KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Around 2 years ago, Chris Patterson fell off a ladder while responding to a call with the Knoxville Fire Department. He said Sedgwick, the third-party workman's compensation company for Knoxville, was not helping in a timely manner.
But recently, he was approved for a trial run to use a device meant to relieve pain related to his injury. The approval came after he spoke with WBIR around 2 weeks ago.
"Anytime I need treatment, I shouldn't have to fight Sedgwick. They are very, very bad about calling people back. They're very bad about communication," said Patterson.
He said his surgeons recommended a spinal cord stimulator to help with the pain, and after months of waiting, Sedgwick gave his doctors approval for the device. A spinal cord stimulator is a device implanted under the skin that sends low levels of electricity into the spinal cord to relieve pain.
"I carry a little controller and I can change the intensity, or the wavelength, of the stimulator and it is in the background. It blocks the receptor from sending the pain signal to your brain. So, it's a godsend," said Patterson.
The trial stimulator device was installed and Patterson said it helped with his pain.
"It's a dramatic improvement in pain. I'm able to do more. I still have to remember that I am injured, but I'm able to do more and feel more like I did before I got injured," said Patterson.
But that relief was only temporary because the trial period lasted five days. The device was removed on Tuesday. Now, Patterson said he's waiting for a chance to get the device implanted again and doesn't know when he'll hear from Sedgwick.
"The city trained me, again, to not give up. I'm not going to, as long as my brother and sister are firefighters and city workers are out there dealing with Sedgwick, I will be a thorn in their side. You know, it's not right what we're doing and something's gotta change," said Patterson.
He said his doctors are hopeful that he can have the permanent device installed by January if it's approved.
"I've been dealing with this pain a long time. Well, having a light at the end of the tunnel helps a lot, helps tremendously," said Patterson.