Help Please... Florida Workers Compensation Question

[Steve.0]

Hello my name is Steve and I am 22 years old. I work at a wood yard and I operate a large piece of machinery called a "HOG 3". On April 15, 2011 at 10:17am I was injured on the job by a falling log. The log was (estimated) 12'' diameter, 6' long, fresh-cut red cypress. Very heavy. I fully extended my left arm to catch the log from falling into my machine (which would have destroyed it, causing me to lose my job) and forced it over the railing onto the ground. Only 5 seconds after the log hit the ground I felt a severe burning sensation and every time I moved my arm I could feel popping and cracking. I'm a stubborn guy and figured the pain would go away after a little while. It didn't. I notified my employer about 15 minutes after the initial pain. My supervisor filled out a accident report. My supervisor then walked me to the Personnel Office to meet with the "personnel director". She had to set me up with an appointment with a "specialist" because "no one at the ER would be able to tell you anything". On April 18, 2011 after sitting home all weekend in severe pain I went to see and Orthopedic Specialist. (No names, no locations so don't ask). We'll call him "Dr. Vac". He evaluated me and told me he "thinks" I have a few torn tendons that make up my rotary cuff in my left shoulder. He places me on work restrictions which are: Carry, Lift floor to waist, Lift waist to overhead, push, pull anything over 5 pounds or reach overhead at all. He gave me a prescription for HYDROCO/APAP 7.5/500. He then refers me to an MRI specialist. On April 26, 2011 I went to a MRI specialist in the small city where I live. The bore on the MRI machine was too small for my broad shoulders and they couldn't get me in the machine past my neck. The MRI technician said that "this machine has the biggest bore on the market. We'll have to refer you to a place that has and open-MRI unit." On April 29, 2011 I went to a MRI specialist in Gainesville, FL (about a 45 minute drive from my home) and they have a Hitachi open-MRI unit. The scan lasted about 45 minutes. It was very nice, the technicians were very polite, they gave me ear plugs and music to listen to. After the scan was complete, I was told to redress and head to check-out to get my MRI images copied to a disk and an excuse for work. I was then contacted by my primary doctor (DR. Vac) and told to come in for another appointment on May 4, 2011 at 10:00am. The day of the appointment, I was contacted by Dr. Vac's receptionist, who rescheduled me to May 12, 2011 (today). On May 5, 2011 while on light duty, I bent over to pick up a stick and severe "shooting" pains ran down the left side of my back from my left shoulder to my shoulder blade, down the back of my left arm to my elbow, then to my fingertips and up into my neck. I have not been back to work since. I spoke to the "Big boss" at work, no problems there. So here's my problem... I went today to see Dr. Vac. He walked in with this little muscle "cut-away" display thing and some paperwork. He didn't introduce himself, ask me how I was doing, ask me if I was having anymore pain or problems... Nothing. He showed me on the muscle thingy what the problem I have is and on the paper I have it says: "Abnormal appearance of the posterior labrum consistent with posterior labral tearing/detachment." He said he would have to transfer care to a surgical specialist. I asked him "is that supposed to hurt this bad?" and he replied "This bad? Huh ha ha ha that type of injury hurts a lot more than just 'this bad'". So I started to tell him that even all the light duty jobs at my place of employment require me to use both arms and that I'm in severe pain and that most everything there besides pieces of trash (coke bottles, chip bags, etc) and even then the bags of garbage weigh over 5 pounds. He cut me off and said "I'm not changing your work restrictions, go see "Ms. S" at check-out and have a nice day." He then got up, tossed my papers in the chair next to, me walked out and slammed the door behind him. I thought that was very unprofessional and rude. My question is, if I need to be referred to a surgical specialist and the pain "hurts a lot more than just 'this bad'" why wouldn't he consider taking me out if work? It's miserable for me to work in such pain. Especially when I work outside all day and its 90 - 95 degrees. When I do go to work, I have to leave within an hour or two because of the pain. On a scale of 0 - 10 the pain is about a 7.5 - 8 as compared to the worst pain I've ever had (point-blank bullet wound). I'm covered by workers compensation, my insurer and my insurance adjuster gave me the over-the-phone recorded interview and told me he would allow continued coverage. Why do I have to work? Now I read on the workers compensation website that the doctor that my company chooses will try to "get me back to work as soon as possible even if it means your misery and suffering". Could this be the case? Please help before I contact a lawyer. Any advice is very very much appreciated and if you have any questions feel free to reply here or email me at steve20lc@yahoo.com. Thank you very much.

Steve.O

P.S. Sorry for the "novel". I just wanted you all to have enough information at hand to leave a response to help me. Thanks again...

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Sorry if I broke any forum rules in my post. I'm new here. Let me know what I did and I will do my best to correct the errors as soon as possible... Thanks

Steve.O