Fell through Steps 2 years ago

[Jhmhch]

What is the name of your state? Missouri

My husband, son and I rented an apartment on the top floor of a house made into 4 apartments. We lived there for about 2 years. When we moved in, it was our understanding that they would be replacing the deck and steps up to the top 2 apartments, since it was very old wood and deteriorating. My husband worked/still works for the couple (the husband has since passed) that owned the units, so we continuously asked when the new deck would be started and were always given some sort of excuse or another, ie: it's raining, we're too busy on the water (the business they run operates off the Lake), etc. We finally got sick of the run-around (and decided this was the area where we were going to stay for a while) and decided to purchase a home. About a month before we closed on the home I was walking down the steps(at the apt) w/ my then 1 year old son and the 3rd step from the bottom broke out from underneath me and my son (held VERY tightly) in my arms and I both landed on the concrete underneath. I ended up w/ bruising all up and down my right side and went to both the medical doctor, for e-xrays and pain medication and the chiropractor for the inability to walk (out of alignment?). I have been experiencing symptoms of sciatica for the last 6 or 8 months and recently went to the doctor w/ pain again (getting more and more severe) and he sent me for an MRI. The MRI revealed that there were bulging discs at L4 and L5 and degenerative disc changes. I went to one orthopaedic and he did nothing for me but prescribe physical therapy, which I've been doing for the last 4 or 5 months anyway, and nothing more. I am in the process of acquiring a new ortho dr. to find out for sure whether or not these symptoms and pain could be a result of this incident. I can only think that they do, since I had never been in any sort of accident, had any back pain or had any other traumatizations to my back or neck before this occurrence. (I'm a woman and was always a girly girl growing up, no rough and tough here!). The owners never apologized for the incident and never offered to pay for any of my medical expenses, however I didn't want to cause problems at the time due to the fact that my husband worked for them and the pain went away for a while. ONE MONTH AFTER WE CLOSED ON OUR HOUSE THERE WAS A NEW DECK! I know I need to find a medical opinion on the accident injuries, but then where do I go? And do I have much of a case?