not sure best course of action to take

[nauticalgurl1]

Hi everyone...it's been awhile since I've given anyone an update on me so here goes: I had carpal tunnel release surgery back in Sept. on left hand and started theraphy soon after that 3 times a week. I had carpal tunnel release surgery earlier this month on the right hand and will start theraphy this week. Now, they numbness and burning is gone from my fingers and wrists in both hands but I'm am experiencing problems with palms and elbows. I let my ortho doc know about this when I went for follow-up and stitches removal last week and he didn't even want to look at my elbow or hand and he gave me a return to work slip for next month?!?! On top of all of this my employer appealed the district hearing officer's decision so I had to attend another hearing last week at the staff hearing officer level. I mentioned what was going on with my doctor to my attorney and they are confused also...though after we find out what the staff hearing officer's decision is my attorney wants to talk to my doctor. The return to work slip doesn't have any restrictions on it....does physical theraphy or my doctor have to come up with those before I return to work and have completed all of my physical theraphy? When I filed my claim one of the ICD-9 codes on it is for my elbows though back then everyone thought it was a sprain due to the bilateral carpal tunnel. I understand my doctor wants to treat the carpal tunnel and he has....but there are other things on my claim and no one seems to want to address them.

[1171]

your doctor has to approve any work restrictions.
It's common that they only "fix" what they think they can; often it's only partial.
I suspect your doctor has fininshed what they want to do and has little more to offer.

[nauticalgurl1]

If my dr. is the one giving the restrictions will I see those after I've completed all my therapy and go back to work? There wasn't any mention of them on the work slip. He can't be saying that I'm as good as I'm going to get....I can't lift anything over 5 lbs. ...therapy has me working on 2 lbs. repeatedly and there are well aware that therapy is aggravating this condition. Is there a time frame after having had surgery before he can send me back to work?

[capricorn]

Hi Nauticalgirl...I don't know if I can help but I will tell you I ahve some questions. How can a Dr. give you a return to work note a month in advance? He has no idea what will go on from now to then and especially if he knows you aren't Ok now. That being said I have to say I went through a similar situation. I injured 5 body parts. one was my right knee. Not once did any Dr. pay any atteniton to it. Not PT, nothing even though it buckles and caused me to fall and actually caused the domino effect of the original injuries. What is you attorney saying? If you originally had an injury to your elbow it needs to be addressed. Please let us know what's happening.


CAP

[Lilly]

hi,
Surely if you still have an untreated elbow injury...you are going to compensate more with your hands which may aggravate the hands w/carpel tunnel surgery. I feel the advance RTW slip is very strange, and not in your best interest. Possibly if you do go back to work and try it with no restrictions...you'll end up off work again shortly because the doctor didn't put any restrictions on you. It makes no sense. When are you suppose to return to work? Hopefully things will change before then. Sick your lawyer on him.

Years ago I had heart surgery....I had a heck of a time afterwards. I was off work for 9 months and returned with no restrictions, and some of my work was very heavy...I was told that I would know what I could and could not do, just by doing it. he was right. I would get the men in the plant to do what I was unable to do.

Skip ahead a year and I'm still having angina attacks and shortness of breath...and my cardio just brushed it off.....telling me it could take a couple years to get over all the symptoms. I got the same attitude that 1171 posts. They fixed what they could, I'm better than i was....and they simply ignored my other complaints (that i still have 7 yrs later.) I believe it's a mind-set in some of the medical profession. Even though he send me for tons of testing and they come out abnormal...he says I'm fine, good to go???!!

The WC chosen doctor that botched my shoulder injury was a total a$$, and he definitely thought that way. Nothing for pain was given, even if i asked, I was simply told to suck it up and that I had to start moving my arm in therapy.....well it still doesn't move, and never did after he got done with it. WC had me switch doctors, to a ortho surgeon that is fabulous...and I'm still doctoring with him. So all hope is not lost for you, maybe WC will have you visit a different doctor in the end when you and your PT reports are still not good.

take care, and prayers going up for you! Lilly

[Bad Boy Bad Boy]

Nauticalgurl1,

You may need to do a better UpDate, for all I do remember was you had Carpal Tunnel in both hands. I don't remember the other issues you now state.

The question now is, when you went to the first Hearing, were all of your injuries then noted, and requested for Exam?

If not, get with your Attorney, and find out what else needs to take place then. You may need to have another Hearing.

[nauticalgurl1]

Bad Boy Bad Boy Wrote:Nauticalgurl1,

You may need to do a better UpDate, for all I do remember was you had Carpal Tunnel in both hands. I don't remember the other issues you now state.

The question now is, when you went to the first Hearing, were all of your injuries then noted, and requested for Exam?

If not, get with your Attorney, and find out what else needs to take place then. You may need to have another Hearing.

So far I've been to a 2nd hearing....still trying to get my employer to accept the claim. Looking over the claim the doctor from OccHealth has 5 ICD-9 codes on my claim and I've made sure that they are the ones includes in my claim file with the BWC. They are as follows: 354.0, 354.1, 841.9, 842.0 and 842.1. I looked them up and the elbow and forearm are included in the claim. After PT this morning I went back to one of the nurses at my ortho doc's office and asked her about work restrictions and showed her the return to work slip and told her about what was going on in therapy and that there seems to be a lack of communication between everyone. The doctor wasn't in but she would ask him when he did show up about them since there are none on the paper. My PT was as confused as I am as to what is going on....especially since today they bumped me up to a 3lb. weight vice the 2lb. one and had no idea about the return to work slip. I showed them the paper. Still having pain in forearms and elbows. When I talked to my atty. last week the main concern was for us to wait for the staff hearing officer's decision on whether or not the claim has been accepted. Not once during the first hearing was any mention made of the other things included in my claim. If the claim is accepted, then all the conditions in it would be also right? Should I be calling the atty. again and asking them? I would think they would know this?!?!?!

[1171]

not necessarily.
many people have concurrent health problems/conditions with different causes.
whether all conditions will be covered under the work injury requires medical evidence and maybe a legal decision.
you may need another medical opinion as to your recovery period and/or disability level.
maybe you should discuss a consultation or change of doctors when you next discuss your case with your atty.

[nauticalgurl1]

Okay...I spoke with my atty....we will have to wait until we know what the hearing decision is before we can act upon this. Even though those ICD-9 codes are in the claim the only one we are trying to get the employer to accept is the carpal tunnel...don't ask me why. Once the hearing decision is known then my atty. can file a motion for the other side to accept them also. I have supporting medical evidence so hopefully everything will go alright. Don't you just love the waiting game...as far as work restrictions....we will have the hearing decision back before I turn in that paper. My atty. said to hold off on turning it in for now....and yes, I've thought of changing doctors but have been told to wait till we have the decision. So, I wait