05-01-2016, 08:50 PM
I'm in Wisconsin.... I'm 36 years old, a little overweight, but in excellent health - except my back.
I work in a factory, and until I filed my WC claim, I had worked there for 9 months. About 4 months in, numbness in left leg and foot, pain in feet and low back. I let it go, figured it would pass. Pain got so bad that on 3/15/16, went to ER. I filed WC claim on 3/31/16 for cumulative trauma injury, was off work or on light duty pending MRI and visit with a specialist.
Had MRI, diagnosis is: Lumbar disc herniation (L4-L5) with radiculopathy; Spinal stenosis, lumbar region, without neurogenic claudication; and lumbosacral spondylosis without myelopathy. Saw specialist, asked to go back on full duty, he agreed.
After one day of full duty, I hurt bad. I had the next two days scheduled off, so I figured I'd rest up, go back full-strength on my next scheduled day. Worked a full shift on my next scheduled day, and hurt so bad I went to my local doc (my specialist is 40 miles away, and I don't have a car), and he put me back on light duty for two weeks.
I was recommended for PT by the specialist, but it hasn't started yet. I have missed 21 days of work in about 8 weeks, with no compensation. When I do work, it is at reduced hours for reduced pay. I have an open claim, but no one has made a determination as to if and/or when Ill be compensated or for what. My employer's carrier is waiting on medical documentation, they tell me. I will have PT twice a week during work hours for about 4 weeks until I see the specialist again, and since I don't have a car and have to travel cross-town by bus to the appointments, I will probably miss a whole day's worth of work twice a week... plus, at times, there is 'no light duty available', so I'm not even guaranteed the full 3 days I'm available in the week.
I should state, for the record, that I have done everything in my power to work through the pain, and keep a positive attitude. My employers and Doctors know that I'm trying desperately to return to work ASAP - but I hurt very badly. At times, I am probably working through pain when I shouldn't be, but I'm trying to show my employer that I'm valuable to them, and that I am a team player.
Also, a 'workplace accident' that I didn't report lead to the pain I felt on my last shift before I got the new light duty restriction. I have not told anyone about this. An employee created an unsafe work condition by getting oil on the floor, and I slipped a little and when I went to right myself, I tweaked my back - and the pain became worse.
I've never dealt with WC before for any reason. Those that have been there - what do I or should I expect?
I work in a factory, and until I filed my WC claim, I had worked there for 9 months. About 4 months in, numbness in left leg and foot, pain in feet and low back. I let it go, figured it would pass. Pain got so bad that on 3/15/16, went to ER. I filed WC claim on 3/31/16 for cumulative trauma injury, was off work or on light duty pending MRI and visit with a specialist.
Had MRI, diagnosis is: Lumbar disc herniation (L4-L5) with radiculopathy; Spinal stenosis, lumbar region, without neurogenic claudication; and lumbosacral spondylosis without myelopathy. Saw specialist, asked to go back on full duty, he agreed.
After one day of full duty, I hurt bad. I had the next two days scheduled off, so I figured I'd rest up, go back full-strength on my next scheduled day. Worked a full shift on my next scheduled day, and hurt so bad I went to my local doc (my specialist is 40 miles away, and I don't have a car), and he put me back on light duty for two weeks.
I was recommended for PT by the specialist, but it hasn't started yet. I have missed 21 days of work in about 8 weeks, with no compensation. When I do work, it is at reduced hours for reduced pay. I have an open claim, but no one has made a determination as to if and/or when Ill be compensated or for what. My employer's carrier is waiting on medical documentation, they tell me. I will have PT twice a week during work hours for about 4 weeks until I see the specialist again, and since I don't have a car and have to travel cross-town by bus to the appointments, I will probably miss a whole day's worth of work twice a week... plus, at times, there is 'no light duty available', so I'm not even guaranteed the full 3 days I'm available in the week.
I should state, for the record, that I have done everything in my power to work through the pain, and keep a positive attitude. My employers and Doctors know that I'm trying desperately to return to work ASAP - but I hurt very badly. At times, I am probably working through pain when I shouldn't be, but I'm trying to show my employer that I'm valuable to them, and that I am a team player.
Also, a 'workplace accident' that I didn't report lead to the pain I felt on my last shift before I got the new light duty restriction. I have not told anyone about this. An employee created an unsafe work condition by getting oil on the floor, and I slipped a little and when I went to right myself, I tweaked my back - and the pain became worse.
I've never dealt with WC before for any reason. Those that have been there - what do I or should I expect?