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a very nice fall - wolfsong452 - 06-27-2008 09:35 PM
Hi all,
just found this forum and hope I can learn a lot.
Not sure how much to say, or ask. All my bills so far are being paid, but I've yet to talk to the person who's actually from or in charge of workman's comp where I work.
I've been going to my own doctor, due to at the time of my fall, and injury to my left arm, no one available knew where the accident reports where, and where to send me.
Like I've said, the bills have been paid.
So far I've had 8 weeks of physical therapy. Several doctors visits. I was put on a 15 pound weight restriction for lifting from the doctor. My job also put me on some other silly restrictions that had nothing to do with the doctor. Those were due to some other accidents I'd had with in a couple of months following the first fall.
I had no improvement with the PT. I was sent to a Ortho doctor, who then sent me for an MRI. Finally got the results from the MRI. stating that I've got a torn rotator cuff. The Ortho doctor wanted 4-6 weeks more therapy, and then if no improvement then surgery. Thing is, they told me there is no quarantee that the surgery would work.
The accident happened the end of Oct. and didn't get the MRI, until April, and the results back until June.
My job has asked me what do I want to do? I said, hey, the first PT, didn't help, so I guess that means the surgery, which there is no guarantee that would work. Now my job is telling me they want me to be evaluated by another doctor. Which is no problem with me.
Can anyone give me any suggestions on what I should expect from this other doctor? I also have a time frame for this second PT as if I don't make an appt. by such in such date, then I'll have to be seen again by my orginal Ortho doctor, which means sending my work another bill. So I really need to have at least a date set for seeing this evaluation. Or at least I need given permission to make the appt. to start the PT for the second time. I still don't think the PT, will help, but this is what my Ortho doctor was wanting to do. So can't move on to the surgery without the second round of PT. This is at least with my own doctors.
Part of the funny part, is one of the owners is a plastic surgeon so he was able to look at my arm in the beginning. Until I decided to get a second opinion, or whatever. So it's not like they're not understanding what's going on.
RE: a very nice fall - hurt at work - 06-28-2008 08:07 AM
well the way i take this is you are going to have to do what they want in order to get the treatment you need.try the conservitive treatment alittle longer the call the dr back and tell him-her it not helping or getting worse then it was then they may step it up and do the surgery.best of luck hope thing work out.
RE: a very nice fall - capricorn - 06-28-2008 09:34 AM
Being one of the IW here with a shoulder injury I will tell you they are very difficult. I have had 3 injections and almost a year of PT before surgery. My MRI didn't even show the torn Rotator Cuff, it only showed and impingement. Went in for Arthroscopic surgery that turned into open surgery because there was alot more there. A year later I have had 4 more injections and another year of PT only to have a new MRI done and find that my shoulder is 10 xs worse than it was before the surgery. There are problems in there now that weren't there before surgery. I have a torn rotator cuff again that I believe happened with an aggressive PT. Please, please be careful. Get that second opinion and take it one step at a time. There are a few of us here with horror stories and a few whose surgeries were successful. Wishing you the best.
CAP
RE: a very nice fall - wolfsong452 - 06-28-2008 09:04 PM
Thanks to all,
I pretty much knew that I'd have to do what the company wants, but it's so frustrating, when things that should have been done quickly, turns out to take so long.
RE: a very nice fall - halftrak - 06-28-2008 09:53 PM
First of all welcome to our forum, I am one of the people on here who has had shoulder surgery,3 times.My first was very similiar to yours, did therapy for what seemed like forever, then wound up having the surgery,I had a pt that wasn't very aggressive and wound up with frozen shoulder, so wc approved the second surgery, then changed their minds and decided to get a second opinion, went to their doctor who said "why did they send you here" of course you need surgery you can't move your arm.so had the manipulation for frozen shoulder,that was on my left shoulder, the second surgery was on my right shoulder,This was all in a 2 to 3 year time span.It does take forever, doesn't it seem like they don't believe you?Good luck, Halftrak
RE: a very nice fall - lfoster21 - 06-28-2008 10:36 PM
Hello and welcome to the board. I too have had 2 torn rotator cuffs, one was fixed with PT and the other was not. I still have problems with it, but did get some relief with injections. I am not reay for surgery, since both my surgeon and my brother (who went through with the same surgery) both said that it was a tricky surgery and it may work and may not. My brother is one who came out of the surgery a lot worse off than prior to going in.
Are you still working full time? If you do have to take off of work, for a period of time, they will have to pay you for that. They may not pay you what is due you, quite as easily as they are paying your Drs. bills. So, just keep an eye on things...also, I'd reccommend reading your states website on W/C (there's a link at the top of this page.) For the 1st year that my co. was paying for all my drs. visits and my weekly checks. Because I did not have a lawyer and did not research my rights etc. they were doing just the minimum to get by w/o me questioning anything. I later found out that they were not paying me what I was due and I had 6 mos. left to file with the state on my own...or they would be able to legally drop me. I thought they were taking good care of me but really they were just trying to be nice to me in hopes that I would not figure out my rights and then in those few mos. they would drop me.
So, it wouldn'n hurt you to learn your rights and responsibilities now, just in case you need to use them to your benefit some day.
Best of luck and continue to come back to the boards with questions, concerns, or answers for others.
RE: a very nice fall - capricorn - 06-29-2008 07:39 AM
halftrak...I forgot the part about the frozen shoulder. Mine froze about 3 months after surgery. Two injections, more PT and alot of wrok on my part has really helped to unfreeze it BUT once I stopped PT I did get some relief. Shoudler hurts 24/7. sometimes tolerable and sometimes not. Still can't do anything with it although I have to. Am in twice the pain when I use it. Frozen shoulder and sciatica are the two most painful things I have experienced so far with these injuries.
CAP
RE: a very nice fall - RNvic - 06-29-2008 10:34 AM
Wolfsong- Welcome to the forum, come often ask questions or just share.
As for the surgery, it is a very painful and slow healing surgery. I had a torn rotator cuff and repair 5 years ago. Make sure you have someone there with you that understands what is going on and can speak for you. My surgery went wrong and more damage was done and is now unrepairable, this is not the norm just happened.
Get the second evaluation and talk to a number of people before deciding on the right surgeon. Had I do that I would possible had a better out come.
RE: a very nice fall - mistreated - 06-29-2008 11:42 AM
I hurt my r should in 08-06 did not get surgery till 11-07. Had 6 weeks PT and it is slow to heal. But Mine is a different pain that it was before. This one I can stand, before I couldn't even move my arm. Good luck to you.
RE: a very nice fall - Still in Limbo - 06-29-2008 12:12 PM
Hi and Welcome to the Forum!! My Suggestion would to be to schedule the PT,and also go ahead with the Second Opinion from the Employers Dr. That way You have ALL of the Bases covered, and You stay within the Guidelines of what You are being told to do. The First Dr. at this Point is Your Primary Care Physician, so You should follow their Directions of PT, and by going for the Second Opinion, You are Interacting with the Employers Wishes, thus following what they want. Best of Luck, I Hope All Goes Well!!
