HELP HURT AT WORK AND MAY BE FIRED

[cdvzfr]

I STILL HAVE NOT BEEN DX YET. I AM A MAIL CARRIER AND SINCE I STARTED DELIVERING THE MAIL WHILE WALKING, I NOTICED THAT I TURN MY ANKLE ALOT.IT IS USUALLY ALWAYS MY LEFT FOOT. I USUALLY CAN JUST WALK IT OFF. BUT THIS TIME, I SPRAINED IT WHILE WORKING.

NOW I HAVE THIS HUGE MESS AT WORK BECAUSE I WENT TO SEE IF I BROKE IT OR WHAT AND I TOLD THE URGENT CARE DOCTOR THAT I DID IT AT WORK, SO I HAD TO CLAIM IT AS COMP. NOW MY BOSS IS PISSED THAT I TOLD THEM I DID IT AT WORK AND THE USPS  ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING INTO MY MEDICAL HISTORY.

I NEVER TOLD MY BOSS THAT I COULD HAVE POSSIBLE MS. I DID TELL MY UNION REP. HER ADVICE WAS AS LONG AS YOU CAN DO THE JOB THEN THEIR IS NO REASON TO DISCLOSE YOUR PERSONLY MEDICAL INFORMATION TO THEM.   I HAVE NEVER BEEN DX YET WITH IT. THE DOCTORS JUST KEEP SAYING THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IS THE PROBLEM. WHAT EVER I HAVE IS VERY BENIGN AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL SHOW IT'S SELF SOON SO THAT WE CAN TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT YOU HAVE WRONG.I WAS ABLE TO DO THE JOB EVERYDAY, IT WAS HARD BUT, IT IS GREAT MONEY. I NEVER CALLED IN SICK FOR MY FATIGUE, WEAKNESS IN MY LEFT ARM AND LEG., PAIN IN BACK AND NUMB FEET.  I EVEN HAD A SPOUT OF URINARY PROBLEMS AND WALKED THE WHOLE ROUTE WITH A CATH BAG IN, ATTACHED TO MY LEG. I DID IT THROUGH THE HOT TEMP. EVEN THOUGH THEY BOTHERED ME REALLY BAD AND I SUFFERED EACH TIME AFTER.

SO I NEED ADDVICE. IS THERE A CONNECTION BETWEEN YOUR ANKLE GIVING OUT LIKE THAT DUE TO MS?  CAN THEY FIRE ME?

RAE

[hbananas]

IS IT AT ALL POSSIBLE THE BOSS'S REACTION IS BECAUSE IT WASN'T INITIALLY REPORTED AS A WORKPLACE INCIDENT?  WHEN IT'S W/C THEY WANT YOU TO GO THE DOCTOR THEY USE--NOT YOUR OWN PHYSICIAN OR URGENT CARE CLINIC.

BY NOT REPORTING IMMEDIATELY AND JUMPING THROUGH THE W/C HOOPS, AN EMPLOYEE CAN JEOPARDIZE THE ENTIRE CLAIM.  THE EMPLOYER CAN SAY 'WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS, BECAUSE THERE'S NO PROOF IT HAPPENED ON THE JOB."

[Joe79]

They can not fire you for an injury at work.  They also can't link you twisting your ankle to a medical issue.  I also don't really understand why your boss would be angered by you saying it was at work, especially if you don't have a history of claims and it WAS at work.  Maybe you just messed up his perfect safety record for the fiscal year and he can't use that to suck up to his bosses.  If you keep doing your job to the best of your ability, never complain, don't bang in sick all the time, etc etc.  I would not feel bad at all about claiming the injury.  MS or no MS, young or old, strong or weak, anybody can twist their ankle or throw out their back, etc.  If there isn't major reoccurance of accidents and injuries I would just take it as it is- a hurt ankle.  You're boss should too.

I believe there is some sort of link with work and insurance if you are carrying a federal insurance plan.  Almost positive the link is only from the insurance to your work, not work to your insurance, or maybe it was the work comp to your insurance.  Don't know too much about it so I won't comment anymore than that.  Off the top of my head, the only thing your boss could possibly do is request a fitness evaluation, which if you were found to be not fit for duty they can fire you.  But, there is a law there to protect you where they have to try to find a different job within the government if you can't perform your duties do to medical reasons. At least that is how it is at my job, I'm fairly certain that POP's and laws are about the same across the board with federal employment and if anything the USPS has some of the best protection for their employees.

On another note, I agree with your union rep fully, if you do your job there is no reason to disclose any personal medical issues to your work.  On the other side of the coin, I would not say a word to the union rep either.  At my job the union reps are just a couple designated people that work with you, most of them don't know anything and are just padding their resumes.  USPS might have a stronger union but if it is the same where you are I would not consider anything you say to be confidential, leave your medical problems out of it if you feel they are not an issue yet.  Do inform them if your boss is threatening to go into your medical and/or have you fired.  Just, in my opinion, leave it at spraining your ankle.

[Heather3418]

PLEASE LISTEN TO ALL THE ADVICE YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN.  SALLY BRINGS UP SOME EXCELLENT POINTS FOR YOU TO FOLLOW UP ON.

YOU CANNOT BE FIRED FOR TWISTING YOUR ANKLE ON THE JOB AND FILING A COMP CLAIM.  IT'S AGAINST THE LAW.  NOT ONLY IN CANADA, BUT THE U.S.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO REVEAL THAT MS IS SOMETHING YOUR DOCTORS HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR.  YOU AREN'T DIAGNOSED, SO THEY CAN'T BLAME THAT.  PERSONALLY, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU HAVE A FORM OF FOOT DROP THAT IS CAUSING YOU TO TRIP OVER YOUR TOE, TWISTING YOUR ANKLE.  THAT'S MY GUESS.

PLEASE KEEP US INFORMED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.  AND DON'T LET YOUR BOSS INTIMADATE YOU WITH SCARE TACTICS.  KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AND DON'T GIVE IN.

ALL THE BEST,
HEATHER  

[Salamander2]

Your employer cannot look at your medical records without your consent.  So don't worry about that.  There is a federal law that protects you (HIPPA)  Health Insurance Portability and Privacy Act.  It started as a way to protect you from insurance companies denying coverage, etc.  It has grown to be major privacy protection for you and your health information.  
If you don't want them to see your medical record, don't sign the consent.

In addition, you can file an FMLA claim which will protect you from losing your job if you are sick and miss work.  Contact your Human Resource Department and they should help you file it.  Your boss might try to fire you, but it won't work if he tries to make it an issue about your health.

Don't let the bully push you around.  Be proactive and cover your bases.
Good Luck,
Sally

[shawnie31]

Hi there, seeing that I'm lying in bed all day post LP... I will have lot's of time to put in my thoughts on some of these postings.

I'm not sure where your from but here in Canada it's illegal to be fired if you were injured at work. A company can't let you go for a medical condition either. It might be beneficial for you to come foward that you are having some health issues. It's a hard one to decide especially if your coping with your symptoms right now. I agree with Kathy you need to make some calls to a labour board and also your union rep. get some clear facts so you can sleep tonight. Also nobody has any rights to look into your medical hx unless you authorize it.

I'm un-dx and I find that when my legs are really bothering me and don't want to co-operate my ankles feel really weak as well.

Good luck, keep us posted.
Shelley

[Fluffysmom]

I THINK IT WOULD BE ILLEGAL TO FIRE YOU FOR SPRAINING YOUR ANKLE ON THE JOB WHERE YOU ARE WALKING DELIVERING MAIL.  UNDIAGNOSED MS WOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE.

HAVE YOU CALLED YOUR UNION REP?  IF NOT, DO SO, PLEASE.  YOU CAN ALSO CONTACT THE BUREAU OF LABOR AND INDUSTRY IF YOUR BOSS DOESN'T CALM DOWN AND REALIZE THAT HE CAN'T FIRE YOU FOR MAKING A WORKMAN COMP CLAIM.

HOPEFULLY YOUR UNION REP WILL BE AVAILABLE TO HELP CALM YOUR WORRIES ABOUT THIS.

BEST OF LUCK, AND FEEL BETTER,

KATHY