Our patient lives in Wallington and injured his back on a construction site in Manhattan. Here is how his care at our Garfield office went, from diagnosis to his return to work, and why he was able to get treated in New Jersey.
Case at a glance
- Patient: Marek, a Wallington resident
- Work: years on a construction crew in Manhattan
- How the injury happened: lifting heavy bags of cement
- Symptoms: sharp back pain radiating into the left leg
- Diagnosis: herniated disc compressing a nerve
- Treatment: physical therapy and two spinal injections at our Garfield office
- Outcome: walking without pain after a few months and back at work
We changed the patient’s name and some details. Treatment results differ for every patient.
Why this patient could switch to our practice
When an accident happens in New York, the case falls under the New York Workers’ Compensation system. That system follows a simple rule: the patient chooses the doctor. The decision does not belong to the employer or the insurance carrier.
The chosen doctor does not have to maintain a New York office and may see patients in New Jersey. Treatment costs are covered by the employer’s insurance, and the patient does not pay for them. Someone already being treated elsewhere can usually change doctors. That is the option Marek used.
Before he came to us
Marek first received care in New York. The trip there took more than an hour each way, and sitting on the bus was very painful for him. When his strength ran out, he sometimes missed appointments. A coworker told him he was allowed to pick his own doctor. That is when he came to our Garfield office, 10 minutes from his home.
Diagnosis and treatment plan
The exam revealed a herniated disc compressing a nerve. Marek began physical therapy, and over the course of his care he also received two spinal injections. His symptoms eased gradually, month after month.
Outcome: back to work
After a few months, Marek was walking without pain and returned to his job. In his own words, what mattered most was having all of his care close to home. His wife did not need to take time off to drive him, and he could focus on recovering.
What a nearby office changes
Treatment after a work injury often takes many months and includes visits, tests and procedures. With a distant office, each visit eats up an entire day; with a nearby one, it is a quick drive. For the patient, being close means:
- less pain during the commute, since extended sitting in a car strains an injured spine,
- less time in traffic,
- lower costs for gas, bridge and tunnel tolls, and parking,
- no need for family members to take time off,
- steady attendance at appointments, which supports a faster recovery.
After certain procedures, patients cannot drive themselves, so a short ride home becomes especially important.
Treatment and paperwork under one roof
Our practice treats back and neck pain, shoulder and knee injuries, and head injuries. We perform diagnostic tests and procedures and develop a rehabilitation plan. We also prepare every medical report needed for Workers’ Compensation and for the patient’s attorney, so patients can put their energy into healing. contact our office
Our experience with the New York system
For years, we have treated New York Workers’ Compensation patients at our Rego Park office in Queens. Dr. Dariusz Nasiek holds formal authorization from the NY Workers’ Compensation Board. We now provide the same level of care in New Jersey, at our offices in Garfield, Englewood, Elizabeth and East Orange.
How to start care with us
- Call 201-894-1313. We speak Polish.
- We will review your case and usually schedule your visit within a few days.
- If you are being treated somewhere else, you can usually switch doctors.
- If you don’t have an attorney, we will help you find a good one.
Your accident. Your case. Your choice of doctor. contact
About our practice
Allied Neurology & Interventional Pain Practice, P.C. – Pain management, neurology, head injuries, medical documentation.
Dr. Dariusz Nasiek, MD: triple board certification (Board-Certified Anesthesiologist, Board-Certified in Pain Medicine, Board-Certified Interventional Pain Physician), formal authorization from the NY Workers’ Compensation Board, more than 35 years of experience.
Offices: Garfield, Englewood (185 Grand Avenue), Elizabeth, East Orange (NJ) and Rego Park and Washington Heights (NY). Phone 201-894-1313, www.alliedspineinstitute.com We speak Polish.
This article is for informational purposes only. It is not legal or medical advice.
