Workers Comp Help
Injured While Stocking Shelves
My injury happened sept. 17, 2003.
I work night stock for a company stocking shelves. At about 9:30 p.m. we were in the process of unloading our truck for the night. I picked up a box and turned to put it on the rack when a load of eight 1x12x12 boards came crashing down and hit me in the back.
I was quite dazed for several minutes before i got my bearings back. My back was throbbing and then started to burn. I informed my supervisor and he told me to try and walk it off. After about a half an hour i was feeling no better and some of the guys i work with finally talked me into going to the doctor.
Needless to say my supv. Wasn't thrilled with the idea and actually acted pretty upset that i felt i needed med. Treatment. They sent me to the e.r. and i was checked out and told it was only bruising. They put me out of work the rest of the week and told me to follow up with my regular doctor which i did. The same day as my appt with my dr. I got a call from w/c they said i couldn't use my dr I had to use theirs.
They set me up an appt. And it was a nurse practitioner. She never even actually examined me just talked to me and asked questions. She put me back to work on light duty and said to follow up in a week. I was sent to this same person several times and each time it was the same thing no exam just questions. She didn't even realize i had what was basically road rash 3/4 down my back. She said the same thing as the e.r. dr. And said I would be fine in a cpl wks. After 2-3 wks i knew it was more than they had said.
I ended up missing 3-4 days from work because i could barely get off the couch and was threatened to be fired. I fought with w/c for 3 days b4 they finally got me an appt with a dif dr. He treated me for a cpl wks and finally pulled me out of work. After a month he decided there was nothing more he could do and referred me to another dr. By this time i had been out of work 2 months.
They finally set me up for an mri and after 2 mos it was determined i had a herniated disc. Come to find out this should have been done within the first 2 wks. It took 1 1/2 mos b4 i got my first w/c payment. 2 wks later they cut my check because they said i was being overpaid cause my employer didn't get them the paper work in time.
This hurt because me and my wife had paid bills and written checks based on what i had been getting.we ended up with about $800 in bounced checks and when i contacted w/c they said that was my problem not theirs and that i still owed them $$$ the other dr. Treated me with injections for about 1 1/12 mos.
I went for a follow up and was asked if the injections had helped the pain and what % the pain was decreased i told them about 30% they said that was close enough to a 50% reduction and it was time for me to return to work. They sent me back to work without any restrictions what so ever even though i was still having trouble doing just about anything and was still in pain. I went back to work where i found that they had already hired someone to do my job. My supv. And all other employees treated me with a cold shoulder.
I have been given indication that they are going to get rid of me at 1st oppurtunity they have. I cant even work without being doped up on pain pills and have told w/c and they just say oh well as long as i am there and doing my job they don't care because i have been released and that's what matters nothing else. About 3 wks ago i got an atty. And they are handling things now. I have been out of work the past week with a virus and have a dr. Excuse from my regular dr. But that doesn't matter.
I guess this is the opportunity they were looking for. I am still in pain and cant do a lot of things. I have a 5 yr old son and he cant understand why daddy cant play like he wants me to and this is what hurts the most. Hopefully my atty will be able to do something to help me and get this resolved. I am digging in for a long battle.