settlement questions

[risingeagle222]

I had an IME done the beginning of January. He said I can do no work with my right hand at all. The surgeon that did my surgeries had put me at MMI even though I was still having problems. The doctor that did my IME said i need to have the surgery redone.
Work comp wants to settle................but why would I want to settle?? I can't use my right arm for work so settleing doesn't fix my arm. The lawyer has sent w/c what he wants for a settlement which is a fixed amount of money since I have lost the use of my hand.
Now what happens??? Does work comp come back with a counter offer of some sort??? Also can I ask to have my hand fixed properly or would I just to accept what work comp offers money wise???
Any input would be greatly appreciated!!! Thanks

[tweety00]

rising I totally understand why w/c wants to settle .... since they know that more surgery is needed ... since im sure they have the ime report .. But Not sure IF by iowa law you could still get medical help even after settleing ???

I was in the same boat as you and once I said nope not going to .. then they denied ...But I got some things fixed ... not all and still fighting ..I would be finding out just how much cost is involoved and what if you need more surgeries down the road yet ...

All I have gotten from this whole enperience is w/c wants you to hide in a hole and go away ..We need to fight to get what is our right ...... fixed and go back to work .

[risingeagle222]

So they think we are just dumb???? My hands are in this shape from my ex employer and because of them I cannot work right now. I have no income so you can bet this fat lady ain't singin yet!!!!!! Mama ain't happy ain't nobody happy!!! lol

[tweety00]

Yep rising they think we will just LIFE WITH IT

And yes I have been told that too by 2 drs

Income whats that .... handouts from family ..

restictions for me
(Back) are limit bending ,twisting , limit lifting over 20lbs ... no consect 3 days on roll (my bright idea which helped when I was on lgith duty ) allow change of position ... Biggies problem is this WHAt NEW JOB can I do ... (neck) again limit bending tiwsting and lifting of 10lbs but lucky for me that dr released me on those .... ever try to do dishes without looking lol


cant even be a wallmart greeter lol

[1171]

you can have a court hearing and see if the judge agrees with you and orders surgery or agrees with them and no surgery.
If the judge agrees with them the settlement amount, if they still want one, will be less.

[sparkey]

Rising, I am going for my IME in April due to my first doctor doing the PIR rating as to high for the ic to accept. I have read that a IME cannot lower your rating and that a IME is for work, or no work. I have the same problem as far as dominant hand goes. I cannot open packages, i drop things alot with my hand, have a hard time dressing etc. That is why my rating was so high because of my ADL's.

Did you have a PIR rating done, and if so may i ask what it was? I am just curious because mine was 19% whole body, and i feel that is reasonable when i have a hard time getting dressed, changed my career etc. Also, what is your injury, and did the IME doctor change your PIR rating if you had one? Sorry so many questions, as i am still very confused when it says the IME cannot change things, but yet the ic co. is asking me to get one done through their doctor. I see the doctor they picked for me is a hand surgery/upper extremity doctor, but says nothing that he has ever preformed a IME before. Being so, i am thinking of taking this a bit further and certifiying a letter to the IC if this doctor has ever did a IME and if so, how many times was he for the patient, or against the patients diagnosis.

[risingeagle222]

Sparkey, I don't have anything real seriously wrong but right now it's enough from letting me work. I have had carpal tunnel release on both hands, a cyst removed and 5 trigger finger releases. Also severe tendonitis in my elbow. The problem now is the 2 trigger finger releases I had done in july didn't work. The 2 fingers won't straighten and are extremely painful and swollen. I have had 3 cortisone injections in my elbow ...they don't last. It is painful to even pick up a pillow.
I am not sure what a PIR rating is. The surgeon that did all my surgeries put me at MMI with a 0% rating. He totally ignored the problems I was still having with my hand and at my final visit went as far to say that the problems I was having now were a totally different thing. Even though these are the 2 fingers he operated on last.
I realize my problems are nothing compared to most of you and all i want is to be fixed where i can support myself again. I am not having alot of luck finding a 1 hand job.