re-opening a closed claim?

[jakelb]

Hi All, question here...

In Nov 2007 I sustained an injury at work. I was out for 2 weeks and had PT / checkup doctor's appointments until April 2008 this was all covered by WC. The case was closed in April. The injury reoccurred this Oct while I was at work and the doctor said it was clearly related to the original injury. My work is not responding to me and when the doctor's office called and referenced the original claim the WC lady said the case was closed and she hasn't heard anything about a new injury.

Should I be covered for this? If anyone could point me in the right direction I would appreciate it. Thanks!

[Tuffy]

Even if you were injured before, This would/could be a new injury claim. Did you file an injury report with your company? Your company should have filed a WC claim for you. What state are you in ? as this could help us better answer your question.

[frustratediw]

What state are you in? WC benefits vary from state to state and without this information it is difficult to answer specific questions.

[jakelb]

Thanks for your replies!

I am in CT. I informed my manager and their managers when the incident occurred. It is not a large company so they all know me personally and knew of my prior work related injury. I am onsite full time at a customer location so I have not filled out any paperwork with my employeer nor have they contacted me back. It happened this past Friday and I've yet to hear from them. On Monday, the doctor told me that had it not been for the injury I sustained at work 11 months ago, something this small would not have reinjured myself this time around. Back then, he said I will only need an MRI if it happens again (which it did).

[Still in Limbo]

My Opinion Only,Call Your Employer and Request that a New Claim be Filed. After that, w/c May Refer back to Your Old Claim and Combine the 2, or look back on the Closed Claim for Info. But I would Treat this as a New Injury, and let w/c Decide if they Feel it's from the Original Injury or Not, that way You are back in the System, at Least. My Best to You, and Please Keep Us Informed!!

[sparkey]

What is the injury?

[jakelb]

sparkey Wrote:What is the injury?

I originally dislocated my shoulder from a pretty bad fall at work (This was 11 months ago). Since then I have always taken care of it and never really put it in any compromising situations. I have stayed away from any activity that could hurt it further.

Last week I did a lot of heavy lifting mid-day for work (which is very rare for my job, not a day to day task) I felt like I tweaked it a little and there was some soreness but not an alarming pain. I thought nothing of it. Later that afternoon I was talking to someone in their cube and stretched my arms behind my head and the shoulder popped out immediately. After about 5-10 minutes it fell back into place on its own.

I am worried my employeer/WC will not acknowledge it and say it was the result of stretching...

[Tuffy]

I see it as the lifting caused the reinjury, which is usually a new claim. fill out a injury report, asap and have your employer file a wc claim before it is to late... sounds like you may be headed for surgery..........

P S Who is paying your Dr and for the MRI????????

[jakelb]

Thank you all very much for your advice so far!

Tuffy Wrote:P S Who is paying your Dr and for the MRI????????

They put it under the old claim # but when that came back as closed the Doctor's office called me and said they can wait until I straighten things out with my employer before it goes on my insurance. The MRI has also been held off until then... I am really frustrated with my employer right now if you can't tell

[Tuffy]

I am in Illinois, and had the same thing happen to me. I injured my back, healed, went back to work, then 2 years later reinjured my back again. My Dr said if I had not had the first injury, I would not have the second. In other words my second was related to the first....... WC accepted the first, but my Co denied the second. I got an attorney and he filed my WC claim. It took a year before, and with his help was finally accepted. Anything to save money, and I worked for a Billion dollar medical Corp. for 23 years.

You may want to consult with a WC attorney. I would get on the phone and tell your employer you want them to file a WC claim, and let WC decide to accept or deny.