u/Funny-Bass2607

Approx 3 years ago I injured my neck at work.

Not long after I started having dizzy spells and issues with my balance. Went to the ED and I got diagnosed with a concussion.

My workplace denied the acc claim while I was off work recovering, claiming I never did an accident report - yet I didn’t even know there was one. I never got better and things just kept getting worse leading to me having to resign.

I rapidly became bedridden with dizziness and over time started getting new symptoms. It created a lot of anxiety and worry.

I began having sensory problems, chest pain, fatigue, nerve pain and more. I was told they thought it was chronic fatigue syndrome.

I visited the ED countless times and everytime I was cleared and discharged and sometimes labelled as somatic.

My GP at the time was horrible, he just threw pills at me and sent me to random specialists like pain management and gastroenterology (since I have celiac disease). Neurology kept declining me due to the CFS diagnosis and ED presentations.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago, I woke up with searing neck and face pain and dizziness that wouldn’t go away. I was having trouble holding onto stuff and it wasn’t normal. Again ED did nothing.

I’ve been unable to sit up properly for months at this point and have been relying on meals on wheels etc.

My old GP said “it’s a bad flare, not serious” but I know my own body.

I decided ED was no use so I went to a new GP who did some neurological exams on me, and found upper motor neuron dysfunction etc.

He immediately referred me to neurology who again declined to see me, despite having an abnormal nerve study recently.

He then said as this happened at work ACC should help so he booked in an urgent appointment with a private neurosurgeon.

After seeing the surgeon and doing specific tests they suspect I have severe myelopathy of the upper cervical spine and that it’s a serious condition and I should have seen him years ago.

Now I’m finding out because my original ED presentation says “concussion” the MRI that was ordered urgently won’t be covered.

Has anyone dealt with similar?

The surgeon told me that my condition will continue to degrade when asked if it can kill me, he said he can’t tell me without an mri, only that it’s very serious and surgery, if possible at this point is the only option.

I’m due to see GP next week however neurology have declined me continuously in the public system and I’m really my wits end.

Even writing this post is a nightmare and I don’t know how much more things are going to progress.

I just need advice on dealing with ACC or even the public system. I’m really feeling lost and broken, I have no support or family here and I’m rotting in my bed from disability

Approx 3 years ago I injured my neck at work.

Not long after I started having dizzy spells and issues with my balance. Went to the ED and I got diagnosed with a concussion.

My workplace denied the acc claim while I was off work recovering, claiming I never did an accident report - yet I didn’t even know there was one. I never got better and things just kept getting worse leading to me having to resign.

I rapidly became bedridden with dizziness and over time started getting new symptoms. It created a lot of anxiety and worry.

I began having sensory problems, chest pain, fatigue, nerve pain and more. I was told they thought it was chronic fatigue syndrome.

I visited the ED countless times and everytime I was cleared and discharged and sometimes labelled as somatic.

My GP at the time was horrible, he just threw pills at me and sent me to random specialists like pain management and gastroenterology (since I have celiac disease). Neurology kept declining me due to the CFS diagnosis and ED presentations.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago, I woke up with searing neck and face pain and dizziness that wouldn’t go away. I was having trouble holding onto stuff and it wasn’t normal. Again ED did nothing.

I’ve been unable to sit up properly for months at this point and have been relying on meals on wheels etc.

My old GP said “it’s a bad flare, not serious” but I know my own body.

I decided ED was no use so I went to a new GP who did some neurological exams on me, and found upper motor neuron dysfunction etc.

He immediately referred me to neurology who again declined to see me, despite having an abnormal nerve study recently.

He then said as this happened at work ACC should help so he booked in an urgent appointment with a private neurosurgeon.

After seeing the surgeon and doing specific tests they suspect I have severe myelopathy of the upper cervical spine and that it’s a serious condition and I should have seen him years ago.

Now I’m finding out because my original ED presentation says “concussion” the MRI that was ordered urgently won’t be covered.

Has anyone dealt with similar?

The surgeon told me that my condition will continue to degrade when asked if it can kill me, he said he can’t tell me without an mri, only that it’s very serious and surgery, if possible at this point is the only option.

I’m due to see GP next week however neurology have declined me continuously in the public system and I’m really my wits end.

Even writing this post is a nightmare and I don’t know how much more things are going to progress, I’m losing the use of my arms and hands. I can’t even stand up.

I just need advice on dealing with ACC or even the public system. I’m really feeling lost and broken, I have no support or family here and I’m rotting in my bed from disability.