First Time WC and Needs Advice

[beckysangels]

azmickelson Wrote:I live and work for the state of AZ as an investigator for crimes against children. On 08-31-07 I went to the office at 6:30 AM, at the direction of my boss, to finish off somepaperwork, by 8:00 AM I was riding in an ambulanceto the emergency room.

Basically I opened my file cabinet to get a case file and it decided to fall on top of me. My brave forehead decided to break its fall and took the brunt of the impact. I blacked out and my boss called 911. I was diagnosed with a concussion/head injury with neck and/or back injury. I have been off work since. After my husband picked me up from
the emergency room I went back to the office to give my boss the
paperwork. Her response was to deny worker's comp and wanted to
know why I needed time off. Of course I am looking at her with this
huge bump on my head doing my best to look like a unicorn attempting
to put a sentence together. At the hospital I could not remember my
birthday, my address, what day or month it was. I just answered
that the doctor ordered me home and not to work for at least a
week. Knowing my boss I will probably have to pay for the damage to
the file cabinet.

I have been back to the emergency room twice and urgent care twice. The first responder stated she found me with the file cabinet on top of me. I do not remember the file cabinet hitting me, however, the paramedics stated I had a huge bump on my head.

The headaches are excruciating and won't go away and my neck is so sore. I am dizzy, forgetful, and nauseaus with vomiting. The ringing in my hears has not lessened and my husband states I am irritable and forgetful. I can't move my neck. I have fallen several times due to dizziness. There are problem with concentration and my vision blurs at times. I am very tired, however, I can't sleep. My husband states I am not the same person. There is numbness and tingling in my arms and hands.

Additionally, after telling my boss I was on two (2) narcotic pills she ordered me in the office to turn in the medical slip. After I left the house she had her secretary call my house and leave a message for me not to come in.

The doctors now say, among other diagnosis, I have Post Concussion Syndrome and this injury is aggravated due to previous concussions.

My husband is typing and writing this for me. He wants me to contact an attorney but I don't know if I should nor do I understand the process. How do I procede? I appreciate any suggestions.

Lorri Ann

[beckysangels]

To azmickelson, I read your letter and I would like to share a couple of things with you. First back in 12-1998 I was working in Valenia CA. for a parts house were I was the Office Manager and I did other work besides just managing the office. Anyway, my boss asked me to do some of is personal filing and the filing cabinet also fell on me. I started sceaming for someone to help me because I could not stop the cabinet from falling. 1 of my coworkers heard me and he tried to lift the filing cabinet off me. My boss then came out of is office and saw that I was injured but sent me back to work. 2 days later the pain was so enbearable that I went to my own doctor. He ran some test and took exrays and sent me to a nurosergon and he order CT scan, MRI and when he received the results back he told me I have injuries to my neck and back left shoulder and right knee. That was 5 months later when my boss told me that he had to cover his own ass and I was sent to a WC doctor. That was April 30th 1999. Since then I under went 3 back surgerys and 2 left should surgerys and 1 neck fusion and now I am 100 percent disabled. Yes, you need to talk to a WC attonery and no what your rights are and don't let anybody tell you what to do. I made the mistake of waiting after I was injured. It has be complete hell. Please don't wait because it sound to me that you have a lot going on and you need the right kind of medical attention.

[beckysangels]

beckysangels Wrote:To azmickelson, I read your letter and I would like to share a couple of things with you. First back in 12-1998 I was working in Valenia CA. for a parts house were I was the Office Manager and I did other work besides just managing the office. Anyway, my boss asked me to do some of is personal filing and the filing cabinet also fell on me. I started sceaming for someone to help me because I could not stop the cabinet from falling. 1 of my coworkers heard me and he tried to lift the filing cabinet off me. My boss then came out of is office and saw that I was injured but sent me back to work. 2 days later the pain was so enbearable that I went to my own doctor. He ran some test and took exrays and sent me to a nurosergon and he order CT scan, MRI and when he received the results back he told me I have injuries to my neck and back left shoulder and right knee. That was 5 months later when my boss told me that he had to cover his own ass and I was sent to a WC doctor. That was April 30th 1999. Since then I under went 3 back surgerys and 2 left should surgerys and 1 neck fusion and now I am 100 percent disabled. Yes, you need to talk to a WC attonery and no what your rights are and don't let anybody tell you what to do. I made the mistake of waiting after I was injured. It has be complete hell. Please don't wait because it sound to me that you have a lot going on and you need the right kind of medical attention.

[Pooh]

Larry

As some have said - the hardest injuries to see are the ones that are unseen. Just because we look "OK" on the outside doesn't mean that we are OK on the inside. How at times I wish that it was true just because we look ok we are ok - but alas we are not.

Is there any way that she can get counseling to help deal with what she is going through? I know it helped me when I needed it most to help deal with my injury - although I still suffer from depression to an extent - but I then most of us in chronic pain do. But sometimes it is really hard for the "type a" personalities to come to grips with dealing with injuries and the way their co-workers treat them.

That may be something to talk to the Acute care doctor about once you see them about the results of the tests that he has ordered for Lori Ann.

((((((((((gentle hugs for the family)))))))))

[ICURN]

I am so sorry to hear of your wife's problems. On the bright side, not getting WC may be good in her case.

Arizona WC benefits leave something to be desired. For example, the maximum weekly payout is $375 a week!

I rue the day I ever filled out the form. Personally, I would be much better off using my own health insurance and short term disability insurance. Instead I am financially devastated, besides being physically devastated and at the whims of WC for my health care needs. Long story short - I suffered herniated discs C3 - C7 from a fall at work.

I am not a doctor , but the pain and tingling in her arms screams herniated disc problems in addition to whatever the concussion effects are.

If you guys have your own personal insurance, start using that. These problems can not be ignored!
Best of luck

[tweety00]

Hi Larry
Im happy that she went to see any doctor .. Have you had an mri yet or ct scan ?
If so ask for the reports ... Im learning alot from the reports that the doctors never told me about ... Question does theheadaches goaway if she lays down ? and are brought on by bending the neck backwords.. See mine I can start a headache just by turning it a certain way ... andstop it also ..
Yes I have bad discs in my neck but also have a version of chiari ... . I have done alot of research .. So please Use the Er when you need to If like my state w/c has to approve it ..
Also read your states w/c site .. learn live it and hate it ..
Mary

[MJC]

Sorry Lori Ann is going through all this and what a disgrace it is for her co-workers to judge her in the manner that they have. Lori sounds like she is extremely ill. I pray that she will ge the medical help she needs soon. I have been away from posting for some time now as I have been though a horrible illness myself. Trying to get back into posting as I feel I can tolerate.

This forum is a great place to be because everyone on here are so caring for our fellow injured workers and even those that are not injured from work. We pray for everyone that comes on here with a problem and we worry for them also. May our precious Lord carry Lori in his loving arms and nurse her back to good health. Take care and God Bless.

Cajun Hugssssssss,
MJC