workers comp benefits

[wife of injured man]

Hi all. I have not posted in a long time. I hope everyone is doing well. If you respond to my post, please let me know how you are doing.

Hubbie was injured in 4/07 and has some cervical disks that are bulging and some thoracic disks that are bulging. He also has nerve damage in his left leg with uncontrolled falls and has severe carpal tunnel in both hands. The doctor recently found out that he has muscle damage but not sure where. I assume it is from the constant muscle spasms in his neck and back. It has been 16 months since the accident. He has tried PT with no help. He is still on muscle relaxors and pain med's and also depression med's. We worry about long term use of all this crap. Prior to the accident, he never even took a Tylenol.

WC denied his weekly benefits from May-Nov of 07. They paid a portion of medical up until then. Then he was paid weekly checks from the first of December through April 08. No medical. Then they cut off his checks starting in May 08 until now. Get this, the WC doctor wrote all these permanent work restrictions in May and the defense did not let our atty know about this for two months. They sat on the information until the IC denied further payment (because the IC assumed that there were no work restrictions). This is dirty pool on the defense's side in my book. They knew what they were doing.

[jayne]

Well this is typical WC crap....But to be quite honest YOU have to get more active in his case not depending on the lawyer to find all his medical stuff....Start by contacting his Doc office and getting copies of his medical records and all Xrays and MRIs any test he has had done YOU get copies of.Then anytime he goes to the doc ask for a copy of that days report mailed to you as soon as transcribed....If there are work restrictions you get a copy of it before you leave office then get copies for your lawyer,HR and their adjuster always keeping the oringal for your records.....You must remember you are your husbands best kept secret agaisnt the WC they hope and expect you to lay back and let them call the shots......learn your states rules and call them on it......Keep copies of everything some of us have bookcases of paperwork......
I setteled last year and the adjusters on here dont like me or some of the people on here because we do know our rights and we help you know yours....So be prepared if you decide to stand up for you and your husbands rights you are gonna be called lets see on here I have been called a shrill a faker and many others....But due to the help from many on here I won my case and you will too.

[Bad Boy Bad Boy]

http://www.comp.state.nc.us/

[sparkey]

Has he been sent for a IME? If not, be prepared to. And also be prepared for the doctor to say he does not need anti depressants or pain meds. I had carpal tunnel recurrance and their ( IC ) IME doctor stopped all that. Just be forwarned.

[Bad Boy Bad Boy]

(((Get this, the WC doctor wrote all these permanent work restrictions in May and the defense did not let our atty know about this for two months.)))

Well, what are the restrictions????