WC WON'T LET ME SEE A DR. ABOUT POSSIBLE DEPRESSION...

[jbravo2984]

So I fell off a ladder back in january and broke my ankle. WC has taken care of all the bills so far and hasn't been too much trouble to me yet. However, since my injury my life has been flipped upside down and I feel helpless. I can't sleep at night and I can't stay awake during the day. I eat two value meals at a time from the fast food joints and I don't get much pleasure in the things I normally would. I explained this to my WC claim manager and she said that overeating and weight gain are my problems and as far as the sleep goes, everyone has sleep issues and maybe I should try not sleeping for 16 hours at a time. Everyone else I've talked to (physical therapists, my dr.'s nurse, my GF) have all said, "sounds like depression" or "case of the blues". I don't have med ins. and I wasn't like this before the injury almost five months ago. I would like to see a general phys. about getting some meds to regulate my sleep and see where that goes before it gets any worse. Does my WC claim manager have the right to tell me what is and what isn't related without the opinion of a dr. I mean, she basically said there is no way the issues I'm having are related to my injury unless otherwisealready documented and stated by my dr. What should I do?
BTW... I have talked to my dr about the pain keeping me up at night and he basically said "yup, thats going to happen", and left it at that.


sorry I live in IL

[1171]

you neglected to provide the state under which your claim is being handled. (see request at the top of the page).Comp laws are state specific and reponses to requests for information can only be generic without knowing the state.

Discuss your symtoms with your treating physician and have them make a referal for counseling.
if it's denied it can be appealed to your states work comp board.
some states require that the claim be formally amended to include new injuries or conditions in order for them to be covered.

[chrischris]

Contact a hospital near you. Many times they can give you a referral to a mental health provider or counselor to talk to.

FYI: WC doctors are not your doctors. They are being paid by the Insurance Companies, and they treat what injuries are "accepted", from the claim form you submitted. If depression wasn't on that form, then it will be ignored.

When I had a breakdown at work, my WC doc took me "off work" for 1 week and told me to go see my Family Physician for depression treatment. He then dropped me and left me without a WC doc. Nice, huh? It worked out for the better, as most things usually do.

Take care

[Still in Limbo]

Hi, and Welcome to the Forum!! When We get Injured, and can't do the things We Once Could, and the Phone Doesn't Ring, and the Friends and Relatives Stop Coming By, Depression will Rear it's Ugly Head, and Grab Us! 1171 is Correct, try and get a Referral for Your Depression, and if not, Chris Chris is giving You Great Info. also. But You Must Be Sure to get Help, One Way or the Other, and if You have to go to the E.R. to get Help, they May Refer You to a Psychiatrist, and if they Feel it's Work Related, You may then be able to get it Added to Your Claim. But the Main Point is You MUST get Care, Depression is something I Deal with Daily, and without the Help I Received, I would be having a Much Harder Time than I am Now!! My Injury left Me Totally Disabled at the Age of 42, and I'm almost 5 Years into this He**, so I Understand where You are coming from!! Best of Luck!!

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Been there and doing that now. I have been depressed for ver 2 years. I have had trouble with WC 3+ years and still fighting. I went to vocational rehab and they paid the bills minus my wifes insurance. However yesterday they turned me loose stating I had no way of employment with all of my injuries. I am hoping this helps with my meeting with the ALJ on June 24th.

[dsny1mom]

jbravo2984 Wrote:So I fell off a ladder back in january and broke my ankle. WC has taken care of all the bills so far and hasn't been too much trouble to me yet. However, since my injury my life has been flipped upside down and I feel helpless. I can't sleep at night and I can't stay awake during the day. I eat two value meals at a time from the fast food joints and I don't get much pleasure in the things I normally would. I explained this to my WC claim manager and she said that overeating and weight gain are my problems and as far as the sleep goes, everyone has sleep issues and maybe I should try not sleeping for 16 hours at a time. Everyone else I've talked to (physical therapists, my dr.'s nurse, my GF) have all said, "sounds like depression" or "case of the blues". I don't have med ins. and I wasn't like this before the injury almost five months ago. I would like to see a general phys. about getting some meds to regulate my sleep and see where that goes before it gets any worse. Does my WC claim manager have the right to tell me what is and what isn't related without the opinion of a dr. I mean, she basically said there is no way the issues I'm having are related to my injury unless otherwisealready documented and stated by my dr. What should I do?
BTW... I have talked to my dr about the pain keeping me up at night and he basically said "yup, thats going to happen", and left it at that.


sorry I live in IL

Your claims manager should not be diagnosing your medical condition. She is saying there is no connection between your injury and your possible depression to avoid having to pay for further medical and possible additional PPD at settlement.

You need to speak to your DR and have him/her refer you to a physician that will be able to treat you depression if that is what it is. In order for the WC IC to pick up the bill your Dr will need to state that the depression is a result of your injury. I hope the DR you see is one you selected and not one that the IC selected for you.

In Illinois you are allowed one change in your Dr. If your current DR doesn't see fit to refer you to another Dr for the depression and won't admit atleast a casual connection for the depression to the industrial injury then find another Dr and ask to use your one time change in DRs.

You also might want to consider hiring a lawyer. It sounds like your claims manager needs to be knocked down a peg or two and the right lawyer could do that quickly.

dsny1mom

[Mary Frances]

jbravo2984 Wrote:I hurt my back (in Florida) and had surgery. As for depression, I went to the same doctor who did the surgery and HE gave me an Rx for medication. Start there. If they do NOT help you, ask your case manager for a referral. If they do not comply, seek the help of an attorney who will petition WC on your behalf and get you the help you need.
So I fell off a ladder back in january and broke my ankle. WC has taken care of all the bills so far and hasn't been too much trouble to me yet. However, since my injury my life has been flipped upside down and I feel helpless. I can't sleep at night and I can't stay awake during the day. I eat two value meals at a time from the fast food joints and I don't get much pleasure in the things I normally would. I explained this to my WC claim manager and she said that overeating and weight gain are my problems and as far as the sleep goes, everyone has sleep issues and maybe I should try not sleeping for 16 hours at a time. Everyone else I've talked to (physical therapists, my dr.'s nurse, my GF) have all said, "sounds like depression" or "case of the blues". I don't have med ins. and I wasn't like this before the injury almost five months ago. I would like to see a general phys. about getting some meds to regulate my sleep and see where that goes before it gets any worse. Does my WC claim manager have the right to tell me what is and what isn't related without the opinion of a dr. I mean, she basically said there is no way the issues I'm having are related to my injury unless otherwisealready documented and stated by my dr. What should I do?
BTW... I have talked to my dr about the pain keeping me up at night and he basically said "yup, thats going to happen", and left it at that.


sorry I live in IL

[e3mrk]

You can have Your Primary Care Doctor refer You to a Psychiatrist for a interview in most States.
If You don't have a Lawyer get one,It sounds like the W/C is trying to put one over on You.