Does anyone know about FCE?

[rholmes]

Pooh Wrote: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.

Pooh,

Thank you for that very detailed post. As I have stated in past post I don't need or require any accomidations. I had knee surgery about 4 years ago, my surgeon told me that I would be QIW. At first I didn't know what it meant so I said oh ok. When I found out what it was I fought it, with my treating doctor and I was allowed to go back to work . They kept sending me to IME's but the IME's kept saying I could work so for the past 4 years i have been working with no problems. In Dec or Jan. they sent me to an AME and he said based on his review of the other reports and my job discription he felt I could no longer work as a bus operator. I was floored because the day I went to him the appointment was so short and undetailed I didn't even know what I was being examined for. No FCE, W/H or rom was done. I have checked the ada web site and maybe I am not reading it right, because I don't fall into the catagory of needed any thing special to do my job. I have been with this bus company for almost 24 years 2 of which were part time so that dosen't count. I only have one year left and I can retire with full benifits any thing short of 23 years and 1 day I stand to loose about $250,000.00 cash out instead of $360,000.00 it will drop down to $120,000.00 or monthly payments will drop from $2,200.00 per month to $750.00 . I am now in a place on my job where I work what I want when I want and how I want. I no longer drive the buses that strain my back, I DON"T DRIVE THE LINES THAT HAVE A LOT OF TURNS. But it is not special accomidation it is my seniority that allows me to do these things. I won't deny that I do have some back problems and a few other injuries, but nothing that is out of control. When I have real bad days I use my FML and stay home and take my pain meds and get rest and treatment. I have rarely even used my fml. So after looking at this long post.lol Are you saying that the doctor didn't even have to do a ROM or a FCE to disquailify me from driving the bus? They are refusing to let me come to work at this time My attorney has put in an appeal and is going to do a depo from the doctor she sent out letters disputing his report I guess I will have to wait and see what happens.

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[Still in Limbo]

rholmes,Thank You for that very kind compliment, I really appreciate it!! I only try and do what others have done for me in the past, I have been helped tremendously by others here on this Board, and I'm only trying to return the Favor! It seems Pooh has given you Great info., I'm not well versed in Ca. Law and Pooh did a Great Job for you! I Wish You the Vest, and Have a Great Day!!

[Truckster]

Still in Limbo Wrote:rholmes,Thank You for that very kind compliment, I really appreciate it!! I only try and do what others have done for me in the past, I have been helped tremendously by others here on this Board, and I'm only trying to return the Favor! It seems Pooh has given you Great info., I'm not well versed in Ca. Law and Pooh did a Great Job for you! I Wish You the Vest, and Have a Great Day!!

HEY LIMBO, I READ YOUR POST ABOUT YOUR FRIENDS THIS WEEK,SORRY TO HERE ABOUT ALL THAT AND YOUR PAIN INCREASING ALSO...HANG IN THERE MY FRIEND WE WILL GET THRU THIS TOGETHER....ME,YOU AND ALL OF OUR ONLINE FRIENDS IN THIS FORUM...GLAD TO SEE YOU BACK POSTING...HAVE A PAIN FREE DAY

[Still in Limbo]

Thanks Truckster and I hope everything is well with you!! It's been tough but no one said it would be easy. Just so many Friends so fast, not to mention My In-Laws who were absolutely my Parents within the last 1 1/2 Years. And it's unnerving when 3 out of the 4 of my Friends passed unnaturally, Makes you feel pretty Mortal! Anything you need my Friend, just let me know and Thanks Again!!

[vickinat]

Hello again, just a update. My therapist told me that he was told that my doctor doesn't feel that I'm no where near ready for an FCE. He said he is going to try to add some conditioning into my therapy sessions, he has been changing my exercises and machines around lately. I'm still having agreat deal of difficulty with balance, my left leg doesn't want to do what it is told. I some times look as if I'm drunk and swaying to one side. My therapist said he is adding differant things to try and make the left leg work more, right now the right one is doing most of the work or my arms.

I still get a good deal of pain in my lower back, left hip and buttocks, but at least the foot only falls asleep about 1/4 of the time now.

I had my second EMG/Nerve Conduction test on Wed. I'll get a report in a few days. Preliminary findings they told me was that the radioculpathy of the L5-S1 nerve root seems to have gotten slightly better. (I had 3 Transforaminal Epidural Injs. in that area since my first EMG in Feb.Plus my doctor was able to unlock my SI joint.) So I was hoping for some improvement. He did say it was still showing irritataion, and that another nerve(I think in the leg) was not doing what it is supposed to. They did me the courteousy of looking at my MRI and X-ray, and said there was a buldging disc (L4 or L5 I think)going towards the left. I wanted them to look at the films because they are orthapedic spine specialists, and since my doctor noticed bulging disk, when the radiologist report said there were none, I just wanted to check. I heard that the place where I had the films done, that their radiologist make quite a few mistakes when they read them, I guess thats true.

I'm still sticking to my Dr's restrictions (sedentary, no brake press, no bending, no twisting, no stooping and only occasionally lifting 10 pounds, standing only 30 minutes at a time for up to 3 times a day). WC wanted my employer to inforce that I do the higher restrictions from the IME, but I said that I have to do what my treating Dr. says.
They told me that they will be writing me up, since I won't comply. If they do, I won't sign it because I disagree, I didn't do anything wrong by protecting myself from something that could make me worse. I'll continue declining until I'm told by my doctor that I can SAFELY do more at work.
You would think that common sense would tell WC that if a person is improving even a little bit, that they shouldn't try to save money and force them back into a position which could end up costing them alot more if that person gets re-injured or makes thier current injury worse.
DUHHHH
Take care of yourself, because no one else can.
Vickie
Thanks again for all of the great input.