L3-L4 level on the left side. However, according to Ms. Lemoine, the surgery was not successful. She continued to suffer pain in her lower back and began to demonstrate a greatly reduced range of motion. In January of 1991, Dr. Drerup prescribed a conservative physical therapy routine, but four months later Ms. Lemoine's pain persisted. Despite the complaints of pain, a postoperative MRI revealed no evidence of recurrent or residual disc herniation. When Dr. Drerup last saw the plaintiff in April of 1991, he still considered her to be unable to return to work. To treat her continued complaints, the doctor then recommended that she enroll in a special program known as the Comprehensive Spine Program.
The Comprehensive Spine Program is an intense program which includes further medical evaluationand treatment, psychological evaluation and treatment, Revaluation and recommendations as to such things as proper diet, physical therapy three days per week for three to six hours per day, and ultimately a functional capacity assessment of the individual. Ms. Lemoine began the program on May 5, 1991, and attended through July 10, 1991. In late June, the administrators of the program concluded that Ms. Lemoine had improved physically and emotionally, and scheduled the functional capacity evaluation for July 9, 1991. At approximately the same time, the plaintiff began to attend the sessions only sporadically and did not attend the assessment appointment. Despite the encouraging signs in late June, the compensation carrier was informed by the program nurse on July 10, 1991, that the plaintiff "was less than compliant