Got a Lawyer!

[map191983]

I went to see my doctor in St. Louis, MO this morning. He released me back to work but said I'm not at Maximum Medical Improvement yet. I go back on the 16th of January and i expect then he will say I'm at MMI. After the doctor, I went to meet an attorney and hired him to represent me.
The doctor said for a lumbar discectomy (?) the rating is almost always 10%. Then my lawyer said the usual rating is 20-25%. Does anyone know about this? If my lawyer is right, than I can't trust my doctor anymore .
Also, since I'm not at MMI, but I am released back to work, should I expect the temporary disability checks to stop immediately?
thanks for reading![/size][/font]

[AQA]

Yes, the wc checks will stop when you return to work. Light duty or not. Should your Dr. take you back off work after you have returned then the monitary benifits should resume.
As far as the impairment rating goes, It depends on many factors. One of the major factors would be what edition of the ama is used.

[Still in Limbo]

I do Believe that the AMA 5th Edition has 4 Levels for the Lumbar Area, and Class IV being the Highest Rating is 28%, so Your Attorney saying 20-25% Sounds like a Decent Average. If You do Return to Work with Restrictions and Your Pay Scale is Lower than before Your Injury, You may be Entitled to a Partial w/c Check to make up the Difference. Check with Your Attorney to be Sure, I'm in Pa., and that's how They work it Here. Best of Luck, and I Hope All Goes Well with Your New Attorney!!

[backache]

I was sent back to light duty work 2 days a week by my original WC DR I couldn't do it so when I went to my PCP after the 90 days you have to wait he took me back out of work. The IC decreased my check greatly because I was suppose to be working, but after my Dr. took me out of work they still won't increase my check back to what I was getting. They said they won't honor my PCP orders. Now I have a hearing to try to reinstate my original amount. These people should come up with their own game show called "Screw the Injured Worker"

[AQA]

Just to amend my previous post. I was refering to returning to work at the same pay and same hours as before the injury.

[Still in Limbo]

I know it's Tough Backache, I just Finally got My Case Closed, and the Attorneys are Preparing their Briefs, and then the Judge Rules! It's Been Three Years Injured, 2 Years of Hearings, 12 in All, and there are 14 Petitions for the Judge to Rule on!! I Bet that Judge will Be Cross Eyed when They are Done with mine!!! (LOL) I Hope All Goes Well with Yours!!