WC Wisdom and Help Needed

[Spring]

chrischris Wrote:Hi All,

I need insight and wisdom.    My case is at a point I need to make some critical decisions and if I make the wrong ones, I may regret them for the rest of my life.   I’m so confused.
I’ve been placed back on TTD.

Primary Treating Physiccian says:
1. Hire an attorney
2. And, File a Stress Claim
3. Or, Call my Claims Adjustor and ask for advice on what to do.

This PTP (my 2nd )  has been good to me.  I trust and respect his opinions.    I do have other Treating physicians with dueling diagnosis.    This is another issue and I am sure will have to be settled eventually by PQME process.    The difference of opinions has to do with my cervical injury.

I’m so torn up and can’t decide what to do.     If I file a Stress Claim, it’s no turning back which means my career has ended.    This hasn’t just been a job to me.   I’m middle management and was working/training  towards a key management  position.     This goal has been flushed down the toilet by my employer when I filed for WC in Feb. 2006.    

At first,  I believe my employer was truly concerned and was working with me, but as time went on, I believe my employer became frustrated because I wasn’t getting better, and then I amended my original claim to include Bilateral CTS and RSD.   To make a long story short, my immediate supervisor has since created a very hostile work environment and has made me her target.   After unsuccessful attempts to rectify the problems with her, I went above her head to her boss.  After that very emotional meeting, I left work for a physical therapy appt., and haven’t been back.    I can’t cope with it anymore.     I feel like my world is ending, and I feel such hatrid for my supervisor that I’m ashamed of myself.    She has reduced me from a very strong successful employee to who I am now,  crying all the time,  no self-esteem, and afraid to make any decisions.   My heart is so broken and it hurts!

Summary:    California, new law.    Date of Injury:  Feb. 2006 – RSI to neck (3 level herniation),  Entire Upper Left Extremity, including Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.      Claim amended in Dec. 2006 due to compensable consequences including Right Sided CTS, and RSD.        Dominant Hand CTS Surgery July 2006, plus numerous other procedures .

Any opinions on how to proceed would be welcome and appreciated.    Thank you to all.

Hi Chris...I hope you are having a good day, First thing, I want to wish you A Happy Mother's Day.
I was happy to read that you are no longer working in that stressful place anymore. I know that know you still have stress from there but just in a diffirent matter. Please don't think your career is forever over. Look at it this way...that chapter in your life is over. But only with that job. That job was not treating you as the real person you are. You still can hold your head high you have done nothing wrong. getting the stress out of your life just may help you to medically be able to get healthier. I have never given up the hope that I will be able to return to some kind of employment. But just as you. They the Dr. and myself have to get my health meaning mostly our pain under some control. So we can function in some normalance in our lives. Your pain then having all that added stress from a nasty and uncaring boss was doing you know good. I can't help you the direction of do you add the stress claim what does your attroney say? I know with the RSD it is even harder to make just a simple decision...so making this kind of decision just has your mind spinning. What I did with my Attroney just recently was asked him to write down all the options I had...the pro and cons...the possible outcomes. Then send them to me. So then husband and I could go over them. That way I have time to really think about things. Maybe that could help you. Chris I really hope you find a light at the end of the tunnel. If you find it is getting to be more then you can handle step back and tell everyone involved to step back....just explain to them you can take this much at one time. Your health comes first. Remember your depression, you don't want to become so overwhelmed you are just completely out of it. I ended up yesterday sitting in my Dr. office is just so much pain and overwhelmed with tears that I thought I was loosing it. Just having the good ole Dr talk did me some good...and he increased some meds.
So just don't let it all get to overwhelming.. Take Care,

[1171]

you are probably right about not trusting your judgement now and getting others input. Along that line you might be selling rehab short especially with emotions running every which way. one of things a good VR counselor does is help you "see" yourself in another career.
It is tough to change when you've locked a single view of your workself. I'm not sure there are many other paths around your psychological predicament except, of course, continuing the course you are on.
Maybe at some later point in your counseling the rehab option will fall on a more receptive psyche.
be well.

[capricorn]

hi CC.....i am in total agreement with 1171 on the VR. 1 year after my first injury in '99 someone suggested i call my state's OVR. i did. they were great. not only did they pay for my work hardening therapy, put me with a great counselor because they saw i needed the mind/emotional support also, who i saw for maybe 3 years (he was the one who dx me with PTSD), but they also paid for me to return to school. i didn't finish as i was called back to work with 48 hours notice, no restrictions. at the time i returned because of financial reasons. was really afraid to lose my paycheck and benefits. so i put my health aside and returned full duty. i worked for 3 years before re-injuring my back and an added knee injury. i think they are wonderful. at least my counselor was. wishing you the best as usual.

CAP