Threaded Mode | Linear Mode

rocket · 07-18-2012, 05:14 AM

After nearly 3 years the doctors/insurance recently oked arthroscopic knee surgery to clean a bit of my meniscus and remove a loose particle in the back of the knee. At the post-op the doctor said he was not able to find the loose piece but was able to smooth out the damaged meniscus. Unfortunately he also discovered that my ACL is torn and is most likely the real problem.
I am about to start rehab and will possibly have to consider surgery again in the near future. I do not want to do a major knee surgery. And most likely I will be unable to return to work. Now what?

1171 · (This post was last modified: 07-18-2012 11:16 AM by 1171.)

it depends on what benefits are available under your state program.
18 posts and you still have not put your state location in your profile.

rocket · 07-19-2012, 03:18 AM

I am in Hawaii

settlement speaking what is the worth of a torn acl vs a surgically repaired one?

1171 · (This post was last modified: 07-19-2012 11:55 AM by 1171.)

(07-19-2012 03:18 AM)rocket Wrote: I am in Hawaii

settlement speaking what is the worth of a torn acl vs a surgically repaired one?

I suspect a repaired one will have less impairment and less disability.
the degree of disability and value varies by the amount of impairment.

jayne · 07-19-2012, 10:43 AM

why would you want to keep a torn one?

rocket · 07-19-2012, 02:03 PM

I do not want to do an acl surgery. 6 to 8 months or longer of recovery is too long at this point in my life.

jayne · 07-19-2012, 03:52 PM

so the rest of your life with a torn one is Okay?

rocket · 07-19-2012, 11:18 PM

not really but I dont like surgery.

rocket · (This post was last modified: 08-02-2012 01:15 AM by rocket.)

Ok, so now I am starting rehab for my meniscus surgery for four weeks. After they pan to send me to IME. Keep in mind that at my post op they discovered I have a torn ACL.
I am leaning toward not getting a surgery to repair my ACL, what happens after that?
What are the different steps that will be taken to close my case?
I assume an IME rating for both my meniscus surgery ans torn ACL?
An offer to close my medical permanently?
An offer for vocational rehab?
Anyrthing more or less than these?
Thanks for all the help, I am stuck here pondering my future and the end of my career.

(08-02-2012 01:13 AM)rocket Wrote: Ok, so now I am starting rehab for my meniscus surgery for four weeks. After they pan to send me to IME. Keep in mind that at my post op they discovered I have a torn ACL.
I am leaning toward not getting a surgery to repair my ACL, what happens after that?
What are the different steps that will be taken to close my case?
I assume an IME rating for both my meniscus surgery ans torn ACL?
An offer to close my medical permanently?
An offer for vocational rehab?
Anyrthing more or less than these?
Thanks for all the help, I am stuck here pondering my future and the end of my career.

Again, I am in Hawaii.

Hopping Along · 08-02-2012, 08:40 AM

I don't know how it works there in Hawaii, but if you have a torn ACL and don't want to fix it, the process will take a longtime to settle if you are trying to get a lot of $$$ or will go real fast so the insurance company can close the book very cheaply. Remember, the insurance company is interested in making/saving money. Going this route may damage you finacially as it definitely will physically.
NOTE: It may be difficult for an IME to give you a true rating on your disability as the rating is quite different if it is healed vs remaining torn. The insurance company will NOT want to keep the medical open due to the possibility of further damage if you choose not to fix it. Also, if you are trying to settle without surgury, rest assured the insurance company will be watching you to see what you can and cannot do. One photo or video of you kneeling, stooping, stair climbing, carrying anything, really anything that shows your knee works okay will hurt.
Once you get an IME, you are still looking at at least a year before settling, that is if there is no deposition of the findings, a request to get another one from a different IME, a question of the MSA or a number of other stratagies the insurance company uses to save money/drag it out.
My advise: get an attorney, get the knee fixed then worry about settling. All the questions you asked above, there is no textbook answer. Remember this is Workers Comp.

Again, the thoughts don't reflect what the WC rules are in Hawaii, just what many here have been through.