law? For that matter, why is alcohol still legal, and the purest herb known to man is not? So many unanswered questions, so little time. GOD, help all of us in Chronic Pain.


As usual, thank you so much for listening, Doc.


*****, *****, *****ing away in Springfield, MA


Jana (Chronic Pain sufferer)

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Torture Good, Healthcare Bad, Marijuana Evil.

There's no money for your issue so long as we're squandering $50 billion a year on the DrugWar. Ben Masel