When nothing more can be done

[weezle735]

What happens???
Treating physician has stated to me on numerous occasions that there is not much more he can do. He has apologized about feeling as though he has let me down because there isnt much more he can do to "fix" me.
He stated that as of now all he is here for now is med managment,adjustments and as support through the wc process.
He has me on extremely limiting restrictions, seeing an ortho, SI Joint injections(pain managment dr), and wearing brace. Does not believe physical therapy is going to do anything besides irritate and aggrivate the joint and I have already been down that road w no relief.

Ortho says that if injections work GREAT!!! keep getting them remain on brace and restrictions and just keep living. Returning to my type of work even w injections working to rid the pain all I am asking for is even more pain when the injection wears off.
If injections dont last more then 2-3 months at a time then he wld refer me for fusion of SI Joint.

FCE Physician states that he is in agreement with the current restrictions already in force. Which my employer cannot accomodate. I dont think anyone can accomodate.

IC has sceduled a hearing to terminate benefits due to IME report that basically says shes fine no restrictions full duty go back to work.

After all this does anyone see the judge ruling in favor of IC at hearing and forcing me back to work??
Also if I remain off what now? Dr has said voca rehab (addressed in another post).
Does PA have ratings or MMI ratings? What happens when dr says nothing more can be done except surgery?

Just a lil worried. Would like to live my life. Use to be able to do so many things that now I cant. Feeling deprived.

[1171]

it depends on what the judge decides about your restrictions.

you will likely have to find new employment within your restrictions.
vocational rehabilitation can help
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/ser...842&mode=2

benefits will continue subject to limitations.
you can find out more here
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/ser...de=2#total

[Timothy Belt]

MMI does not mean much in PA. We don't have any fancy settlement formulas based upon impairment ratings like some states. In PA once an injured worker receives 104 weeks of temporary total wage loss benefits, the IC can ask for an IRE. If the IRE comes back at less than 50% (and almost all do) your future wage loss benefits are capped at 500 weeks.

As to what to do? No one can answer that. Workers' compensation is not a retirement plan, but rather a safety net. If there is some form of work that you can do, vocational training is not a bad idea. A lump sum settlement could potentially cover the cost of this type of training. If you can't work at all, you may want to consider social security.

(01-03-2011 02:46 PM)weezle735 Wrote:  What happens???
Treating physician has stated to me on numerous occasions that there is not much more he can do. He has apologized about feeling as though he has let me down because there isn't much more he can do to "fix" me.
He stated that as of now all he is here for now is med management,adjustments and as support through the WC process.
He has me on extremely limiting restrictions, seeing an ortho, SI Joint injections(pain management Dr), and wearing brace. Does not believe physical therapy is going to do anything besides irritate and aggravate the joint and I have already been down that road w no relief.

Ortho says that if injections work GREAT!!! keep getting them remain on brace and restrictions and just keep living. Returning to my type of work even w injections working to rid the pain all I am asking for is even more pain when the injection wears off.
If injections don't last more then 2-3 months at a time then he wld refer me for fusion of SI Joint.

FCE Physician states that he is in agreement with the current restrictions already in force. Which my employer cannot accommodate. I don't think anyone can accommodate.

IC has scheduled a hearing to terminate benefits due to IME report that basically says shes fine no restrictions full duty go back to work.

After all this does anyone see the judge ruling in favor of IC at hearing and forcing me back to work??
Also if I remain off what now? Dr has said voca rehab (addressed in another post).
Does PA have ratings or MMI ratings? What happens when dr says nothing more can be done except surgery?

Just a lil worried. Would like to live my life. Use to be able to do so many things that now I cant. Feeling deprived.

[weezle735]

I am looking forward to what vocational rehab can do for me. I just do not wabt to end up in a dead end job making barely any money and no benefits when what I was doin and can no longer do was a good job that I loved with good pay, job security, union, pension, the whole nine. I kinda feel like I should be able to expect to receive/make at least comparable to what I was benefits and all and if I cannot or the job they try to give me does not then I should not be forces to accept it. Guess I need to start looking at it as my life has changed and not necessarily looking at an equal opportunity as I once had.
This is why I was hopeing that I could receive schooling/education within another field of higher earning potential. Or hopefully they can find me a job utilizing my degree within my restrictions which may be hard cause even my job was hard to come by. Education positions in my area are few n far between and then finding one within my restrictions is going to be hard.
Hope to meet with a ovr counselor soon to get this rolling.

[jayne]

weezle once you get past the fact that to them you are a case number not a human being it might make it easier for you to see where they are coming from.....it wont make you feel any better because you are watching your whole world implode but you have to understand where they are coming from only then can you fight back on their terms and have a ghost of a chance of comming out of it without losing everything you have earned to date