Impairment rating?

[ksgirl]

Are they blaming the weight gain on you? I know that with back problems, not getting exercise because of pain and the pain medications maake me gain weight. I am normally 105 pounds. The first time I had back problems I went nine months before surgery and gained forty pounds. This time I had problems for four months before surgery and I gained twenty pounds. What is wrong with these Drs and I/A? We are injured at work and now it's our fault if we gain weight?

[genegene]

Thats more or less what they are saying. I crushed my ankle and knee and was in a wheelchair for 3 months and then a walker for 9. Bouncing on one leg on the walker ruptured a disc in my back. I have had 2 knee and 1 ankle surgery so far and they had schelduled back surgery and now this idiot is saying no and of course they are listening to him. They postponed the back and want to try 6 months of rehab first but my knee is falling apart with all the screws and plates and my ortho is wanting to do a total knee and says I can't do the rehab without the back being fixed...I am in limbo again. I'm beginning to think my case manager is working behind my back to get me out of here before I get my surgeries.

[genegene]

I would like to find one person who didn't gain weight when you are sitting on your butt all day. The frustration of dealing with these people is enough to make you eat and start drinking and smoking too....

[ksgirl]

In my case it's lack of exercise and having to eat because of pain meds. They make me really sick to my stomach so I have to eat a lot of small meals. Crackers don't work. The way w/c works also makes me sick to my stomach. I'm getting tired of going to thier dr who doesn't even seem to be listening to me since I had surgery. It's like he did the operation, now he's done. I'm just ready for it to all be over. I know I'm not the only one, a lot of others on here have about had it too. I don't know how the ones that have dealt with w/c for years can handle it.
As for the drinking part, I am so glad I am off the meds so I can have a drink now! I think some of the the drs and i/a need smacked!
I hope they figure you out soon!

[genegene]

You are so right KS. After 2 years on WC my nerves are getting really bad too and that makes me eat more...
How long have you been on WC? I have been very lucky with the fact that the ortho on call when I came into ER is one of the best and he has really fought for me to get the treatment I need...I keep looking for them to send me to someone else for the knee and ankle like they did for the back.

[rholmes]

I too have gained a lot of weight, My first back injury caused me to gain about 60 lbs since then it has been a battle with knee surgery and back flare ups, It is so sad that we are punished to no return when all we wanted to do was go to work and earn a living.

[genegene]

AMEN...They act like we like not having a life...The fact that my life and the life of everyone around me has been drastically changed apparently makes no difference to them. We got hurt on the job; we didn't commit some great, awful crime and we shouldn't be treated like criminals. I know there is some people who misuse WC just like any other insurance but that doesn't mean we all have to be treated like we're crooks. I want to be fixed and I want a little respect while I am being fixed, I don't think that is too much to ask.

[sparkey]

AMEN genegene. I also have gained about 10-15 lbs being out of work 6 months . I blame it on the cymbalta and methadone. I do find that with the methadone i want sweets. Also when this first happened i was only laying in bed crying day in and day out till my meds got adjusted for pain. I could not do anything as it is my dominant hand. All i could do was sit and watch tv and eat ( with the left) lol.

I hear what your saying about not getting doctors to listen to you, and helping you heal. I am in the same boat, and now left for the rest of my life by them to heal on my own at this point. I am thinking of getting help on my own without WC so i can live a normal life. If that is possible to do on my own. They have pretty much had the doctors say i am uncureable and will heal on my own in due time. It is so frustrating and i cannot believe people out there go to school to learn to be doctors to help people and end up being on WC side only to cause more pain and suffering on the employer.

It is so unfair that we got up to work that day as an AMERICAN and this is how we are treated for doing so. I think if we sat on our A$$ would would get much more. Good luck in everyone's pain they are enduring.

[genegene]

I've been out of work for over 2 years. When I got hurt I was smoking 3 packs of cigarettes a day and quit so that has added a bunch of weight too. The stress if all this b.s. made me start back so I have lost a little but that is a bad way to lose it.
I wish there was some way to exercise without messing something else up or have them breathing down my neck I think I would feel better...at least I would have something to look forward to...It is so frustrating.

[sparkey]

Congrats on the quitting smoking part. I myself have been smoking over 30 yrs. and need to quit. It is not good for my circulation to heal, especially with neuropathy. I am going to look into the pill for smoking in a few weeks. Hopefully it works. It would be the best thing i could ever do for myself and my family. Has anyone that is on WC ever had any therapy of any sort for their loss of function, depression, or chronic pain? I have never seen anyone mention it as a part of their therapy for dealing with WC at all. I went for my first time today, and personally it felt good to cry and let it all out. I do not know how good this will be for me, but figured i would give it a shot. It is included in my own insurance co. to get this help and boy do i need it with what i am being put through with all this. Good luck to everyone in their pain today, and hope it is a painfree day : )