Workers Comp Help
Shoulder Tendonitis, Rotator Cuff Tear And Tennis Elbow From Repetitive Stress At Work
My company that I worked for 2 years, last August, laid off everyone except me. They brought me over to assemble products. It was fun. Every day was different. It was like putting together a puzzle, but a very hard puzzle, twisting, screwing, gluing, tightening, clamping. In the beginning I learned how to assemble a product (rollers for copy machines) to send to a big company. It was so hard. Clamping, screwing, disassembling and assembling, using my right arm repeatedly. I did the job with two other people.
In November they assigned this job just to me. 400 parts to get out by Christmas. I went nuts, standing up using my right arm, assembling 8-12 rollers in a row. Bending over and clamping, twisting, screwing, tightening. I worked 9 hour days and Saturdays. I started feeling pain in my shoulder. I thought, no pain, no gain. I told my boss, my shoulder hurts. He would shrug it off and say I was a wimp.
Finally, it got so bad, I said to my boss, I need to go to emergency, it really hurts. He says, you don't want to pay co-payment for emergency, go to our workman's comp doctor. I went, he gave me some relaxer, and sent me back to work with limitations. It just got worse and worse. Went back to the doctors, he says "you don't want to bother with workmans comp, too much money for you and us. (I was in so much pain, I just wanted it to go away and get back to work).
This doctor refused to give me any pain pills because he said I could get addicted to them. He sent me back to work. Over the weekend (In Dec.) I went to Emergency. Could not take the pain. Doctor says possible a rotator cuff tear, tennis elbow, shoulder tendonitis, frozen shoulder. (What???????) I never heard of any of that stuff. He gave me only 6 pain pills until he sets up an apt. with an orthopedic. Tells me to stay out of work. I take some vacation time. I finally see the orthopedic. They take x!-rays, again, a possible cuff tear, tendonitis etc...
They tell me to stay home a month. I'm like, please, I can't, I really need my job..........but, I was in too much pain. I called work and told them. They said take the rest of your vacation, than try to come back in. I go to my primary doctor, (I was in so much pain, I couldn't take it.) He says same thing rotator cuff etc..... He prescribes pain pills for me. Pain pills made me sick, but I took them. Released some of the pain. I call work to tell them what is going on. They (my boss) calls me back that day and says, Jeanne, go ahead and collect unemployment, it will be more than workmans comp. I am so upset, I couldn't believe he fired me. Two weeks ago I was one of his best employees. I was to receive a raise.
I get lawyer, I mean how can I collect unemployment when I am not employable????? Lawyer takes my case right away for workmans comp.
So far, I have the pain somewhat under control. Good days and very bad days. I got injured on December 12,2001, it is now March 13, 2002. My company is denying I did my injury at work. They are fighting really hard. I have an apt. with my 18 year old son. I have had no money coming in since I used up all my vacation time. My son (trying to save for college) has used up most of his money to pay the bills. Social Services is helping a little. Hardly puts a dent in our bills. I have tried to get disability in the mean time. I was just denied today by the the company. I called my lawyer today, crying. He says we have enough documentation, sit back and we will have our day in court (the 18 of March at 1:30 pm)
I am so scared. I am so tired all the time. I feel like I lost an arm. I thank God for my 19 and 18 year old helping me. My boyfriend went straight C-trick so he can drive me to all my apts., fill out so many forms. (I can't write) I never really knew anything about workmans comp..I never thought it would be so complicated!!! And so prolonged!!! I get so frustrated, because I worked so hard for so long, and lost everything I achieved for. I have $22.20 left to my name. I got hurt!! On my job, and I am suffering for it. It is so not fair, and I am scared for my future. Will I really ever have my arm back 100%?? Right now I can't even write my initials. I need an MRI, workmans comp has not approved it yet (it has been 1 month since my ortho requested it.
If it wasn't for my sons and my boyfriend helping me out, I would be on the streets. For what. Because I got hurt, big time.
Thank you for listening and sharing
Jeanne