Workers Comp Help
Knee Injury After Slipping At Work
I work at a church. On April 19, 1999, I slipped on a wet floor at work and injured my knee. I was able to get up, but knew I had done something bad and needed to see a doctor. It was late on a Friday afternoon, and nobody was around (except one of our custodians, who witnessed the accident).
We did not have an elevator at the time, and I was on the second floor. As I went down the first stair to get to the first floor, I felt excruciating pain in my knee. Somehow I was able to get down the stairs and into my car, drive home, and get out of the car and into the house. My daughter and husband got out our crutches and took me to the hospital.
The ER doctor took x-rays and did a minimal exam. At that time, I could not extend my leg, but she never did a test for that. She said there was no fracture, and I needed to see an orthopedic surgeon in a few days. She put me in an immobilizer and sent me home. There did not seem to be any urgency.
On Monday morning, I tried to find an OS who would take workers comp. I finally ended up with the OS who was on call on Friday night. I made an appointment for Tuesday. At this point, I still had no idea this was a serious injury.
At my appointment on Tuesday, it took about 30 seconds for the OS to diagnose a torn quadriceps tendon. This required major open-knee surgery to repair, which was scheduled for the next day.
I had the surgery and was in the hospital overnight. I stayed in the immobilizer and used crutches, although I was weight bearing. Three weeks later, I began physical therapy. My progress was very slow, but steady. After about 2 1/2 months, I was out of the immobilizer and able to return to work after three months.
By fall, it was obvious in PT that I was no longer progressing. My surgeon said I needed to have manipulation under anesthesia and arthrscopy to clean out scar tissue. I was anxious to have this done and continue on my recovery. So in October 1999, I had this surgery. I continued in PT for three more months and was able to improve. But I never progressed to a normal (or near normal) state. My doctor just kept saying to "be patient, it takes time." He never did any more testing. Well, I got fed up with being patient and went to another doctor, a knee specialist.
In September 2000 (almost 18 months post-injury), I saw the new OS. An x-ray showed my patella was "baja," meaning it had scarred down in too low a position. Also, my patella was really compressed, and hardly moved at all. My ROM (range of motion) was back to about 90 degrees. The quads were very weak and not firing. She sent me for an MRI and ultrasound. Both tests showed muscles and ligaments were intact. So she sent me for another 3 months of PT.
This PT did return me to where I was in the spring, but I was unable to progress any further. In April of 2001, I had another surgery, a lateral release, to give the patella more freedom to move. I was off work for five weeks. I began PT the week of the surgery, and continued for three months. At this time, I had rehabbed from surgery, but still had not progressed functionally. So I was sent for more PT with a therapist who specializes in biomechanics. After six months of PT with this person, he discharged me because I could make no more progress. I had improved marginally, but my functional ability rating was still less than 50%.
At this point, I had a call from workers comp. My adjuster had left the company and I had a new one. I had never had any problems with the old adjuster; everything had been authorized and paid with no problems. But I was told they were assigning a case manager. They made an appointment for me to meet with this person and then for her to go to my appointment with me. In the meantime, I contacted an attorney, because it seemed strange that all of a sudden, they were questioning my care. We talked it through and decided how to handle the situation. But the case manager never showed up for the appointment or the doctor, and never called back. So I thought I was off the hook. Should have known better!
At my last OS visit (three weeks ago), the OS said the only other thing she could think of was to send me for an EMG to test the nerves going to my quads. If the test is normal, she doesn't know anything more to do for me. She did not say I didn't have a continuing problem, just that she didn't have the knowledge to treat me further. She suggested two other surgeons who she thought might be able to help me. I had the EMG, and the neurologist said it was normal. I go back to the OS in two days to get my "official" results.
Yesterday, I got another call from the WC adjuster. She was following up on the case manager. It seems she didn't really know that this person hadn't shown up. I explained what had happened. She says they will assign another case manager to go with me on Thursday. When I said that I wasn't sure I wanted a case manager there, she got hostile. She also said they wouldn't authorize another doctor until I had an IME. So I will go to the doctor, be released from her care, and then be without a doctor for now.
I am now caught in the WC web. I don't know where this will lead. I am working full-time, but I need to continue medical benefits. I can't walk normally, can't do stair normally, can't do squatting activities (like sitting in a chair) normally, can't sit comfortably for long periods, etc. I don't go shopping, go on vacation, stay on my feet for long (more than 20-30 minutes), etc. I can't go to a theater without sitting on an aisle, so I can keep my leg straight. The attorney is surprised WC is taking such an interest, since they are not paying for disability, but only for medical treatment.
My problems with WC are just starting, so maybe it is too early for me to be writing my story. But I am anticipating a struggle, especially since this new adjuster seems hostile to any questions I ask. If you are interested, I will keep you udpated.