Does anyone know about FCE?

[vickinat]

I was wondering if anyone knows what goes on during an FCE? I'm in Pa, in case it is differant in other states. I heard that it takes several hours, and a therapist puts you thru differant tasks, such as lifting various amounts, going up and down steps and things like that to determine what your capable of, and then decides what type of work restrictions should be imposed. Am I correct on this? Is going for an FCE an advantage or disadvantage for the injured worker?
I also was wondering about work conditioning or work hardening. What goes on during this? My PT has mentioned both of these things should be tried, before I'm returned to my pre-injury job duties. I'm still on sedentary light duty, and WC has tried to change that, but my doctor said no, and has kept same restrictions. If anyone knows about this let me know please.
Also, I can't remember the poster's name, but the one here that knows all the web sites for different parts of the state or federal laws, would you please give me some input on my several post. I have been to many differant ones, but haven't found answers to most of mt questions, like about mileage, doctor visits during working hours and so on.
Thanks
Vickie

[Lilly]

Hi Vickie,
I am suppose to start work hardening soon. Supposedly, it is "not a real job" but a crap job with crap hrs where they get me back into the swing of working again (like 40 years of practice wasn't enough) , but staying within my restrictions...voc rehab feels by being back in the work force, it will make my resume look better to prospective employers if I am productive??!! I'll let you know how it goes. I am not looking forward to it.
Lilly

[jayne]

vickinat PM Badboy he will give you all you need to know on this test do it soon

[NewDriver]

Hey Vickinit, hope you are well today. An FCE is pretty much what your therapist described. The FCE, if done correctly, should determine what your Functional Capacity is, or how much you still can do after the injury has healed.

As far as being an advantage or not, IMHO, it is always an advantage to get to the place in your recovery to start working on return to work issues. FCE, simply put, is just a part of it.

Work hardening is pretty much exactly what it implies. As refered to by Lilly, I am not familiar with that type of WH program. It may be the difference in our states and it may be part of a rehab program. I really am not sure.When delivered by PT it is basically PT stepped up a notch or even several notches. It is intensive work outs that are designed to "harden or condition" your body to handle the demands of your work. It is at this stage that many people learn if they actually will be able to return to their previous job or any job at all. A trial run if you will but without the danger of being released and have to start your benefits over if you were to fail at the program. The design of the program should at some point simulate the motions you use on the job. If you are at the point of considering WH just be sure you don't over do and end up causing more damage to your injured parts. Know when to say NO to the therapist pushing you to over extend your limitations.

As for the web sites you asked about here is some pointers that is for PA however apparently your states web site is "under construction" if you will for some sort of revision. There is a copy of the actual "Compensation Act" including all definitions of terminology used:

http://www.workerscompensation.com/pennsylvania.php

http://www.dli.state.pa.us/landi/lib/lan.../wcact.pdf

http://www.workerscompensationinsurance....lvania.htm

Still In Limbo is also from PA and has been in the WC system for several years, as I am sure others here are. He or they will most likely have the specific information for you and or a link to help you find answers on your own. Hopefully they will be better able to answer specific questions as to mileage and the rate of reimbursement and doctor visits during work hours. Most states has this information clearly worded, unfortunately PA doesn't seem to be one of them.

Take Care,

ND

[Wink]

vickinat,
Click and scroll to post #8 and below that.
http://www.workerscompensationinfo.com/f...hp?tid=237

[Still in Limbo]

Hi Vick, I have had two FCE's in Pa. and have been through the WH Process, until it was stopped due to my injuries. Is the FCE to your Benefit or not? It Depends on who ordered it, your Dr. or w/c. You are correct, they will test you for your strength and bending stretching abilities, and they also test your Mental sharpness through a series of questions, and they will throw back the same question twice once in a while just to see if you are being Honest. The questions usually concern your conception of what your limitations are, there will be a illustration along with the question for you to look at, to see if you think you could do what is depicted. Do Not push yourself too hard on the physical aspect, and be Honest on the questions. I usually don't take my Meds. the Morning of the Test, and have them with me to take after, I want them to see my injuries, not what my Meds. mask. I wish you well on your FCE!!

The work hardening I experienced was in a controlled PT Center, they Test you for your abilities again, and then start you out with what they call a conditioning plan, to get your muscles and body prepared to go back into the workforce. I'm not sure of your injuries and what point of recovery you are in, but I would suggest you speak with your Counsel (If you have one) before starting WH. I was a Team Player all the way when I was first injured, getting back to work and fast was my Goal, so I gave it Hell in WH and started to feel pain later in the Day that was so severe I actually vomited. I returned the next day and they stopped the program and sent me back to my Surgeon. (MY injuries are below). Now I knew I had scar tissue when I went to WH, and they told me this may loosen it up, and I might get back to work quicker, so I really went at it Hard. My Final Outcome from WH, a Herniation on the Left side of the Half of a Disc I had left at L5/S1 after the surgery. Both of these procedures are to evaluate and get you back into the Workforce, and can be Great if you are ready to return. On the other hand if you are still injured, they can be used as a ploy for the w/c i/c to get you off of w/c and take away your Benefits. So to answer your question if these are good or not depends on where you are at in your Recovery Process, and if you feel you are able to Return to Work! I Hope this Helped, and Have a Great Day!!

[Bad Boy Bad Boy]

http://www.valparint.com/joule.htm

http://www.occuhand.com/fce.html

[rholmes]

Still in Limbo Wrote:Hi Vick, I have had two FCE's in Pa. and have been through the WH Process, until it was stopped due to my injuries. Is the FCE to your Benefit or not? It Depends on who ordered it, your Dr. or w/c. You are correct, they will test you for your strength and bending stretching abilities, and they also test your Mental sharpness through a series of questions, and they will throw back the same question twice once in a while just to see if you are being Honest. The questions usually concern your conception of what your limitations are, there will be a illustration along with the question for you to look at, to see if you think you could do what is depicted. Do Not push yourself too hard on the physical aspect, and be Honest on the questions. I usually don't take my Meds. the Morning of the Test, and have them with me to take after, I want them to see my injuries, not what my Meds. mask. I wish you well on your FCE!!

The work hardening I experienced was in a controlled PT Center, they Test you for your abilities again, and then start you out with what they call a conditioning plan, to get your muscles and body prepared to go back into the workforce. I'm not sure of your injuries and what point of recovery you are in, but I would suggest you speak with your Counsel (If you have one) before starting WH. I was a Team Player all the way when I was first injured, getting back to work and fast was my Goal, so I gave it Hell in WH and started to feel pain later in the Day that was so severe I actually vomited. I returned the next day and they stopped the program and sent me back to my Surgeon. (MY injuries are below). Now I knew I had scar tissue when I went to WH, and they told me this may loosen it up, and I might get back to work quicker, so I really went at it Hard. My Final Outcome from WH, a Herniation on the Left side of the Half of a Disc I had left at L5/S1 after the surgery. Both of these procedures are to evaluate and get you back into the Workforce, and can be Great if you are ready to return. On the other hand if you are still injured, they can be used as a ploy for the w/c i/c to get you off of w/c and take away your Benefits. So to answer your question if these are good or not depends on where you are at in your Recovery Process, and if you feel you are able to Return to Work! I Hope this Helped, and Have a Great Day!!

Limbo,

That was a very detailed answer. Thank goodness for people like you and others on this board that help those of us that have not been through a lot of the loops in the w/c system. My question is before a job or ame can call you a QIW{qualified injured worker) aren't you suppose to go through at least one of these test FCE,ROM,WH? Or can he just read old reports from other doctors and make his decision?

[Pooh]

rholmes

QIW is a term that is used by California. What is means is this - If the injured worker is found to be a Qualified Injured Worker (QIW) as a result of his/her injury vocational rehabilitation services are offered. QIW means an employee who, as the result of his/her injury, whether or not combined with the effects of any other medical condition, cannot return to his/her usual & customary occupation or job at time of injury.

Sometimes that can be determined by a doctor with a rom test or just by the nature of the injury itself. Other times it will take going through the FCE and maybe WH for them to determine if you are able to return to your job. A lot will depend on your job and also what accommodation's will be needed for you to complete you current job and if they can accommodate them without much financial loss to the company. So say that if it will cost the company $50K to modify a car for you to drive to and from work then it may be considered a hardship on the company for them to do that if they only make $200K profit a year. Where as if they just need to make your cubical more ergonomically for you and provide you with a foot stool - then that is an accommodation that they can meet without undo financial loss.

Accommodations are something that most companies don't want you to know about, but at the same time if you can still do your job with them, and the company can provide them without costing them to much then they should provide them under the ADA regulations - something you should read up on.

As far as work hardening - work hardening can take many different forms - most are done with PT - but I was done on the job - working 1 hour one then one hour off my job building up the time I was able to do the job - then each week they would increase the amount of time I would be on the line. Did this work - NO because I was still injured - 5 yrs later I am still injured - but now the muscles will take longer to recover because of some of the stuff they did if they ever do at this point according to my last ortho appointment.

[vickinat]

A very big thanks to all of you for the info. I will definetly check out the web sites that have been mentioned, I think I might try to contact the pharmacy person, currently I pay for what WC rejects and keep the reciepts for the lawyer.
I am not scheduled yet for an FCE or work conditioning, but my Physical therapist mentioned that it may be of help to me before I have to try doing my old duties at work. He also put this in my progress report to my doctor.
WC was trying to have me do what their IME doctor wrote as new restrictions.(this is explained on previous post). My doctor said no, and to do his restrictions, and so did my lawyer. My doctor has me on sedentary light duty, no bending, twisting,stooping and only ocassionally lifting up to 10 pounds, and allowed to stand for 30 minutes up to 3 times a day. I took his restriction paper, which said to continue same restrictions and avoid brake press to work on Monday and also gave the lawyer's name and phone number if they had to give it to the WC adjuster. I was a brake press operator and bent steel parts, some heavy, some light, but it is a foot pedal operated machine, and I have to stand all day.
My injury was in my lower back and involves the left hip and buttocks.
I do PT 3x's/week and aqua therapy 2x's/week. Pt has been adding weights to some of the exercises on the machines, plus I have mechanical traction 3 x's/week.
Thanks again for the advise.
Vickie