Knee and Ankle Injury With Nerve Damage After Falling At Work

I am 35 years old and have a major problem. Two years ago I fell at my place of employment (on Valentine's Day....lucky me). At first, I was told I had a sprained left knee and ankle. I was told to go home and seek my family doctor in a couple of days. She could not figure out why a simple fall was causing me so many problems.

I have shooting pain all the time, color and temperature changes, numbness, have a hard time walking for any period of time, and have to sleep with a pillow under my knee for comfort. I have gone through ridicule from my family, ex-co workers and even have been called a liar during board meetings at what used to be my place of employment. I returned to work for about 14 months on light duty, sedentary work, which was OK with me. At least I was working. I had benefits and some sort of paycheck coming in.

After the 14 month period in which my employer was able to accommodate me, I was given 15 minutes notice and a letter basically telling me to go home until either I was better or had permanent work restrictions. Well, I am not better but do have permanent work restrictions and a 20% disability according to the IME doctor I was sent to (twice). My physician gave me a 40% rating which of course the workers compensation doctor disagreed with.

I cannot find a job, have lost all my benefits and am in a very poor state of mind right now. I'm not sure what the lawyer I hired is doing for me (if anything) because I usually get his assistant when I call, and not him. I can't help but wonder if being honest and reporting the injury was really the right thing to do. Everyone says they want to help, but I see no results. I am registered with DVR but am also on an indefinite waiting list. There is nothing wrong with the rest of me so why don't I have a job?

I am still a halfway normal person... I just have to operate on a different level now. They say an employed person is more desirable, yet how can I become employed if no one will give me the chance?

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