ulna radius fracture

[kryptek]

Name Travis
age 25
injury date 9/7/07
state of injury alaska
I'm fairly new to injuries @ work. I was at my last job for awhile and was offered more to go else where so I did(which they low balled me and gave me only .50 cents more it was a waste. was offered 2$ an hr more at 1st). It was a mistake 4 days later I had a fall that changed everything, I ended up breaking the radius and ulna bone, and ulna through the join, hyper extended my wrist. that was on Sept 7th 07, I had a cast on for 6weeks, it was healed i had physical therapy 2 times a week. I still have pain when i move my wrist in any direction, and worse the dr was just increasing weight restrictions week after week, my employer did not follow them. I came back after 2 weeks They had fired the other drive for smoking the green, it was my fault really I noticed he high after lunch said something and then they fired him besides the point since he was fired I was the other driver left, So boxes and products weighing in @ 10- 100lbs I had to lift, the current restrictions were No use of L arm including elbow(they had me lifting boxes with my left elbow and right hand so i told the dr she wrote a note for that), I still had a cast on it was green i had went to the drs 3 weeks later and she had put me in a new cast that was white to see if i was following I was my employer was puting me in predicaments where i had to I didn't have to but in fear of fired or anything I did just with one arm. The dr noticed and was going to put me out of work since it was dirty, i told her i can't afford to live on 80% of my pay. so she kept me @ work and still same restrictions, 6 weeks came cast removed wore a "splint" was painful to move but was healed which i've seen the xrays bone is healed painful in motion. So she wrote a note for 5lbs, then a week later 10lb then a week later i seen a hand specialist in the same hospital she said PT and it will be ok increased to 20, then 4 weeks later increased to 25 etc.. which during this period I've been harassed by fellow employees about therapy calling it P**** therapy and the manager knowing, i delt with that for 3 weeks the manager told me it'd stop it still went on. One day We were loading a floor cleaning machine and it was about 700lbs Co worker said help put it in I said no, he said your hands fine p word again, and i said really are you a doctor? he got mad and tried to start something i backed up because i did not want to lose my job over that manager came out and said hey hey name* stop so he backed up I was mad out of anger i said that P s* better stop its getting old it did...Well I was given a write up for being 30 mins late which is okay, but they added Due to Myname being late the truck was not loaded on time and it was therefor late by 1hour, but the weight restrictions prevented me from lifting anything?
i told my employer I need to STOP being put in situations where im forced to lift more then the restrictions are so they started sending someone with me to help so he has been helping etc. my weight restrictions were lifted to 50lb 2 weeks ago(feb 21st) and it was hurting bad it always does the doc ordered a MRI that would be done 8 weeks from that date I can't wait that long so i decided since in Alaska you can change drs. once I went to another hand specialist and he pretty much cut the weight to 10lbs 20lb freq, feb 27th at 8am, he sent me to there MRI machine, etc. did a few tests said the something nerve seems ok the scalpel something? is ok we will wait for your MRI results and follow up a week later, well Today march 3rd my employer brought me up stairs harassed me about changing drs and told me to go to the last dr? Said they've tried calling my current dr to ask why, as they did with my last dr tried to call her and ask why but I did within the law? the pamplet i got said "you can change doctors once just notify the insurance company" I did, they want me to make an appt to see the last doctor I seen which kept increasing and not actually figuring out whats wrong..
It made me very angry they are 2nd guessing what the dr is saying and I do not like this I would like to quit but I can't until the doctor has released me.. People have said see an attorney but I can not afford one, I know some will do it for a fee if i win. I'm not sure what to do i started keeping logs of this but What can i expect if i do file any suits or talk to a lawyer, or should I have a lawyer speak on my behalf to any insurance or my employer? They also told me in that "meeting" that they had nothing for me to do but Im still there doing the same job im doing?
I'm hoping some people on this forum can really help me in my problems or opinions!
Thank you for all your replies (if i get any)

[sparkey]

Welcome to the forum. From what i read , if you are not makeing that much more per hour there and getting treated that way, i would start looking for another job right away within your restrictions.There is nothing wrong with getting another job that keeps you within your restrictions. I had to do that, and luckily i am getting 7 dollars more per hour. Never in my life would i of thought being injured and having to leave my career would bring me in for better income.

It also sounds to me like your BOSS should not be able to tell you what doctor you should go to or not. That is up to the ic or wc adjuster to contact you and tell you that info. From what i have read, it sound like this boss has no compassion and is not following within your doctors restrictions. You indicated you are still in alot of pain, but yet you are working everyday, doing things you should not be doing. If they cannot accomodate you on light duty, you should be out of work collecting even though it is not much money, but what is more important???? You will only be causeing more damage to that wrist. Scalpula is the back ( wing ) bone on the back side of your collarbone. If you are not careful and not follwing the doctors orders, you could be injured for life. It is your choice to stand up for yourself and get well. I wish you luck, and again welcome to the forum. Some other great ( wise ) people will be here soon to comment. They are all so greattttttttttt! Good luck.

[lil_conner23]

Well I'm not from Alaska, but I'm in the same boat with you as far as wrist problems go. I'm not sure if I can exactly give you any advice about the whole legal side of your ordeal, but in my opinion something just doesn't sound right. A lot of attorneys have free consultation and accept cases that "they don't get money unless they recover money for you." Search for, "Alaska Workers Compensation Attorney," they would be the ones to turn to about harrassment from the other employees as well as your employer not following your medical restrictions. As far as doctors go, if you feel you aren't getting anywhere with the one you're seeing ..go get another opinion. You know your hand ..whether an MRI says you're fine or not. I can tell you this personally because it happened to me. I had a doctor remove a bone in my wrist, set me up with therapy afterwards and claimed I was fine and doing well. However, I kept telling him otherwise and his answer was always, "it'll work out with therapy." I went and seen another doctor and now I require two different surgeries. I'm really sorry you're dealing with this, it's difficult to do ANYTHING without using both hands. I'm right hand dominant and my employer used to say sarcastic remarks such as, "you have another hand, learn to use it." That all stopped real quick though once you mention, "attorney," believe me. I hope things work out for you, someone else will come along and probably give you more help. By the way, I seen you said you were in various cast ..green and white. I've had 13 total.. =( lol

[kryptek]

Thanks for the replies, i do not know the bone name in the hand it started with an s Scapula is all i could think of. I have looked up attorneys in my area here none are listed. But it is getting very old I would love to change jobs, I had a ankle injury(accord in a motocross accident) but that was a LONG healing time, during that time my employer and others were very very hesitant to hire me due to the liability they face if anything happens. Like lets say now if i were to fall and cause more damage at work, my work would face civil damages for the liability. I have not received a raise during this period which i was due for two since im on light duty/restrictions they say they cant. I guess i would have to look in the phone book and call during my lunch break and hope i can see one during that time as well. I figured i'd check this on my lunch break. I have wanted to say "attorney" plenty of times so they'd change there perspective about the whole ordeal I'm not gaining anything from this ordeal. which i have told them that, they can send me to dr after dr if they pay for it maybe one will figure out which is wrong! the state wbsite for ak (http://state.ak.us) is very confusing on the department of labor work compensation part.

thanks again!
- Trav

[1171]

For help finding a lawyer that specializes in work comp for your state check here
http://www.alaskabar.org/index.cfm?id=4852

Call the Alaska Bar Association's Lawyer Referral Service, call 907-272-0352, or toll-free in Alaska, 1-800-770-9999

[kryptek]

So my company went through a merger, I was scared and knew it was coming. I was laid off, during my interview I told the new "company" I was on comp for a injury, so I didn't get a arbitration document or employment app, and the next day(today) I was told "Friday is your last day, you are being laid of because your position is no longer needed" they deny its because of comp but when I asked for a paper stating lay off for no longer needing position they didn't give me one. So now any lawyer I've talked to says talk to an employment lawyer. I don't think I have any rights? but they have asked me to train someone to do part of my job. I'm covered under work mans comp till released to full duty the adjuster has told me I will receive my 1st check on April 15. Should I bother them for a forum or leave it be? I know since everyone at my warehouse received a contract and forum and i didn't one would assume its for my comp issue..