Hi. I am in need of some answers to my w/c injury that happened last year. I have no clue where my case stands at this point except that I see the w/c Dr. once a month. My injuries were due to improper ergonomic set up. I have been to Physical Therapy, a spine specialist and also had a QME already. My employer has been extremely difficult to deal with through the whole process. Everything they have required of me, I have done, I have been released back to full duties some time ago after being off for 2 months. I am wondering what questions can i ask to my Dr. to get my case on the ball since I have been back to work full time already and the ergo set up has been done. I want to leave this job badly due to the mental and physical stress it has caused me. i need to know how will this affect me if i apply for a new job and quit this one? please anyone, i am in the state of Ca.
You can leave that job whenever you choose to leave it. You are under no obligation to still work for this co. in order to still be receiving your care through wc because of your injury. What is your injury, and as long as you stay within your restrictions you should have no problem working elsewhere.
I had to leave my place of employment after my injury due to not being able to draw blood anymore. My hands were not reliable to hold anything without dropping a needle. I ended up going to do admin. work with this injury as long as it was within my restrictions. I continued to have treatment with this new job for 2 yrs under the same WC insurance co.
Also do you have a lawyer? If this job is causing stress so bad that you cannot work for them anymore because of harrassment for fileing a claim, you may also be able to do something about that. Check with your lawyer on this. My problem with my job was also ergonomics and they fixed it after my injury also. Changed the chairs we sat in and also put arm rests on the chairs, and pads under our feet where we stood all day drawing blood.
I had recurring carpal tunnel problems which now they are saying is RSD as no doctor will repeat my surgery for carpal tunnel due to different problems other than carpal tunnel recurrance.
I do not have a lawyer. I am soooo scared and never thought that having an injury would take such a toll on me the way it has. I am right handed and have experienced a major flare up to my whole right side of my body. i constantly have neck pain, arm pain, shoulder pain, back pain, leg pain. The sad thing is, i cannot give a simple dx to what it is that I have because everything is in medical terms from the reports. I just don't know what to do anymore except to move forward and move on to another job with a fresh start. for me to stay in this and keep experiencing the mental and phsyical stress it is all not worth it. What can i say to my Dr. to at least get him to discuss p&s or MMI? I cannot take it being at this job any longer.
unfortunately it sounds like you are finding it difficult to have a candid and open discussion with your doctor. that really does make it hard to plan for your future.
without knowing what the communication barrier or obstacle is, it's difficult to give you suggestions for improving it.
In general, I would use open ended questions like: "where do you see my condition in 6 months?" or "what changes do you forsee in my treatment needs during the next year?"
"Can you explain what permanent & stationary means?"
"I'm thinking of changing jobs, how will this affect my recovery and my treatment?"
"Is there some information or resources I can use to better understand my condition?"
if the doctor opens up and provides some detail you can use follow-up questions to find out how long or what is the sequence of treatment and/or recovery events that are good milestones of progress.
california uses a medical provider network for handling treatment. you can switch to any doctor within the network at any time -- just give the carrier written notice.
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Thank you for all of your help. The advice was helpful, true, and informative and now I have the tools I need to attend my appointment w/my w/c Dr. Like I've said I'm ready to move forward and all the people that know me and all of the professionals have said that a person should never have to endure all that I have had to go through just because of a w/c injury. I am ready to move on to another job, but, I don't want the past to haunt me while I am trying to start fresh. I have been extremely traumatized by all of this and have suffered enough. I can't even get myself to contact an attorney because if the opportunity should arise, which I feel it will, with another job opportunity, then I would not know how to tell this company that I have an existing claim going and have to miss work for whatever reasons. I want to leave the baggage behind and move forward with a positive outlook on things.[/b]
I do not have a lawyer. I am soooo scared and never thought that having an injury would take such a toll on me the way it has. I am right handed and have experienced a major flare up to my whole right side of my body. i constantly have neck pain, arm pain, shoulder pain, back pain, leg pain. The sad thing is, i cannot give a simple dx to what it is that I have because everything is in medical terms from the reports. I just don't know what to do anymore except to move forward and move on to another job with a fresh start. for me to stay in this and keep experiencing the mental and phsyical stress it is all not worth it. What can i say to my Dr. to at least get him to discuss p&s or MMI? I cannot take it being at this job any longer.
I bring a written list to my doctor and hand it to him when he comes in the room, do not give it to his/her nurse. I have anxiety when going to the Dr. (ever since my son had cancer) and I started this at the advice of my doctor and it has worked great. Also consider having a evaluation for anxiety because you sound almost like you have post traumatic stress disorder, or some other type of anxiety or panic disorder.. yes I am a health care provider.
good luck