Back/Hip injury in PA

[weezle735]

Hello again everyone. I have been off here for over 3 months. Lil background on me though. I tripped at work and twisted awkwardly and injured something in, what I thought was, my back. I had to go to the WC Dr. for 90 days in which he sent me back to work after a successful EPI in SI Joint. During the 90 days I was seen by Ortho Specialist and told structurally my back was fine but if I continued to have issues to look into my hip. Dr. sent me back to work on 7/30/10 without restriction, but being a Assistant Teacher I did not start back officially till 8/25/10.
During all this process WC has been very understanding and I have had no issues what so ever.

It was exactly 3 weeks working on 9/15/10 that by the end of the day I was barely able to walk. I returned to off work and proceeded to return to the Dr.
The same WC Dr. told me that he did not know what else to do with me and so I requested a referral to a Physiotherapist. Friday the 24th I had my first consultation with him and he did a manipulation and scheduled me for an EMG and FCE. At this time he gave me work restrictions of
1. 15ld lift/cary/push/pull max
2. Limited stooping, bending, crouching, twisting.
3. NO crawling.
And stated that I have Degenerative Disk Disease.
Called and told work my restrictions and they called this morning and said they are unable to accommodate my restrictions. That I will just remain off work.
I called IC and told them that while the Dr. gave me restrictions work was unable to accomodate them. I received a phone call back stating that they will need the Dr. office visit notes showing that this injury is related to the previous one of 4/12/10.
Had EMG,nerve conduction testing and some other RL??? test done on my right low back hip and leg this morning and WOW what a horrible thing that was.
EMG found abnormalities within my nerve in my right leg, hip and low back. Though Dr. did not go into details.
Previously I had CT scan that showed 3 bulging disks with one putting pressure on thecal sac.
Previous MRI showed no abnormalities.

My question to everyone is...... How hard are the IC on you after being sent back to work with no restrictions and now off with many? Does anyone think that I may have an issue getting started back up? Dr's agree that this issues is unresolved from previous injury. How long does it usually take to get "reinstated" and received income?

And has anyone ever had an abnormal nerve conduction test in this area ?

Also wanted to say that the Dr. does not have me scheduled for a follow up till Dec 27th. but in the meantime I have the FCE this wednesday. Why is he waiting so long? and should I forsee this being an issue with WC?

[dmma]

weezle735 Wrote:Hello again everyone. I have been off here for over 3 months. Lil background on me though. I tripped at work and twisted awkwardly and injured something in, what I thought was, my back. I had to go to the WC Dr. for 90 days in which he sent me back to work after a successful EPI in SI Joint. During the 90 days I was seen by Ortho Specialist and told structurally my back was fine but if I continued to have issues to look into my hip. Dr. sent me back to work on 7/30/10 without restriction, but being a Assistant Teacher I did not start back officially till 8/25/10.
During all this process WC has been very understanding and I have had no issues what so ever.

It was exactly 3 weeks working on 9/15/10 that by the end of the day I was barely able to walk. I returned to off work and proceeded to return to the Dr.
The same WC Dr. told me that he did not know what else to do with me and so I requested a referral to a Physiotherapist. Friday the 24th I had my first consultation with him and he did a manipulation and scheduled me for an EMG and FCE. At this time he gave me work restrictions of
1. 15ld lift/cary/push/pull max
2. Limited stooping, bending, crouching, twisting.
3. NO crawling.
And stated that I have Degenerative Disk Disease.
Called and told work my restrictions and they called this morning and said they are unable to accommodate my restrictions. That I will just remain off work.
I called IC and told them that while the Dr. gave me restrictions work was unable to accomodate them. I received a phone call back stating that they will need the Dr. office visit notes showing that this injury is related to the previous one of 4/12/10.
Had EMG,nerve conduction testing and some other RL??? test done on my right low back hip and leg this morning and WOW what a horrible thing that was.
EMG found abnormalities within my nerve in my right leg, hip and low back. Though Dr. did not go into details.
Previously I had CT scan that showed 3 bulging disks with one putting pressure on thecal sac.
Previous MRI showed no abnormalities.

My question to everyone is...... How hard are the IC on you after being sent back to work with no restrictions and now off with many? Does anyone think that I may have an issue getting started back up? Dr's agree that this issues is unresolved from previous injury. How long does it usually take to get "reinstated" and received income?

And has anyone ever had an abnormal nerve conduction test in this area ?

Also wanted to say that the Dr. does not have me scheduled for a follow up till Dec 27th. but in the meantime I have the FCE this wednesday. Why is he waiting so long? and should I forsee this being an issue with WC?

Not sure if this helps but I was hurt on the job, no problems with WC, on and off work, but got paid when I was off. Went back to work with no restrictions and the pain began to come hard, heavy and daily. Was put on restrictions and now my job will not allow me back to work. My attorney told me as long as I did not give up my income, and the job did (give up my income) by not being able to accept my restrictions, WC should not give me any hassels.........BUT, they could if they want to. If things go well, when my FMLA runs out, and that will be next week, I will be home 5 days per week not working because my job sent me home and my loss of income was not due to me not following the doctor's orders; therefore, WC should start paying me on a weekly basis once I stop working. I am in Washington, D.C. If I did not honor the restrictions, then the job could say I gave up my income, but I didn't so the ball is in WC's court and I should not have any problems getting paid.... I hope! I have a great law firm and I am very blessed to have them. Do you have an attorney, and if not, I suggest you get one asap?????!!!!!!!

[weezle735]

Yep have a very good attorney. And he said basically the same thing as you just did. So now its a waiting game till they make a decision as soon as they hear from dr. offices to make sure they are saying that it is still same injury as before.

[AQA]

I would not be worried about being sent back to work with no restrictions and now having a list of them. It is not uncommon for a dr. to send someone back to work and use the results as part of the diagnostic.

Abnormal results from a ncv just means that the nerves are not fuctioning properly. I have nerve damage and all the ncv's list abnormal results.

[bronco54501]

I for 1 have had the same senario, iwas off work for 13 months and was released with some restrictions but didnt hender my duties. I worked for 1 1/2 years pain slowly gained and got to the point my dr pulled me from work again. Like AQA said I too have an abnormal emg and has proven to be nerve damage.. As far as wc, and employer dont let it bother you too much.. You tried, and now have more restrictions and really shouldnt be a problem......

[weezle735]

Thank You all for replying. I just hope wc doesn't string this out to become a long process of getting income back. I have been off for going on 3 weeks now with no pay. They say they are waiting for office notes from dr. I faxed all the papers I had to them today, which included the restrictions paper to which work said they are unable to accommodate. We shall see.
Had FCE done on wednesday, that was not the most pleasant thing but he told me the best way to do it is to make sure I put forth as much effort as I can and don't shy away from doing something at least try it. Should get results from that in about a week. and actual results from EMG in about a week....hopefully a couple checks in a week. lol looks like I have about a weeks worth of waiting to do.
The therapist did say after the FCE that he wonders if the EMG is gonna show nerve damage and if they are going to be able to repair it cause it seems like I have a decrease in sensation which makes me have a delayed pain reaction.
Every time I performed a task in the FCE it would either send immediate sharp pain into my hip or it would take a minute and then I would have a muscle like cramping pain going from hip down to back of knee. I couldnt lift more then 15lbs and could only do that twice. I tried to walk carrying 5lbs and about fell from pain. It was crazy the things that caused pain, I wasnt even aware that I could or could not do somethings, like going down a flight of stairs caused more issues then going up....didnt know that. I am glad I had that done so I know what I can and cannot do.
Hopefully they will see the results and realize that my job involves continuous bending and stooping and that I am unable to do those things now. I hope to get this fixed so I can do them in the future but have a very grimm outlook on that....
ok done venting.

How long should it take to hear back from wc ins ?
in the begining they had what 21 days? to make a decision do they have that right again? is there a time frame this time around for them to make a decision and get me paid?