Hi Everyone,

Well I went back to my ortho Thursday and he said he has done everything that he can do and marked my workmen's comp paper as reaching maximum medical improvement and permamently impaired http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif Now I have to go have a physical capacity test (?) Has anyone ever had one of these and can tell me what to expect. I have been so down lately because of my hands, it has been 2 summers since I was able to ride my bike. Any info on this capacity test would be appreciated.

Take care,
Darlene

Hey Darlene, I had reached MMI and the Dr. ordered a Functional Capibility Evaluation on me which also gave me an Imperiment Rating. The Occupational Therapist did mine for me. I had to wear comfortable clothing and comfortable shoes. It lasted about four hours. Since I had been doing repetitive Motion and it was a RM injury he had me to carry boxes with different weights, lift different weights, walk, climb a ladder, walk up an incline, did a grip test of my hands, work putting things together overhead, sitting and putting things together like circles into smaller circles or squares into smaller squares and so forth, knee bends, pulling and pushing, stooping and picking up catching a ball and throwing it, and so forth. I wound up with a 40% imperiment Rating in my hands and 42% rating in my upper extrementies. He was worried about my shoulders and now a MRI reveals I have problems in the C-spine area. That was left unteated and has gotten worse. I wish I could say that you might improve but I can't. I can't do the same job I did before and my company was forced to transfer me to another job. I can't hold my 8yo or play ball with him or do things outside like I use to My whold life has changed. This imperiment rating will go with you for the rest of your life and determines what Workman's Comp will offer you for a settlement and where the company you work for can place you. Don't give up too many people do and don't sign anything until you are satisfied with what they have offered you for this is your life and permanent damage is hard to live with but you can live with it. I've had to get a lawyer to handle mine because my employer wanted to just toss me out and forget me. Stand up and fight and still enjoy life with moderations God will lead you in the right direction. If you want to read about me check the last 20 days. It is long and sometimes boring but you can see I have been there as you and I am still hanging in there and you can too Good luck and God Bless

Hi Bamabrneyes and thank you for your reply. Im sorry it has taken me a couple of days to thank you but my hands have flared up again. I really appreciate you letting me know what to expect on this test. I have a good lawyer already but haven't needed him so far. I get the min. wc allowed by NH law right now and they have paid for everything to date but I did have an investigator call me wanting to tape our conversation, it was then I got a lawyer. I know I won't be able to go back to my job, that has become painfully clear over the past year. I now try to focus more on what I can do rather than what I can't do, some days that is easier that others but I am sure you know this also. The Occupational Therapist called me today and said I was very lucky, that a National Renound Hand specialist is going to be performing this evaluation on me, not sure whether that makes me lucky or not. I have also been doing some reading on NH WC Laws and I guess once someone reaches MMI in NH, you have to do this capacity test and then they try and buy you off so you quit costing them money, that in itself depresses me. Do you mind if I ask you what your grip strength has been running? They have been checking mine over the last few months and it gets worse and worse. Thank you again for talking to me, God Bless you!!!

Darlene

FCE's are performed all the time and is not just to determine permanent impairment, but may be used anywhere along the rehab spectrum, as well as screening tool for employment(although maybe called something else). So in other words, try not to be intimidated and just do the best you can. Glad to hear you got a lawyer. Most people are very intimidated by your situation and you do have rights. Stick in there, the company will do all it can to say it's not there fault, let alone put the blame on you. They are also fighting for themselves, as many people in the past have taken advantage of the systems. Not that it is right or wrong, just the way it is. The laws are for both sides, but you are the one that is hurt. You will find there are different options, one of which seems to be neglected by many people, retraining. Does not mean you have to work for them, but can work well all the way around for you and the company when determining if they want to pay an outright settlement. In other words, paying for you to be trained for a new career, including education. I bring this up because not everyone is told this and can be quite rewarding in the long run. Just a thought, good luck and I'm sure things will work out.

Prouzy

Darlene, its good that you have someone that is very highly rated to do your evaluation. The OT that did mine was also the Director of the department and was highly recommended in his field. this will help you in getting an honest and fair rating and help you in the long run. When you get the impairment rating it is permanent and will follow you the rest of your life. It will determine what you can do and what you can't and will help with retraining and possible job placement. when he gets through with it, it goes to the Dr. that did your surgery and has treated you and he will sign off on it. Please ask them to send you a copy so you will have a copy to keep for future reference as the need arises. My company was going to ignore the FCE and had put me on regular duty but when the Supervisor saw my copy they had no choice but to put me back on light duty and then transfer me to the office. He also noted in my evaluation that I was having a lot of trouble with my right shoulder. Now 12 months later my arms felt like they were going to fall off after 8 hours of work and I am having trouble sleeping when I lay down I can't get comfortable and can't sleep on the back of my neck or my right side at all. I have a headache all the time. A new NCV/EMG study revealed moderate Carpel Tunnel again Bilateral with the right side worse. A MRI revealed on my neck a dislocation at C-4 to 5 and C-5 to 6 with herniated disk at C-3to4, large C-4to5, and very large C-5to6. The back Dr has put me on Relafin. flexafn, and traction at home 2 to 3 times a day. I am to try this for two weeks and if I am not anybetter then he will do a myelogram and compare the MRI I had done with it and schedule me for surgery disks repair with talon plates and fusion. My hand Dr. kept saying there was no reason for me to have so much pain and it should have cleared up after surgery and he said the other day he couldn't do anymore for me that I had reached MMI and then I showed him the MRI and he said that could be the reason for the pain I was having and wanted to know who I was going to see. I told him and he agreed I needed to see him. I know by your post that your company has been good to you. Mine hasn't but that another story which you can read in previous post if you want to. My case wasn't even filed with the State W.C. and I had to get a lawyer to even be treated fair. The judge determines if your case stays open or shut. If you are not satisfied with what the company offers you please don't sign anything and consult your lawyer. Once you sign it is all over and you can't go back. Your hands are so important. I was very athletic before I got CTS. I had a complete physical before I went to work for this company and had worked 8 months before the symptoms showed up. I can't hold my 8 year old, play ball with him, or do things outside with him. I can't work in my flowers, pick up more than 1 to 2 pounds consistently and no more than 5 pounds. I do tingle, hurt and have limited motion in both hands and driving is a real chore and on a long trip you can forget it. I am still working only the Lord knows how. I use to enjoy hunting fishing skiing and swimming but guess what I have had to readjust and keep going. Everytime I get down in the dumps and feel like feeling sorry for my self I get a big smile and a hug from my 8 yo and know I have to keep going for him. My husband has been a big support also. Your hands and arms are so important and you really don't realize how important until you can't do the things you use to take for granted. Even a simple pop top soda is a chore and unscrewing a cap whell that's harder than people thing. When I hand a clerk the money to pay for something it will appear I am throwing it at them and I get some looks at times and then I have to explain Oh I have CTS Release surgery and my hands go one way and my brain goes the other they haven't beeen able to figure out how to put them together again. I get a good laugh anyway. As far as my grip strength, it was rated very low and was worse each time with my dominant r worse. Please go into your evaluation with a good attitude and do the best you can. He won't make you do anymore than you are capable of doing and try everything that he ask you to do. This will help you and him to give you the best rating. It's like playing games and something will look silly but it's all to determine what you can an can't do. Let me know how it turns out and I will answer back. It may take me a couple of days because of the trouble I am having but I will answer. Good luck and God Bless