light duty is killing me?

[tourdaddy]

I have been put on light duty after being out fo 8 months. I am in new york and my restrictions are, no repetitive use of left arm and no lifting of over 5 lbs. I used to be a machine operator in a factory setting. Now that i am back on light duty my employer expects me to paint everyday using only my one good arm, however he has me painting all the yellow hazzard lines on the floor of the plant, in doing so I am required to put tape down on the floor and box in all the yellow areas, this is repetitive and forces me to put all my weight on my injured arm while painting. I explained to my employer that this is bothering me and they dont seem to care. Their answer is if it bothers you and is going numb stand up shake it out and get back to work. I have never been a painter nordo I like doing it for 12 hours a day. What should I do .please help
thanx
The One Armed Painter

[jayne]

got a lawyer? You can always go back to your doc or call your adjuster......

[Lilly]

tourdaddy,
What's going to happen is this....you're going to end up with over-use syndrome in your good arm! and possible re-aggrevation on the injured arm! This happened to me while taking PT for my bad shoulder....my good shoulders could not take the pulleys 3 times a day. If it becomes too painful for you...simply go home sick or ask to see the company MD. Ask if there is another light duty job that you can do, besides painting.
Do you have a lawyer? If, so...call him pronto.
Take care, Lilly

[tourdaddy]

jayne Wrote:got a lawyer? You can always go back to your doc or call your adjuster......

I have set an appointment with my dr. however not for another week, my attorney is gone til monday when i have to return to work. since I work 12 hour shifts 7 am to 7 pm i wont be able to talk to my lawyer until wednesday my next day off while he is working

[jayne]

bloody hell in oklahoma you cant work more than 8 hrs in a day on light duty

[sparkey]

You know what???? That upsets me as i am one that has a bad DOMINANT Hand and was treated the same way. Call in sick until you talk with your doctor. You do not have to go to work and be treated like that. That is TOTAL ABuse!!!! Like others have said, it is now going to injure your other arm. Do they want to be responsible for that also??

If i were you, stay home, take care of yourself. They cannot FORCE you to do such a thing like that and especially for 12 hours a day. When i went back to light duty, it was for 4 hours a day , 5 days a week. My hand was hurting ( good hand) from driving so far to work, that i told the doctor i will soon be putting in a claim for a new injury of carpal for my left hand.

They cannot put you back to work unless they find something that your doctor considers within your restrictions. He must of said No repetition of any kind on that paper somewhere. STAY HOME and take care of yourself. WC should pay for the time you stay home until they find the correct light duty. If not , you must be able to file for discrimintation for injured workers somewhere. Ask your lawyer.

[Bad Boy Bad Boy]

When you are put on light Duty due to a work injury, it is done to see how you can perform. If you become in pain at the injured area site, you should inform the employer, and request to see their doctor.

[lfoster21]

I was wondering when your Dr. released you for light duty work, if he was aware of the hrs. your work has you doing. My Dr. said that when it gets to that point for me, he always starts his patients back for 4 hr. shifts with their specific restrictions. Also, my lawyer was explaining the procedure of getting back into the workforce. She said that (in VA at least) when I got back to work, the only way to do it is 4 hr. for the 1st week or two, and then we would see how I was feeling. Then each week or so, as long as I was doing alright, we'd add a few more hrs.

I say this because you need to make it clear to your Dr. and lawyer that your employer is having you work these 12 hr. days. Maybe it is just a communication problem.

Good luck.

[sparkey]

I agree with Foster......That is what my occupational doctor did. He said to the NCM the day he put me back to Light duty for 4 hours a day, 5 days a week that they MUST follow his restrictions. After working for 4 hours a day and you go back to the doctor he see's how you have been manageing. If you are doing okay they up it to 6 hours for a few weeks and so on till your back to your 40 hours a week or more.

Set up an appt. with your doctor that put you on restrictions ASAP and go see him/her and tell them what your co. is doing. He will then contact the ic and tell them they are NOT following the restrictions and until then you will not return to work. Light duty is to get you back to the work force. Not to injure you more.

[inpainokla]

i wish someone would tell my dr that jayne he says i can work light duty as many hours as my employment requires