Workers' Compensation Discussion Forums

It has been 5 months since my right shoulder surgery to repair torn bicep,torn rotator cuff,bone chips and impengment. I am right handed. I go the 30th of the month back to the shoulder doc and at that time was told by the nurse case manager and doc I would be at my mmi. I dont know how that can be. The doc order fce from the therapist and they are doing that this tuesday the 16th. I have a very labor job some of the essenstial functions are I have to be able to lift a concrete saw that weights approx. 213lbs rotate it 90 degrees, lift 75lbs from floor carry it 25 feet and place it on a 36inch high surface and return it to the starting position 3times. Also have to be able push/pull a sled that requires 80 lbs of pull force 25ft then pull back to starting position 3times. I max 40lbs of wieght lifting from the floor to my waist at therapy. I was just wondering if the job is setting me to be able to fire me because there is no way I will be able to do this by ttuesday?

Hi,
More than likely, the doctor will give you written restrictions such as a weight limit when lifting. Make sure you obtain this from him. Make a copy for your employment, and give it to them....they either must abide by the restrictions if they call you back to work, by giving you light duty...or if no light duty is available...then you stay home and continue to recieve benifits for lost time at work. Your job may be protected for 12 weeks FMLA.....and yes, you could be replaced after this time frame.
I doubt very much if you'll ever be able to handle such physical work again with all that was wrong with your shoulder...but I pray I am wrong!
Good Luck, & keep us posted
Lilly

An FCE will show what you are ABLE to do. The person giving the test will be monitoring your heartrate and BP. If any part of the testing gets to be be too painfull, you must inform the person of this, but try not to refise any part of the testing, at least try. The test giver can also decide to stop your from doing one of the tasks if he feels you are in too much pain. I had one done in the past and was adviced NOT to take my pain meds until after the FCE, so that a true evaluation could be done without having my pain levels being masked. Just do your best and be honest. I wish you the best of luck.

Do I need to apply for fmla now? I didnt know I was suppose to.

Thanks for the advice. I wasnt for sure or not to take my pain meds prior to the fce. I will not take them now and will just take it after. This is very hard for me because I am used to being a very active person. Thanks again this forum is very helpfull.

The FCE isn't set-up by an employer or by an insurace.

The people that perform your FCE, go by the standards of the job you do, and then set-up a FCE program to meet that type job specification class set of requirements to be satisfied by a material product items.

Then the FCE also there to detemine if you can fullfill your current work position, or what work position you now are able to perform.

The FCE report, is made the same day in many cases. If I were you, ask for a copy of this in writing, sign and date it, and hand it to them when you arrive.