The power to use one as a pack mule and then discard them once they can no longer do the work is the part of capitalism that is seldom seen by a majority of the people. If it were, the situation would likely change rapidly. Even after one endures the pain and the loss of a lifetime of effort there then comes the accusations of fraud and the retribution of society created by myths surrounding workplace injuries.

The "payout" is never enough to compensate for the damage, not only to oneself, but to families and society that stems from years of legal battles where one has to prove they really "needed" a horribly painful and invasive operation. I have had a very similar experience and it changed the course of my life for the worse.