can doc write ppi rating without fce

[apostolic1]

hello everyone i am new to this forum but have been reading quite a bit. i am a semi truck driver i fell about 15ft. and sustained 2 collasped disc and a compressed occipital nerve in my neck, since then i have had a bi-level lumbar fusion with hardware and a cervical rhizotomy for the occipital nerve after all this im now dealing with severe depression. i was just informed by nurse case manager that w/c told her to close her case that the surgeon was going to write ppi rating without a fce. my question is, can they do that. i am in indiana.

[Cycler]

Sure, FCE's are actually rare.

[lfoster21]

Yes, like Cycler just mentioned, they are 2 completely different things and usually are not done together. Really the FCE is only done when they need you to see the vocational rehab. person, who needs to know what restrictions you can and can not be expected to do on a job. It is helpful to them, after your Dr. has given you your MMI rating with your restrictions and says you can go back to work with restrictions. If they do not believe the restrictions...they may then have you do an FCE to see if they can get you to puch the restrictions a bit further.

I am just about where you are at and just got my letter from my nurse case worker, stating that w/c has just told her that they have closed my case. I too have just been put at MMI and had my rating done by my Dr. and did not have to do an FCE...thank God for every peice of good news!

Please keep us posted on your case.

[Still in Limbo]

If You are not Fully Healed, You May want to Contact an Attorney that Deals with w/c, and See if there is anything that can be Done to Slow Down the Process of Closing Your Case, until You Receive the Care You Need!! I was a Class A Driver Myself, and I dealt and still Deal with the Depression that Comes with being Totally Disabled at the Age of 44! I no Longer have the Luxury of Jumping in My Truck and going out for a Week or so, Seeing the Country and getting Paid to do so, My Home is Now My Prison, and it's Very Easy to See how Depression can set in! My Very Best to You, and Please Keep Us Informed!