Workers Comp Help
Repetitive Stress Injury From A Factory Job
I went to my employer on 5-9-01 and told him that my neck arms and hands were hurting, he asked me what I wanted him to do about it? I did not go to the doctor until 7-23-01 because the pain got worse.
On 8-1-01, I asked my employer to send me to the doctor and they did. The doctor that they sent me to said it was just muscle inflammation and gave me anti-inflammatory medication. I did not request to go back to the doctor until 10-1-02 and the doctor still said it was muscle inflammation. He sent me to physical therapy with a script that said cumulative trauma disorder and radiculotpathy.
When I went to see him again on 10-23-01, I told him that the physical therapy was helping a little but I was still in a lot of pain. He told me to go to physical therapy for a week or so, and gave me no follow up appointment. That same afternoon I called and scheduled an appointment with an orthopedic dr. I saw this doctor on three occasions and his diagnoses was cervical sp/st and thoracic spst.
During this time I am still taking physical therapy and working. The Dr. also requested a MRI. On what was to be my fourth visit to this Dr. I was called in the office by my employer and told that the MRI and all other Dr. visits were denied because of no specific injury (meaning that I didn't have an accident). In January I went a charity hospital (which was the same place that I went to on 7-23-01). The Dr. there gave me a light duty note that stated "no repetitive use of arms, may due paperwork or answer phones.
Well, needless to say, I was put on a bar tack machine which still required repetitive use of my arms. Later that day my boss called me in to the office to advise me that they did not have to honor the light duty slip and offered me a voluntary lay-off, which I refused.
So, I eventually paid out of pocket to go back to the orthopedic, i went to the orthopedic about twice and I have been off of work since 1-22-02. The insurance company is denying all claims but has offered me a settlement in which I refused. I am going to lose my job in about two weeks because my boss has told me in so many words that I will not have a job if I don't return to work after I have exhausted my FMLA leave time. So now I have to wait on the workers compensation system to hear my case and make a decision. What are we injured workers supposed to do in the meantime?