I hurt myself at work last week. I fell off the back of a pickup truck and banged my elbow. No big deal except I work for a school and am a sign language interpreter. So my arms both fly everywhere all day long.

The Workmans Comp Doctor examined me and gave me the typical 4 physical therapy requirements and to re-visit the doctor in a few days. In that time my elbow bruise was clearly the size of a tennis ball and I went to my second appointment with the doctor.

First I went to the physical therapist office for my one hour treatment, then I went to the doctor. The therapist said nothing to me and instead he gave me a box of home items to help me between therapy appointments. Ice and exercise treatment.

I then went to the doctor's appointment. He checked me out, looked at my chart, and then said nothing except, "That is all, I don't need to see you again!" Unsure what that meant except for being grateful for no more doctors appointments I went to check out. The receptionist told me then that I also had no more therapy appointments to go to? I had done only one of the four previously assigned to me.

I was surprised and shocked. Why had they cancelled everything. I was still hurting and my elbow was black and blue. Then I thought, could this be because of my past visit with the doctor? The receptionist had no answers.

I had seen the exact same doctor, from the same work, a few years earlier. Maybe in 1997 or 2001? I had fallen onto my knee and had seen him. He did his thing and later like a couple of years I had to reopen my case with an appeal. Another doctor saw me, sent me to a third doctor of my choice, where I had knee surgery.

Could this WC Doctor be so unprofessional as to hold in some sort of resentment? Anything is possible, my elbow still hurts and is still bruised.

Moral of the story is save all paperwork.
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I too taught and fell backwards out of my classroom door landing on my neck and head. Not only did they not get me the proper medical treatment, they then denied I got hurt at work though I had 38 witnesses. Long story short, I got a lawyer asap. I realized they were not going honor the workmans comp laws, lie, cheat, and steal to prevent their premiums from going up. Just a suggestion, get a lawyer out of your county/area. I later found out after I settled for a paultry amount that I should have gotten a lawyer out of county so there would be no conflict of interest. I learned a lot the hard way as I have not worked since. I have not received any financial assistance, and just recently finally got approved for my state retirement disability. I took 1 1/2 years, and all the equity in my home to live on as well as selling my family jewelry and antiques to survive. You need to immediately get a lawyer that will look out for you and get you the medical treatment you deserve. I have permanent brain damage and now am fighting LTD to prove it is not just depression in spite of 5 specialists and testing that shows damage. Good luck, I know you have a long road ahead, but if you cannot do your job, then you need assistance to get medical care that can allow you to and financial coverage (short term/long term disability). Good luck!
Mim Gregg

Maybe that is what I need is Gloria Allbright of someone of that caliber. My elbow is still hurting so soon I will raise the dead and start logging those replies for when they come in handy.

I agree. Time to get a well practiced WC attorney. this is how the system works so you are not alone by a long stretch. I have suffered a few WC injuries through same employer and they were all picked up until this one. I have 5 injured body parts, 3 dr.s including theirs backing me up, MRI's of every injured body part and was still denied. now it's a wait and see game. I go to Dr.'s and PT on a regular basis and am no better almost one year later. The IC has been game playing lately, grasping at straws as they have no reason to deny this case, fishing around, using stall tactics. I feel I know I am injured and cannot work, they kno wit, all I can do is tell the truth and hope for the best. it is a horrible corrupt system. Years ago I fell in the employers parking lot on my way into work. I slipped on Ice getting out of my car and laid there for 20 minutes in the dark , alone. when I finally came to and could get myself in the building I told 2 employees one of which called my supervisor. He said I should go home as I was white as a ghost . i said i was dizzy and not comfortable driving. I stayed there all day and finally drove myself home. Saw one of their dr.s who said I had suffered a severe closed head trauma that lasted almost 3 months. I was never put out of work but told I could not drive.:dizzy: I worked everyday dizzy, lightheaded, nauseous. told this dr. numerous times that my neck was really hurting. she said it was soft tissue and would go away. within 18 months i started to have horrible neck pain. 3 years later my neck is a mess. severe stenosis amongst other problems. I know this came from the fall as I had never injured my neck before the fall or after. My neck is only one injury I sustained months ago. It's a waiting game. they want to sweeat or starve you out. Most people lose everything or at least most of what they worked hard for. I put 20 loyal years in to be called a liar. What a disgrace. My prayers are with all of you that are brought into this system.

ICC

I go back to work tomorrow and it petrefies me. My elbow still hurts and this should be interesting. I have been looking into WC lawyers and I am going to give my elbow a little more time.
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