working on comp-

[vilhelm]

hi all im in ny and early 90's had herniated disc injury with 3 bulging filed a claim now company i work for had a restructuring and placed me in a position which caused strain on existing injury im currently not working now cannot due the job. recently had another mri and emg test mri showed 4 bulging disc
spondylosis lower lumbar, went to ime doc he says on report i can work with restrictions, my company wont take me back if i have restrictions and if i go the ADA route will lay me off cause there are no open positions.my lawyer says i can look for other work till a hearing determines i guess the outcome
my doc wrote in report for vocational training also.any one experience same
situation or has any advice to give thnks

[lfoster21]

I know several others will be along to share their experiences with you shortly. Until then, I can tell you that I too have had bulging/herniations. My job told me that I could not come back until I was at 100%, even though my Dr. also told me that I cold go back with a few restrictions. They did not give light duty jobs any more.

I was able to go back to work at the same P/T job, that I had at teh same time of the injury. They were nice enough to creae a new position, just for me. It is amazing the difference how the 2 companies have treated me.

I have one more treatment I am about to try, and then I will be having to do the vocational re-training. The i/c has been asking if I was ready for this trainig and my nurse case manager keeps telling them that I am not ready. But the still ask every week. My restrictions are many, but the main ones are that I can only work up to 15 hrs., have to change positions every 30 minutes, and have to be near a restroom and able to take a bathroom break, as needed. I know it won't be easy to find me a job, esspecially since I also use a walker. Unfortunately, if they think that I could greet people at Walmart or such a store like that...I will have to take it.

Good luck and keep us posted on your situation.

[vilhelm]

lfoster21 Wrote:I know several others will be along to share their experiences with you shortly. Until then, I can tell you that I too have had bulging/herniations. My job told me that I could not come back until I was at 100%, even though my Dr. also told me that I cold go back with a few restrictions. They did not give light duty jobs any more.

I was able to go back to work at the same P/T job, that I had at teh same time of the injury. They were nice enough to creae a new position, just for me. It is amazing the difference how the 2 companies have treated me.

I have one more treatment I am about to try, and then I will be having to do the vocational re-training. The i/c has been asking if I was ready for this trainig and my nurse case manager keeps telling them that I am not ready. But the still ask every week. My restrictions are many, but the main ones are that I can only work up to 15 hrs., have to change positions every 30 minutes, and have to be near a restroom and able to take a bathroom break, as needed. I know it won't be easy to find me a job, esspecially since I also use a walker. Unfortunately, if they think that I could greet people at Walmart or such a store like that...I will have to take it.

Good luck and keep us posted on your situation.

[vilhelm]

hi did u ever go to vocational training? if u did what do they do ? thnks

[lfoster21]

vilhelm Wrote:hi did u ever go to vocational training? if u did what do they do ? thnks

NO, I am not there yet. I have 1 more surgery that I am trying next week, to see if I can get some more pain relief. The i/c has said that after that point, I will need to begin voc. rehab. I was told by my NCM, that 1st they will work with me taking down all my info. and putting a resume together. Then they will have me go to a specific office, where I will have a came manager who will help me to look through the computer for a job. They are suppose to make sure I apply for a certain number of jobs ea. week and they will look over my applications, to make sure I do not state anything about my restrictions. I will also be required to go to a specific amount of interviews. I know someone that went through this, ans she said that sh was required to be there 5 days a week and for 6 hrs. days and that her case manager made her sit at the computer the entire time, with a 1/2 hr. break. I sure hope that is not what they have me do, since I can not sit that long, at one time.

Good luck and keep us posted as to what it is like, if you end up going through it.

[Lilly]

Hi vilhelm,
There is alot of info about voc rehab on this forum.
Go to the search bar near top right of page & type in "Voc Rehab" and see/read what comes up...lots of experience & comments on the subject.
Take care, Lilly