Hello I am new to the forum and am glad to have come across it. I am located in South Carolina and suffered my injury back on Feb 16, 2010. I have become frustrated with the system along the way as it does not always make sense to me. I took an aprox 20 ft fall from a 28 ft ladder while installing cable. I do not remember much for first week or the actually fall itself. I do know that I was airlifted from the local hospital to the medical university for treatment of severe injuries. I broke ribs 5 ribs punctured my spleen 3 times, crushed my wrist and was knocked out at the time of the injury. I spent a week in the hospital and have had to have a plate and I believe 6 screws placed in my wrist. They also had to operate and do several repairs to my spleen as I started bleeding again after several days in the hospital. The nightmare began shortly after I left the hospital. I have been diagnosised with a concussion which they said I could have side effects from for at least or year or they could be permenant. I have dizziness off and on, blurred vision, headaches, concentration difficulties and have suffered memory problems. The memory problems have been the hardest for me since I have always had a great memory and have never had to use other means to remember things. I am in a battle I feel like with the workers compensation representatives and have acquired a lawyer after having a catscan for my head denied by the claims adjuster and recieving massive amounts of medical bills that have been billed to my insurance. I am still having to fight for medical treatment and finally after 5 months I have an appointment scheduled to see and orthopedic doctor this Friday. The specialist that did the reconstruction on my hand recommended it to the case manager and wrote and order out for it a 2 weeks after my accident. I have been suffering back pain, difficulties with going up or down stairs, pain in my knees and pain when I try to sit. I have also started physical therapy on my hand. I have no really slept since the accident for more than 1 or 2 hours at a time. Any recommendations or information that anyone could help me out with would be appreciated it. My lawyer has been battling for treatment but warned me it is a slow process and I have finally started to recieve my TTD checks on a regular basis. I am now on my 4th nurse case manager and it has added to the challenge of the entire case because each time I have to explain everything again. I know that at this time there is no way I can return to my previous job and be able to do the work I was previously doing. This whole situation is quiet scary to me as I had work hard to establish myself in the line of work I was doing. I am also unsure of what right I have as to how much pain I have to endure. I am in constant pain and have difficulties doing some of the most basic tasks still without increasing the pain.
crimsonmedic Wrote:Hello I am new to the forum and am glad to have come across it. I am located in South Carolina and suffered my injury back on Feb 16, 2010. I have become frustrated with the system along the way as it does not always make sense to me. I took an aprox 20 ft fall from a 28 ft ladder while installing cable. I do not remember much for first week or the actually fall itself. I do know that I was airlifted from the local hospital to the medical university for treatment of severe injuries. I broke ribs 5 ribs punctured my spleen 3 times, crushed my wrist and was knocked out at the time of the injury. I spent a week in the hospital and have had to have a plate and I believe 6 screws placed in my wrist. They also had to operate and do several repairs to my spleen as I started bleeding again after several days in the hospital. The nightmare began shortly after I left the hospital. I have been diagnosised with a concussion which they said I could have side effects from for at least or year or they could be permenant. I have dizziness off and on, blurred vision, headaches, concentration difficulties and have suffered memory problems. The memory problems have been the hardest for me since I have always had a great memory and have never had to use other means to remember things. I am in a battle I feel like with the workers compensation representatives and have acquired a lawyer after having a catscan for my head denied by the claims adjuster and recieving massive amounts of medical bills that have been billed to my insurance. I am still having to fight for medical treatment and finally after 5 months I have an appointment scheduled to see and orthopedic doctor this Friday. The specialist that did the reconstruction on my hand recommended it to the case manager and wrote and order out for it a 2 weeks after my accident. I have been suffering back pain, difficulties with going up or down stairs, pain in my knees and pain when I try to sit. I have also started physical therapy on my hand. I have no really slept since the accident for more than 1 or 2 hours at a time. Any recommendations or information that anyone could help me out with would be appreciated it. My lawyer has been battling for treatment but warned me it is a slow process and I have finally started to recieve my TTD checks on a regular basis. I am now on my 4th nurse case manager and it has added to the challenge of the entire case because each time I have to explain everything again. I know that at this time there is no way I can return to my previous job and be able to do the work I was previously doing. This whole situation is quiet scary to me as I had work hard to establish myself in the line of work I was doing. I am also unsure of what right I have as to how much pain I have to endure. I am in constant pain and have difficulties doing some of the most basic tasks still without increasing the pain.
Hey there, I too am in South Carolina and learning about the W/C system here. I don't have much information to share with you but you have come to the right place for assistance and information.
I have learned that our W/C system is basically as the North Carolina system except for the fact that here in South Carolina there is no allowance for Voc. Rehab.
Take care of yourself and learn as much as you can, it's good to see another in South Carolina here.
How about our Gamecocks, are you a baseball fan?
Have a GREAT day!
Ginger
WoW that was some fall you took there. I often wonder for people injured like in your case how or what took place also. And I understand from what you said you just don't remember what took place. That is terrible. I wish you could find those answers for yourself and share some day with us.
Since you have an Attorney, I hope you simply treat the attorney as if they were your best friend, I learn a person gets better results when they treat them like that. So, if you ever have to step on their toes here and there, they accept it like a real friend too.
There isn't a whole lot to say at this time, other then your going to need to let this take plenty of time to heal, and that is a slow process. Might be a year or more. I understand your sleep concerns too, been there myself. You need to have the doctor help you out with that. You need to get sleep.
Thank you for the support and information.
What happened is still a guess on anyones part as I was working alone and someone just happened to come out of their house as I was falling towards the ground from what I have been told by my supervisor. I am very thankful that they were. The ladder was attached midspan, if you are not familar it has hooks at the top that we hook to the lines when we work when we are unable to place the ladder on the pole to access items. When they found me they had to contact the fire dept my ladder was flipped and almost 150 ft from where I was working, only had one hook attached and was no longer on our cable line, but attached to a line below. There were several theories on whether the high winds we had that day cause a tree branch to rock the line enough for it to come unhooked and to slide and flip. Normally we are tied to the line when we are at the top, but the last thing I remember was starting on my way down. I am hoping to one day regain the memory of the events after that part as it has been driving me crazy trying to figure it out.
I am very familar with such ladders. Now, that is strange, as to why one hook was off, one hooked to a line, and then the ladder being 150 feet away from where you were at. Even a high wind would not toss a ladder that far. Is it possible a tree branch hit the line, and sent you, and the ladder sailing, oh yes, that is very possible, that a sling shot affect took place. But, where is the tree branch, as you didn't say anyone had to move one out of the way, or the area? That is strange I would agree. But, why the hook come off, if even another issue. Aren't the hooks bolted on? Then was the ladder defected. I hope you have the ladder still? has your attorney done an investagation on this, and the ladder, and ladder company. Possible like I said, a defect in the ladder also.
I'm just shoting in the wind of possibles is all.
I have an idea though. You could always return to the area. Might jar your memory. And you could ask around to the home owners if any of them remember anything from that day. Ask and tell them, you lost memory of it.
crimsonmedic Wrote:Hello I am new to the forum and am glad to have come across it. I am located in South Carolina and suffered my injury back on Feb 16, 2010. I have become frustrated with the system along the way as it does not always make sense to me. I took an aprox 20 ft fall from a 28 ft ladder while installing cable. I do not remember much for first week or the actually fall itself. I do know that I was airlifted from the local hospital to the medical university for treatment of severe injuries. I broke ribs 5 ribs punctured my spleen 3 times, crushed my wrist and was knocked out at the time of the injury. I spent a week in the hospital and have had to have a plate and I believe 6 screws placed in my wrist. They also had to operate and do several repairs to my spleen as I started bleeding again after several days in the hospital. The nightmare began shortly after I left the hospital. I have been diagnosised with a concussion which they said I could have side effects from for at least or year or they could be permenant. I have dizziness off and on, blurred vision, headaches, concentration difficulties and have suffered memory problems. The memory problems have been the hardest for me since I have always had a great memory and have never had to use other means to remember things. I am in a battle I feel like with the workers compensation representatives and have acquired a lawyer after having a catscan for my head denied by the claims adjuster and recieving massive amounts of medical bills that have been billed to my insurance. I am still having to fight for medical treatment and finally after 5 months I have an appointment scheduled to see and orthopedic doctor this Friday. The specialist that did the reconstruction on my hand recommended it to the case manager and wrote and order out for it a 2 weeks after my accident. I have been suffering back pain, difficulties with going up or down stairs, pain in my knees and pain when I try to sit. I have also started physical therapy on my hand. I have no really slept since the accident for more than 1 or 2 hours at a time. Any recommendations or information that anyone could help me out with would be appreciated it. My lawyer has been battling for treatment but warned me it is a slow process and I have finally started to recieve my TTD checks on a regular basis. I am now on my 4th nurse case manager and it has added to the challenge of the entire case because each time I have to explain everything again. I know that at this time there is no way I can return to my previous job and be able to do the work I was previously doing. This whole situation is quiet scary to me as I had work hard to establish myself in the line of work I was doing. I am also unsure of what right I have as to how much pain I have to endure. I am in constant pain and have difficulties doing some of the most basic tasks still without increasing the pain.
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I don't really have any information to add or advice to give. What I do want to give you is a **cyber hug** because I feel really bad for everything that you have and are going through.
I just became a member here a couple of days ago and want you to know that this is a place with very informed people that will help you if they can. Take care of yourself and I feel your pain with regards to having to explain over and over again your situation when seeing new doctors.
Hang in there and keep your head up!
Sharon
Bad Boy Bad Boy Wrote:I have an idea though. You could always return to the area. Might jar your memory. And you could ask around to the home owners if any of them remember anything from that day. Ask and tell them, you lost memory of it.
I am definately going to return to the area. I am hoping to possibly catch someone home to ask questions. The company has my vehicle and all my tools. My hard hat is one issue we are planning on working on as it did not fit and came off when I fell. I had requested a hard hat that would fit for the last 2 years as it was a one size fits all and would fall off anytime i moved my head even on the smallest one size setting. The ladder is somewhere, they have hired several new people since I have been out. The same is with my hard hat. I appreciate the ideas on the returning to the area. I have been wanting to in a way but just need to get the courage up to do so. I know the fire dept moved the ladder. The hook did not come detached from the ladder but both came off the lines and only left one hanging on the lines but on the phone line below when they found it. I am unsure if a tree branch actually broke though. No one did mention it but there were several large branches going through the lines. I wish more matience would be done because in the past they have caused several difficulties for us trying to work on the lines or them taking the lines completeing out. I really do appreciate your help. This has been a very frustrating situation all around.
I am trying to go through the threads and search for information but I am running into some difficulties finding a few answers. I went to a general orthopedic doctor today in regard to my knees. I am till in a lot of pain this many months since my accident and they are saying that it is probably just a muscle strain or stiffness. I got ordered for physical therapy 3x a week for 8 weeks for my back hips and knees. Told to continue using heat and take motrin. ??? I can barely sit without almost crying. My tailbone and lumbar area kill me when i sit. I do not even walk like a normal person. And just going up the 4 steps to get inside my house is muder. Is it really possible for this to be a muscle strain? It hurts worse than my wrist did and it had the muscles torn completely and repaired, and the hardware put in to repair all the bones pieces minus one piece they are trying to avoid doing surgery on. Is it normal to have to fight this hard to get them to take you seriously when you complain of pain? What do I have to do to have the other areas actually checked out? They only approved my knees to be seen but the doctor did write the physical therapy for hips knees and back. I am having to wait to see if it can get approved still though. It took 4 months to get my knees to be looked at approved. The doctor also didnt say I needed to follow up with him after physical therapy, is this normal? I don't mind trying the physical therapy and hoping that it helps but I know that a phsycial therapist can not diagnosis a problem if they think they have found one. The lawyer said I needed a written statement from a doctor for them to push the issues, how am I suppose to get one when I can not even get looked at or treated for what is wrong?