I rcvd letter from Worker Comp (Texas)

[sand3rd]

Offical order to attend examination with a Dr Worker Comp assign... My insurance carrier requested this exam..They want to know my MMI and Impairment rating.... Does this mean they are going to close my case even if I'm not 100% pain free.. I just had my spinal injection on 12/18..Should I hire attorney?

[jayne]

you may never again be pain free and WC could care less....all they want to know is when you can go back to work

[AQA]

Yes and no. It sounds like you will be seen by a DD. for a rating. It sounds like they want to remove you from receiving TIBS. and you impairment rating will determine how long you receive IIBS.

In Texas, medical for the injury is for life.

[bagpussinamerica]

This is not the time for bravery. If you still have concerns and unmanaged pain, you need to make sure that your own doctor is involved. I don't mean that he is involved in the session that w/c has arranged for you. I mean that he has seen you recently and sees for himself the pain that you are having and is willing to state that you are not yet fit to return to work. Having said that, it is correct that you may never return to that pain free world you enjoyed prior to you accident. And it is correct that w/c could really care less when it comes to pain. Everything is firmly rated and though pain is taken into consideration, it is not usually enough to sway the doctors decision.

I was sent to a MMI meeting with a doctor, and they said that after another 4 - 5 weeks of physio I would be fit to return to work. This was said when I was still in a huge amount of pain. I went to see my own surgeon the very next day and he was unhappy enough to make sure that my case stayed open. Even though I had another few weeks to go before the physio was finished, w/c went straight to closing the case as of that very day. If I had just let it go without saying what sort of pain I was having, I would be forced into a job, and still have very bad pain to the point I would probably be fired for having too many days off. I did feel like I was whining too much when I saw my surgeon, but fortunately he believed me when I described the pain I was still having, along with other new pains. I only say this so that you make sure that you are represented correctly. It is all too easy to have them say you can return to work, when, in fact, you are not. But they can't read minds, which is why you need to pull down the bravery sheet that we all to often put up in order to get through each day. Having said ALL of that, you will need to be careful about what you say and that it is true...because they can decide against any pain if it does not fit with the medical records.

I wish you the best with this meeting. Remember to be honest and to state clearly and truthfully what pains you are still having and what they prevent you from doing during the course of a normal day. Sorry to be so long winded. That is another symptom of having too many days off of any work.

[1171]

workers comp doesn't pay for pain; benefits are based on the amount of permanent impairment.
http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/wc/employee/b....html#iibs

[Bad Boy Bad Boy]

I am some what concerned as to your case. As I went over your previous Threads here, all that is listed is a Mild Bulge, and Nerve Irritation. You state to have a 13 or 14 month old child. Do you pick this child up during the day? From your past Threads so far, all that is being offered you in medical, is simple, common treatment. The point of being 100% Pain Free, isn't an issue to WC. It is only an issue to us that live in pain. I would think that your pain has reduced over this period of time now. But, I don't know this, as you haven't stated this. Your work that you listed is very mild work, and your employer has stated they wish to work with you, and help you get to some kind of employment with them. Sounds like an employer who cares, and that doesn't come easy these days. Has the Injection you got helped any as of yet?

The question is, what are your medical restrictions from the doctor you see for treatment. Do these restrictions enclude lifting your child all day long? As you have stated, lifting is something you do not do at work. What does you doctor state you should do as for work now?

[sand3rd]

Bad Boy Bad Boy Wrote:I am some what concerned as to your case. As I went over your previous Threads here, all that is listed is a Mild Bulge, and Nerve Irritation. You state to have a 13 or 14 month old child. Do you pick this child up during the day? From your past Threads so far, all that is being offered you in medical, is simple, common treatment. The point of being 100% Pain Free, isn't an issue to WC. It is only an issue to us that live in pain. I would think that your pain has reduced over this period of time now. But, I don't know this, as you haven't stated this. Your work that you listed is very mild work, and your employer has stated they wish to work with you, and help you get to some kind of employment with them. Sounds like an employer who cares, and that doesn't come easy these days. Has the Injection you got helped any as of yet?

The question is, what are your medical restrictions from the doctor you see for treatment. Do these restrictions enclude lifting your child all day long? As you have stated, lifting is something you do not do at work. What does you doctor state you should do as for work now?

[sand3rd]

Bad Boy..
I do have a 19 month old which i do not pick her up or lift anything heavy at home..I do have a 4 yr old that was going to pre-k that i withdrawl from school reason.. I hurt when walking, standing or sitting for long periods of time. I can not do shores at home as cleaning, washing clothes, Etc.. I can not lift anything more than 10 lbs. I have pain from my lower back to my leg.. I did have a injection on 12/18 that only help me from 8 to 6 pain level... I do take tramadol only when i can't take the pain which make me drowsy and dizzy. I tried to take meds when my kids are napping and i can sleep with them.. I work doing auto collections.I'm affraid to take my meds at work do to being on the phone all day long it's like production.. I have to make 150 calls a day that is outbound and inbound with breaks every 2 hours and make sure i collect money to meet my qouta everyday. I do see my doctor on 1/04/10 and another FCE on sameday..

[bagpussinamerica]

Having read your last post, I see that you are suffering much the same way that I do. But I have Tarlovs, which is much of the time mis-diagnosed. It happens to females mostly...with heavy lifting or an accident. On the MRI it often looks like a herniation or sometimes just doesn't show up at all. The pain you have seems very similar to what I have. I can't move much either way, no lifting at all, can't do the laundry, the hoovering, dishes, etc. Even going shopping is hard.

I can not imagine how you do it with two small children. They need their cuddles. I am sure you have found ways to do that. How do you manage to do shopping etc? Are they able to crawl into their strollers without your help?

I would suggest that you do get yourself a lawyer. Mine is actually working along side with my surgeon to get help in the home since I can't do most things without causing further pain. Do you have a partner who can help out a bit?

[sand3rd]

Thanks for advise...I will hire atty sometime this week.. I do have my husband that helps me with my kidos . I hardley leave my home since i have so much pain.. I try to keep it easy thru out the day for my kids.....I will also tlk to my doctor about Tarlovs and get a second opinion before my MMI on 01/15/10