Workers comp is a joke !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[J_P_]

So, I injured myself at work back in september of 2005. I have a claim which is still active. Everthing as far as getting approval for certain test, surgeries or PT have been going fairly smooth, but because it has been going on for so long they have assigned a Medical Nurse Coordinator to me. This lady goes with me on all my appointments and is supposed to expiedite my recovery. Since she has gotten involved everything takes 2-3 weeks longer to get approved. It has been almost 2 years and this yoyo is pissing me off. Anyone have any advise?

[famliymom]

I fell at work in puddle of urine because tech didnt clean it up. Fell on knee i had surg on yr before and jarred my back. Went to onsite and nurse prac said i had lig damage in knee. Well wcomp called and I told them what happened. had emerg rm full of witnesses. Lower and upper back mostly on rt side killing me. hands going numb, rt thigh burning and going numb. Hurts all way down rt side to my foot. wcomp doc says just sprained back , neck, knee. W comp adjuster paying medical doc but not any wkly benefits or mil..w comp nurse assigned even says doc is full of it. My knee is big as a watermelon and I cant sit up on rt side, stand walk or sit long. Why do they treat ppl like trash. I beg him to just fix me because I am single and was working 3 jobs. In healthcare.I can not help I fell and got hurt. Oh and where I caught myself with hand I have a huge knot on top of wrist now and some days cant use it. It hurts to move it. Doc just says its coming from my nerves to triple up on nerve meds. and its all in my head. he hasnt even checked blood pressure or temp. never even pulled up pants leg to chk knee until yesterday when I after 3 mnths of nothing made him look at it. He put cort. shot in it. i told him i have severe reactions to the shots and he did it anyway. I told him to wait I had to ajust my knee because it catches he just laughed at me and walked away. All I want is to be fixed and get back to work. Had mri and he said it didnt show nothing. I asked to see it, he said he hadnt pulled it up yet. lol smh. then he goes and gets it and pulls it up and says just some arthritis . Ive been to spine spec before yrs ago because sic would flare up when I was working on houses. but it walway went  away in few days, now it hasnt went away. help me understand the ins company. I am an ins agent also and know what a fringe doc is.

[h0neyy]

my boyfriend got hurt at work in september of 2005. january 2006 he had back surgrey, we too have had to have that annoying lady go with us to doctor appointments, only she was always late and never showed up until the end of the appointment when we was walking out. we have a lawyer, and he still has back pain. i wouldnt recommend back surgery to ANYONE. my boyfriend is 21 years old and suffers bad from back pain. we're still young and workers comp just treats us and his problems like we're nothing. we're hoping to settle with them and get his back covered for the rest of his life, cause it was his works fault.

after going back to work after surgery (months later) they had him doing things OVER his restrictions, which hurt him even more.

workers comp is a joke, their awful to say the least.

[chadry]

I was injuried in work back in 06. I have a bulging disc in my low back and quite a few herniated dics in my neck. W.C. is a joke. The **** they say and do is totally absurd.I was never given any time off. I had to do 2 rounds of therapy and then work conditioning and an epidural that made it worse. Never any relief. I have suffered with pain and have been given such a hard time. I am MMI again. Not any better but they are through with me. Nothing else to do. I have a lawyer.and we are fighting. I go for my 2 doctor app. my lawyer set up soon. I am waiting for the appt. for W.C. I don't know what to expect with these visits. I lost my job today. I worked for 3 years in our school district with special ed children. I really loved my job. They didn't renew my contract for next year, because of my chronic conditons. I am fighting this with my union but it does not look promising. Needless to say I have been crying for a few weeks now. I am so hurt and angry that I was just thrown away. I took care of a girl with C.P. and did the best possible job I could with her. But that does not matter to a job or W.C. When my neck went the doctor actually told me I was lying because he didn't see how pushing a wheelchair through grass at recess with one arm while trying to control another child that was fighting with me and trying to run off the school property (while wearing a back brace) with the other arm could hurt my neck. I used my one request to see another doctor. The MRI showed all the damage that happened to my neck. The doctor said I was faking and not in pain. I could barely hold my head up. I only just got a neck brace a few months ago from another doctor. I told one doc I was having muscle problems with my left arm when I tried to carry things with a little weight, he told me to use my other arm. I started to laugh until I realized he wasn't joking. I left that visit as soon as poosible. I never had to deal with a nurse in person but I had to deal with them enough on the phone. That was enough for me. I feel for you. I just don't understand why things are the way they are and it really makes me upset inside they way people are treated, that really have problems and are looking for relief and follow all the rules that W.C. dishes out. I truly believe that they make it as hard as possible for you so you will just give up and they won't be responsible for you anymore. Every doc. told me I should quit my job but yet not one would take me out of work to rest and try and let things heal. By the way when I hurt my neck I was supposed to be on light duty. Is there such a thing in most jobs as light duty. Best wished to you.

[Chris_M]

Hi, work comp adjuster here.  I would be glad to answer any of your questions on how the "inside" of the system works, or how to get better treatment.

All the best,
    Chris

[christinaaa6013]

if you get hurt and ur on methadone do you receive benefits still? if going to a treatment place to get meds every morning

[Barb732]

Please call an attorney that deals with worker comp cases and start proceeding before your time is up, to file a suit against your company, you worked for.

Make sure you check the legal side for your protection in case you are injured for the rest of your life. Your company is making sure they are protected. Do the same. Good luck.

[GoFish2]

I feel your pain, and know how politicians,"Arney Carlson" to name one. Insurance co.and yes doctors have destroyed,wittled away,away and away what "is" supposed to be a state funded program that should be protecting every person who is injured on the job.  Someone I know worked for 20 years, got hurt, was fired, layed off "same thing".  Worked with the Ins. Co.they denied her claim, like all claims, and the way the system is set up you will absolutey need to hire an attorney as she did.  Unfortunately 3 years later she ended up with a measily $ 20,000,1/2 of one year wages, oh she also still suffers in pain ,You see I dont care what  the "State" or the "Insurance Co. says.  They can legally put you threw hell, phys., mentally and there favorite financially. Thats what they hope for!  So, she took the first offer, the attorney got paid, and the screwed up system keeps on going!  During my W.C. case I learned alot, all attorneys use laws that are on the books "cases that have won and lost" in trial. Most cases don't go to trial, allmost all settle out. If you do go to trial nowadays and lose you can end up paying the aposing attorney's fees.  How's that for justice?  So I was thinking about starting a class action lawsuit to change these messed up laws that were written at 2am and passed before daylight, yes I am impling that they are bloodsuckers, all.  Unfortunately I heard that us peasants cannot sue the "State", isnt that convenient.The State is supossed to working for us , right?        

[SHORTI81]

I know what your going through. I had the same problem... Fortunately I called a lawyer and he said that I have the right to refuse a Nurse case Manager. I sent them a letter and have never had to deal with the lady again. No calls, nothing.

Unfortunately work comp in itself is a joke and depending on where you live you may get the total run around and in the end get no help at all. I live in Colorado and it is a complete joke out here. I have bulging disks from L2-S1, radial tear at L4-L5, as well as a chipped bone in my hip.... all from an injury at work and I am only in my mid 20's. I have been seen by 2 therapists, 2 back surgeons, a hip surgeon, orthopedic dr, anastesiologist, chiropractor, accupuncturist, and a physiatrist (conservative pain management doc.....yeah right)  none that can agree with the other. physiatrist wants sugery but surgeons say no. I have been through epidural injections at levels L4-S1, cortisone injection into hip, months of pt, and I refused a sacroiliac (SI joint) injection. Nothing relieved the pain....

I was out of work for 13 months with many restictions such as no bending or squating, no walking, sitting, or standing too long, no lifting. Then placed at MMI (maximum medical improvement) with only the restriction of lifting, like nothing is wrong.THE INSURANCE COMPANY HOUNDED THE TREATING DOCTOR FOR OVER 6 MONTHS UNTIL SHE PLACED ME AT MMI AND NOW HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MY CARE. I have been trying to find work for over 4 months and cannot find anything I can physically perform.

BEST OF LUCK WITH OUR QUEST FOR ANSWERS AND I HOPE YOU GET THE HELP YOU OBVIOUSLY NEED AND DESERVE.

[pofdog]

    I too had a nurse coordinator with my first injury through WC in 93.... Things were going slower before her because workers comp. was denieing I needed surgery and sending me to all kinds of different docs, PTS, torture techniques, etc..   After having her, all the scheduled appts. had to work around HER schedule. Kinda pissed me off at first. But then I realized she was on MY side. You can make the nurse your friend or foe. She ended up getting all the BS to stop and finally pushed for my surgery and I got it within a month . She even folowed and was at my recovery visits.   So it can be good or bad..but you can try to get the nurse on YOUR side. Good luck.
    AS for being treated different at PM's and PT's...I notice it also.Guess they asume you are trying to stay on wc and exagerate or whatever. So guess what......DO IT!  I was told to exaggerate by someone. I couldn't. I went in for a 3 day physical evalutaion. It was BAD. I went in there on vikidin 750's and told them, and I was still in bad bad but pushed on. They had me climb a ladder...it hurt so bad and took about 3 min. of major pain. But I did it. A nomal person could have did it in about 10 seconds. But guess what?...It was marked that I could do it, as well as things as stand/sit on and off 2 hours resting etc...they do not include you had to be jacked up on your meds (that your going to get cut off), and that you were still in major pain. SO good luck when they make you do one. Just remember the advice....don't do things just because you can do it 1x because you are trying your best. It works against you. If it cause you pain...SIT DOWN!

[toolmaker]

I have noticed at pt and pm that wc cases get treated differently but cant figure why.

[anjel75]

I wish I had some advice for you or myself for that matter! Injured 8/22/06 and doc wants surgery but they are not approving nor denying so I can't do anything!