Anyone ever been injured at work? How to deal?

[GHBWNY]

I'm fortunate to be in a workplace that allowed me to stay on short-term disability until I felt well enough to return, and they did not pressure me to return earlier than I was comfortable with.

Sounds like a great place to work. Both my brother and my stepson didn't fare quite as well. On separate occasions, they were injured at their respective workplaces, filed for Workmen's Comp, took the required time off (with paid medical expenses). Had they stopped there and gone back to work, it would have been fine. But they both got talked into filing lawsuits against their companies: one won, the other lost, but they both lost their jobs.

 

[BrewingTravisty]

If your symptoms are as severe as you're describing, either see your doctor immediately or, if he isn't available today or tomorrow, go to a clinic or emergency department. You want/need immediate objective medical information to support a delayed return to work. Worker's comp is all about IMMEDIATES and CONTINUITY - immediate reporting and immediate medical, and continuity of reporting and continuity of medical. Applying medical information retroactively (eg, it is considerably more difficult with a doctor's report dated 09JAN2016 to prove you were unable to work the week prior than a doctor's report dated 02JAN2016 that stated you should be off for one week)



Sometimes. Depends on a number of factors



I'm fortunate to be in a workplace that allowed me to stay on short-term disability until I felt well enough to return, and they did not pressure me to return earlier than I was comfortable with. I'm also looking forward to my next airport visit, as I'm lugging around a 6" metal plate and 9 bolts in my right ankle now. Similarly, being able to start brewing again is a motivating factor for me (though not as much as riding my motorcycle and playing sports!)

BT - best of luck with everything. Stay in touch with your worker's comp contact and keep them informed of your condition.

I've been keeping in contact with them, letting them know what was going on and everything. The doctor wanted to wait a week before making an appointment to see if it got better. It's just been getting worse so I set up the appointment today. I already went to the E.R. at the time of the incident. Hopefully it's all enough. I can actually say that I'm afraid to go back to work right now.

 

[BrewingTravisty]

I got injured on the way to work, does that count?

But seriously, I completely understand. Jan 16th will be my anniversary of the day I work up in a hospital 3 days later, 2 states over, with both lungs collapsed, a fractured pelvis, a broken collarbone, broken ribs, broken hand, lots of internal bleeding, and what they called "likely anoxic brain damage". Also, for some reason, my appendix is now gone. Didnt find out about that until like 5 months ago. It wasnt until late Feb that I was transported out of the hospital and not till April that I was first able to stand again. Rehab was a bitch but I made it through.

It sounds dumb, but looking forward to being able to brew again is seriously one of the main driving factors that kept me going. Getting back to work was scary, it will take time to readjust. But youll be ok man. It sounds like your continuing problems are harder to deal with than mine. All Ive got left to deal with is periodic checks on my now mostly-metal lower spine (airports are a blast now) and the ridiculous amount of debt from what the ambulance helicopter company charged me. Luckily, it looks like contacting the BBB and Attorney General actually did the trick.

But yeah, if you arent feeling like +90% before you go back to work, its only going to stress you out more. And if your company/coworkers dont understand that, then thats not a place which I would want to work in

Looking forward to brewing is a pretty good reason in my book... I can't wait to get back to it. I was brewing with help before this which was nice but it still tired me out.

Honestly, I can't imagine having the injuries you suffered. My only real continuing problems I think stem from my back being weakened, the nerve damage and probably a lot to do with the 80 lbs I put on in the past year. Its amazing how fast if packs in when you suddenly stop working out.

 

[BrewingTravisty]

Sounds like a great place to work. Both my brother and my stepson didn't fare quite as well. On separate occasions, they were injured at their respective workplaces, filed for Workmen's Comp, took the required time off (with paid medical expenses). Had they stopped there and gone back to work, it would have been fine. But they both got talked into filing lawsuits against their companies: one won, the other lost, but they both lost their jobs.

Yeah. I don't expect to have a job after all of this. I don't want it either lol

 

[m00ps]

Looking forward to brewing is a pretty good reason in my book... I can't wait to get back to it. I was brewing with help before this which was nice but it still tired me out.

Honestly, I can't imagine having the injuries you suffered. My only real continuing problems I think stem from my back being weakened, the nerve damage and probably a lot to do with the 80 lbs I put on in the past year. Its amazing how fast if packs in when you suddenly stop working out.

Yeah trying to lose weight with a bad back has gotta be tough. I had the opposite issue, I think I lost 30lbs in under a month in the hospital. Just wasnt hungry at all.

I think you've got it worse than me though. My heart stopped beating on more than one occasion, but I'm mostly back to normal (save a few crazy scars). Plus, my work has been super supportive.

All I can say is that you definitely dont want to start working again (at your previous or new job) until you feel mostly back to normal. You dont need the added stress and the stress will only hurt your healing process. Best of luck

 

[ArkotRamathorn]

Lower back injuries/pain are probably one of the worst chronic injuries a person could get, literally affects every single movement you make in a day (you never know how much your lower back is used in every day movement until you injure it). I cant say I feel your pain since I've never had a serious back injury, but as a power-lifter I know lower back injuries are about the worst thing you can get.

Its really scary how quickly it can go from "yay I've been working here for 20 years and I make ok money and the company is making profits because of the work I put in" and goes to "oh hell I got injured, what I dont have a job or insurance anymore? Wait, why cant I just get healthy and go back to work". What m00ps said is true, dont start working until you *know* you are fully healed.

 

[jrowland74]

I feel your pain. I was a police officer and was injured at work. I tried hard to recover and get back to work, but we are only allowed 1 year to return to full duty, which was not possible. I was fortunate that when I was completely disabled from surgery, etc. I continued to be paid through workers comp, and when I was able to work in a different capacity, I was allowed to. However, once my year was up, I was forced to leave. We have a pension system, so I applied for disability retirement, but even though I was only doing it because of their rules, I had to fight for it for 6 months. Fortunately, again, I had enough sick and vacation time built up to at least receive a pay check (workers comp would only pay up to a year as well). The whole year + was rather difficult. I was used to working 20-40 hours per week in overtime, but was suddenly getting a 40 hour check. I finally retired Dec 9 2015 and at least have a little money coming in since I can't find a full time job which I can physically do.

The most important thing in all of this is just to stay mentally strong. Seek out those in your career field who may have gone through similar circumstances.

 

[BrewingTravisty]

Yeah trying to lose weight with a bad back has gotta be tough. I had the opposite issue, I think I lost 30lbs in under a month in the hospital. Just wasnt hungry at all.

I think you've got it worse than me though. My heart stopped beating on more than one occasion, but I'm mostly back to normal (save a few crazy scars). Plus, my work has been super supportive.

All I can say is that you definitely dont want to start working again (at your previous or new job) until you feel mostly back to normal. You dont need the added stress and the stress will only hurt your healing process. Best of luck

I'm glad to hear you were able to get back to normal after that! It definitely sounds like it was rough. And that's awesome that your work was supportive. Its not a very common thing among businesses.

And I'm hoping not to have to go back to work. Sadly if they tell me to go back, I have to. If I don't they can cut my benefits.

 

[BrewingTravisty]

Lower back injuries/pain are probably one of the worst chronic injuries a person could get, literally affects every single movement you make in a day (you never know how much your lower back is used in every day movement until you injure it). I cant say I feel your pain since I've never had a serious back injury, but as a power-lifter I know lower back injuries are about the worst thing you can get.

Its really scary how quickly it can go from "yay I've been working here for 20 years and I make ok money and the company is making profits because of the work I put in" and goes to "oh hell I got injured, what I dont have a job or insurance anymore? Wait, why cant I just get healthy and go back to work". What m00ps said is true, dont start working until you *know* you are fully healed.

Amen to this lol you never realize how easy it is to hurt your back either until you do. I was in pretty good shape before I hurt my back. About 200 lbs (give or take 5) and roughly 13% body fat. And a 24 quart box of oil has put me out of commission for over a year.

I definitely don't want to get back to work until I feel confident about it. Hopefully the doctor can keep me from going back to work until I'm back to normal, or close to it.

 

[BrewingTravisty]

I feel your pain. I was a police officer and was injured at work. I tried hard to recover and get back to work, but we are only allowed 1 year to return to full duty, which was not possible. I was fortunate that when I was completely disabled from surgery, etc. I continued to be paid through workers comp, and when I was able to work in a different capacity, I was allowed to. However, once my year was up, I was forced to leave. We have a pension system, so I applied for disability retirement, but even though I was only doing it because of their rules, I had to fight for it for 6 months. Fortunately, again, I had enough sick and vacation time built up to at least receive a pay check (workers comp would only pay up to a year as well). The whole year + was rather difficult. I was used to working 20-40 hours per week in overtime, but was suddenly getting a 40 hour check. I finally retired Dec 9 2015 and at least have a little money coming in since I can't find a full time job which I can physically do.

The most important thing in all of this is just to stay mentally strong. Seek out those in your career field who may have gone through similar circumstances.

It's amazing how much a single injury can change your whole life, and how little help you get from the job that caused the injury.

I have to work daily to keep a positive attitude. I refuse to let myself sink into self pity over it though, it could have been much worse. Instead of a numb leg that decides to stop working at random times I could be paralyzed from the waist down. So there's always something to be thankful for lol

 

[m00ps]

My company requires a return to work release from your doctor. Not sure if yours has something similar, but if you can get the doctor on your side, you should be good

 

[BrewingTravisty]

My company requires a return to work release from your doctor. Not sure if yours has something similar, but if you can get the doctor on your side, you should be good

At the moment my doctors have me on light duty restrictions, from before I reinjured myself. So hopefully when I see him on the 7th I can convince him I'm in no shape to work.

I'm supposed to work tomorrow, and I asked the head of HR when she called me earlier (not the nice one) if I could hold off on returning until after I see my doctor and she wouldn't let me. So I'm supposed to return tomorrow.

The bad thing about that, besides not being able to stand for more than 10-15 minutes at a time before my back decides to protest in the most uncomfortable fashion, is that I have no way to get to work. My sister is being completely unsupportive (even so much as to say I have to move out because I'm keeping them from being a family by being here) so my ride is gone. My lawyer is working on getting me an advance right now, but who knows how much longer that will take.

I almost wish that workers comp would go ahead and start mediation for the settlement so I could just be done with all of this.

Sorry for the whiney tone of this reply. Been a bad day. Most days I'm able to keep cheerful, and positive. But it's hard to do on days like this.

 

[Stillraining]

I almost wish that workers comp would go ahead and start mediation for the settlement so I could just be done with all of this.

Sorry for the whiney tone of this reply. Been a bad day. Most days I'm able to keep cheerful, and positive. But it's hard to do on days like this.

You and your lawyer have to push for that yourself...They will not just offer one..They want to get you off their benefits as fast as they can and back to putting money back into their coffers from your employers contributions.

Iv given you my two cents already.... but the last thing I have for you is to push for nerve damage testing ( hurts like heck ) ..Once that is proven its a way easier fight to wining a settlement.

Good luck to you...but in this case you have to start thinking about making some of your own!

Carry on.

 

[BrewingTravisty]

You and your lawyer have to push for that yourself...They will not just offer one..They want to get you off their benefits as fast as they can and back to putting money back into their coffers from your employers contributions.

Iv given you my two cents already.... but the last thing I have for you is to push for nerve damage testing ( hurts like heck ) ..Once that is proven its a way easier fight to wining a settlement.

Good luck to you...but in this case you have to start thinking about making some of your own!

Carry on.

I appreciate that... I'll have to think about doing that. What is the nerve damage test? A spinal tap I'm guessing?

Every time I see the doctor he does a reflex test on my Achilles and there's absolutely no movement.

I'm gonna have to push my lawyer towards going for the settlement. Hopefully I can end all of this soon.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[jrowland74]

If it's the same as it is here, they cannot start the settlement process until you are at maximum medical improvement (MMI)

 

[Stillraining]

No they jam electricity charge needles in your legs, arm or whatever to see if your faking it. Hurts like heck on your good one not so much on the affected one. The less you feel the more damage there is.

 

[BrewingTravisty]

If it's the same as it is here, they cannot start the settlement process until you are at maximum medical improvement (MMI)

I'm not sure if it's the same or not. That makes sense though.

 

[BrewingTravisty]

So, the WC insurance agency denied authorization for my transportation to my doctors appointment on Thursday. I thought they had to provide transportation if the injured worker couldn't provide it themselves.

 

[BrewingTravisty]

They also canceled all of my upcoming doctors appointments and physical therapy. Guess this probably means no advance.

It's crazy how injured workers are treated in this country. I'm not sure if it's any different around the world and I'm guessing it's because of all of the false claims but I'm 2 weeks from being homeless and without a car and they cancel my benefits. Pretty much guaranteeing me a winter in a cardboard box. Hopefully my lawyer can come through for me in the next week or so.

 

[TasunkaWitko]

Well, an internet forum full of beer drinkers clucking around like hens in a knitting group is probably the last place where you should get advice.

I would suggest that you talk to your state's Insurance Department; they will tell you all of your rights and responsibilities, and make sure that your workplace and their WC carrier do what needs to be done.