First time with Workers Comp

[jack.coughlin]

AQA Wrote:I can only say what I have already insinsuated. O They heck with that, I did not insinuate I came right out and said it. I would go into work and tell them I am going to see a dr. End of conversation!!!!!! Or go to a dr first thing tomorrow. The worst that can happen is that you are out of money for a dr. visit. At the same time, the ball is rolling in reference to a wc. claim.

Lets try this, I changed jobs and on the second day my boss noticed my back was hurting me and I said "I think it is a result of my last job". A year latter my back is hurting to the point that I go to a dr. and end up having surgery. Who is responsible????? Keep in mind that I worked for a year with minor or no problems with the back, who is resposible??????

I think you will be fine. If the boss says anything. I would respond " It has been fine fore over a year. I have not needed medical attention until now"

Keep in mind that you did nothing wrong. You mearly did your job. Further more, if the boss was truely concerned about your hand and job, they would not have hired you.

I hope all that make sence. Take Care

It does make sense, and I agree.....I was able to function at my last job, even though there were small signs. This job I've had for over a year and its been getting slowly worse. Now my right hand is numb, throbbing and at times almost useless. And its this job that places the emphasis on my right hand.

I think that ASAP I'll go to the dr and see what happens. At most, a doctors visit with no insurance is 75 bucks. I suppose a small price to pay if WC is a possibility.....

[AQA]

A very small price for ones well being. I agree. Keep us up dated. Others will be along tomorrow and give there input. You will find this is an active and supportive forum.

Take Care

[sparkey]

First off I am a carpal tunnel recurrance WC injury. My job was drawing blood all day and typing test into the computer. When I was hired I had to fill out paperwork and I had had the surgery 8 yrs. before I got that job. It was documented I had problems still with my dominant hand.

I went to the ER two years after working at my place of employment. I told the doctor there that my work was aggrivating it and he gave me a splint to rest it and some pain meds, anti-inflammatory and told me to wear the brace and rest my hand. In my type of work I could not do that.

I went into work a week later with a heat pack wrapped around it and when I went to do my first patient the needle dropped. I cried and was going to go home. I was FORCED to fill out a accident report and sent immediatly to their doctor. I was took off work for 2 days till I saw a ortho surgeon. He sent me back to work with a thumb brace on light duty and told me I had thumb arthritis. Boy was he wrong.

I tried to work light duty and it only got worse. I ended up with frozen shoulder from trying to protect the hand and hold my arm up as when it hung down it throbbed. It will now be two years this week since my claim. I go to pain management now once a month and have a permanent impairment as no doctor wants to open my hand back up and do the surgery. I have had many treatments and now I am being told I have RSD due to color change, mirror effect to the other side etc. I had to change my career.

I was not refused treatment and was accepted as a WC injury even though it was a pre-existing injury. My job caused it to get worse and they took responsibility and now pay for all treatments. With carpal tunnel the doctor will try therapy, braceing, cortizone injections and anti-inflammatory meds. If all fails then they may consider surgery.

You will need to see a neurologist for a EMG that will show them if you do have carpal tunnel. That would be the first place to start. See a neurologist for a EMG. If you do not REST your hand you could only get worse. Not all carpal tunnel injuries require surgery. Sometimes rest and treatments can control it.

I do not think you will have ANY trouble with this being a wc injury even though it is pre-existing cause you have been there working for awhile and I would report it and fill out the forms right away and get started on getting treatment. You will only cause more damage if you do not. Sometimes also PT helps to relieve the pain/symptoms. This is a wc injury.

[capricorn]

Jack...I didn't comment before because I really don't know much about your situation BUT will agree with Sparkey and AQA on the issue of "you think you might have carpal tunnel" and your boss asking "if your carpal tunnel is acting up". I suffered 3 back injuries at the same job so obviously they were all on record. I returned to work after the first two and worked with no restrictions. This is what helped me. You also worked your new job for a year with no problem. You will be fine. AQA is right when he says that neither of you are DR.s. It's all hearsay and two people talking. Means nothing legally.

Best of luck, please get some help before it becomes worse. You read Sparkey's story.

Capricorn

[Lilly]

Hi,
When you do go to the doctor...stress to your doc that you do use that hand constantly at work. If it is resulting in lack of sleep , tell him that too! Hopefully he'll put you on light duty for a few days with restrictions. Make a copy of those written restrictions, and keep em in your pocket, and give the orig to your work...and DO NOT go beyond what doc has stated. If it's a 1-10 pound limit, stick to it, even if boss tries to get you to do otherwise (whip out the doc's orders and remind him)....don't go beyond, as if you do, you can jeopardize your claim.
Good Luck, and hang in there. Lilly

[jack.coughlin]

Lilly Wrote:Hi,
When you do go to the doctor...stress to your doc that you do use that hand constantly at work. If it is resulting in lack of sleep , tell him that too! Hopefully he'll put you on light duty for a few days with restrictions. Make a copy of those written restrictions, and keep em in your pocket, and give the orig to your work...and DO NOT go beyond what doc has stated. If it's a 1-10 pound limit, stick to it, even if boss tries to get you to do otherwise (whip out the doc's orders and remind him)....don't go beyond, as if you do, you can jeopardize your claim.
Good Luck, and hang in there. Lilly

Thanks again to all of you for all your great info...

One problem is, I don't think there IS any light duty at work. Our entire comp system is based on the right keypad...and anything considered..."light duty"' at work would still be using my entire right hand.

I remember reading somewhere that in Texas if the employer does not have anything "light duty" then they can release you from your job, although I'm not sure if this means WC would still compensate or not...

I do plan on going to the Doctor on Monday.....I think that might be the best course of action as the results would leave my work with no excuse except to declare it WC....

[jayne]

if they have no light duty then they would have to pay you TTD total temp disabilty

[sparkey]

Exactly what Jayne said. Not all places have to take you back on light duty and if they cannot find work for you they would have to pay for your time out. My NCM and employer made up a position for me sitting and watching patients come into a waiting room and seeing how long they waited for the doctor. If more than 15 mins. I had to find the doctors nurse and notify them. Boring job but at least it was something.

It is very difficult to find light duty for someone with dominant hand pain. I would of never imagined how they could come up with a job for me and they did. I got lucky 2 weeks into light duty and my husband found me work at his company within my restrictions making almost twice as much money. So things can work out for the best. Do not give up or be afraid to claim your injury due to losing your job. Think of your health first and no one else will : )

[jack.coughlin]

sparkey Wrote:Exactly what Jayne said. Not all places have to take you back on light duty and if they cannot find work for you they would have to pay for your time out. My NCM and employer made up a position for me sitting and watching patients come into a waiting room and seeing how long they waited for the doctor. If more than 15 mins. I had to find the doctors nurse and notify them. Boring job but at least it was something.

It is very difficult to find light duty for someone with dominant hand pain. I would of never imagined how they could come up with a job for me and they did. I got lucky 2 weeks into light duty and my husband found me work at his company within my restrictions making almost twice as much money. So things can work out for the best. Do not give up or be afraid to claim your injury due to losing your job. Think of your health first and no one else will : )

Went to the doctor today.

Doctor put me on three different meds, one for inflammation, one for muscle relaxing and one for pain. Told me to wear a brace and take a few days off work. Sadly, but expected, they do not do anything with wc.

Then, I went to work, told them the deal, and told them that this was starting to become too expensive for me and I thought this was a WC issue.

My boss said, "That's a gray area...since you came to us with this condition."

I told him that I had worked here for over a year and my hand had not hurt this bad until now.

He made copies of my prescriptions, and my work excuse note and told me he'd call me and let me know what their decision was.

So, knowing how they think, one of two things will happen.

1. The owner (being a redneck f**tard) will offer to pay for my CURRENT bills himself, so he won't have to file for WC.

or

2. They will say no.

I will be highly surprised if they just file and don't make a big deal about it.

[jayne]

if they dont you will have to ...to protect yourself