I have been on workers comp since May 26, 2005 and have gotton no were with being able to get treatment, I had a app refferal from my doc to a back doctor done three weeks ago everything was fine I thought ! I went to the Back Doc and couldnt even get n the door ! They told me the Ins company that is paying me workers comp denied it. So I leave there go back to my Doc and he was as mad as I was. They told me that my doc did not submit enought info which was bull crap in the first place, so he called them and they gave him the run around also . Then he called the back doc that I was suppose to have went to and tried to get me back into see him and the back doc said well since he is aready haveing conflict with the ins company that he would not see me any way now. Aint that some BS!!!!!!!!!
Now I live in a city of 35,000 and there is only two other doctors that accept workers comp, the doc Iam going to now the one that I just told you about and one other doctor that is my designated doc for the Ins company! So now that leaves nobody here in this town ! I have never seen such a ripp off in my life as this workers comp. All the laws have changed with workers comp these days as Mr Bush continues to screw up our country with his BS lies and everything else. Workers comp does not bennifit the worker in any shape form or fashion any more that I can see or find! All the laws have changed to bennifit the Ins big money companys and the hell with the USA workers the back bone of this country! A workin man dont have a chance with this COMPANYS COMP! is what it should be called!
My doc says they can't deni me to see that back doc but what they can do is deni treatment ahahahahahah well what good does that do me ! The people of this country have been sold down the drain these days.
Just got back yesterday from going to the Ins company doctor were they ordered a FUNCTION CAPACITY EVALUATION . Which the doc there then wrote his finding and this is what he said . This man is in no way at MMI which is maximum medical improvment and he said that this man is at very very high risk of injury or reinjury if relised to work. There for it is my recommedation he does not return to work and he needs further medical evealuation and medical treatment!!!!!! This is there on Doctor telling them this!! They wanted the test they got the test now I wonder were this one is gonna get me. My Attorney is a great one and he is doing all he can but like he said his hands are tied somewhat with all these new laws and it is a slow slow slow painfull process to get anything done. I have even had these suckers the ins company hired private investigators and they drove up in my yard with tinted glass and got out and came to the door and told me they were Federal agents looking for who use to live on this proptery ahahahha a
ahahahahahh then take this tape to the designated doctor with me standing there talking to them for 8 mins trying to sway his desicion and put me back to work ahahahahah he really really really told them off in his report as a matter of fact every doc I have been to has been on my side but I still cant get to see the right doctor because every time they will screw it up.
Anyway I could go on for days here telling yall what all they have done but the point is what has this country come to and what if anything can we as workers and citizens do ????????????????????????????
What just sit back and take it up the WAZ-Zoo and be screwed up for life with no compesation at all !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey Tex I know what you mean about comp , still on it myself, since 2003. The Laws are different from state to state , my comp takes pretty good care of me now.
I do agree with you on Bush , I voted for that mook to !
Boy Me To Been On Wc Since 2-04 2 Back Surgeries And In Worse Shape Prior To Second Surgery Wc Is A Joke Have No Feeling In My Right Leg And Foot What They Call Drop Foot Will Never Go Back To Construction Ware I Worked For 16yrs. And All This And Im Only 35 So You Are Not Alone Mike
Texas, I can relate to all your going through, my battle started 7yrs ago much like yours, I fought til I was ready to go crazy and had lost almost everything my DH and I had worked for, I ended up losing my claim and settleing for a very laughable amount.
I am now permenantly disabled with nerve damage and much more and fighting for my SSD which isn't any easier.
I wish you the best of luck and wish there was something could be done about the whole WC mess.
Linda
For 3 years, I have fought comp....I've had 2 sessions with their lawyer, the first deposition she gave me, I had constant short spasms. The second time I had one of my mind blowing spasm that lasted 20 minutes, then eased down. She got out the room so fast so she wasn't present for the worst part. Then I was interviewed by their rehab dept. Again I had a pretty good spasm in front of her, she kept telling me to breathe....Funny, in the reports each of these ladies wrote out mentioned nothing about the spasms. You would think I was the healthiest person around according to them.. And then their """""" Independent Doctors""""" what a joke.
My customer service rep from work comp---how can you do a job like that, fabricating-denying comon sense requests....How can you sleep at night if that is what you do for a living.... As you can tell "work Comp" is a 4 letter word to me.. good luck
Last edited by cornburner; 04-27-2006 at 07:07 PM.
The very first time I talked to my workers comp ins repsentive from Cambridge ins company , her name Penny Jay haahahahahahahah
her first words to me was this.
Sir if you think you are going to get a dime from us you are sadly mistaken!
Boy you talk about **** some body off !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If I could have gotton a hold of her she would have needed workers comp more than I would have hahahaahahahahhaah. Here Iam hurt and bad hurt and this is the responce I get the very first time Iam talking to them directly! She has denied everything from the get go but I would have like to have seen her face when we totaly won the Contested Court Hearing and blew them clean out of the water. They didnt have a leg to stand on my Atty. told me it was the most air tight case he ever had the pleasure of doing.
Iam like you I dont know how people like that can live with them selfs muchless sleep at nite. But they are gonna get theres five time fold when its all said and done.
My WC experience has been good on the whole. I have just been approved for 2 level fusion (L3-4-5) after going through 1.5 years of PT, tests and shots. I have no lawyer (officially anyway, one did go over things and said I was being treated fairly but WC doesnt know that). Theys have been super slow but my WC adjuster (or whatever she is) has been good. I have the surgen I want (I know 4 people who had good results with him, including 2 that had him fix other surgens mistakes) so Im happy enough.
I did have to see their doc and he straight up said i needed a surgery, so that wasnt an issue. Theyve covered all costs and meds with no issues and continue their bi weekly checks to me.
so unfortunately is seems to be the luck of the draw as to what company and what adjuster you get.
I hope and pray you get what you need from yours.
Last edited by zeroman; 04-28-2006 at 05:11 AM.
Reason: added info
At first my w/c folks were pretty ignorant when it came to my health , but I think with my track record with the company I worked for (they are the w/c insurance ) was all good , they know how much of a great employee I was , They even gave me a new case worker because the old one got smart with me and withheld my checks for almost a week at times, Now I get them on time and never have to contact anyone about anything. I sure hope all you people get better treatment because it plain sucks to be treated bad when your in pain and want to get back to work.
Hey Texas!
I'm so sorry you too are dealing with the nightmare of W. Comp. I've been dealing with them since 1999!! and can completely sympothize with what you are going through. I could tell you some serious horror stories, but won't bore you with what you already know can happen. What I can do is maybe offer some advice or at the very least an ear to listen with.
FCE's - I've been through 3 of them. First said, no way I can work. Specifically it said "she is unable of working even at a sedentary level". It was shortly after I had my morphine pump implanted and my dr. was still adjusting the level of meds., so WC decided I needed to wait and have another FCE a few months later. This one said I WAS able to work at a sedentary level and was full of specific tests that I supposably (sp?) passed when in fact I failed miserably. The third was to be an impartial third party. This one said I was not able to do any type of work.
The reason I'm telling you all this is so that you will know that you can still fight even if you think you've lost. I know it's a pain in the behind, but until something changes with the barbaric system in place, that's pretty much all you can do is keep fighting.
I wish you a ton of luck and hope you find the strength inside you to fight.
If you have any questions that a fellow WC friend can answer, give me a shout and I'll be glad to tell you whatever I can.
It is so nice to find your posts here. I am having more troubles with my dr's that actually work comp. All the same here I am only 37 years old and my life has changed. What do they care? I don't know if there will ever be a job I can work. Work comp did send a vocational specialist to see me, and my lawyer was like--why?? Also, aren't you allowed a second opinion???
Bluesteam:
I'm sorry you are having so many problems with your docs. I'm 37 as well and got hurt almost 7 yrs ago. It changed EVERYTHING about my life too. Nothing about my life is the same or ever will be. I've had everything done that can be done for me and have had to face that this is how I will be for the rest of my life. I only wish that WC and the docs could understand how difficult this is for us! I've had the Vocational Eval and it said there is no type of work that I can do. Yes, you are allowed a second opinion I found out a few years ago that a good way to get a second opinion is to change the type of specialist you are seeing. Say you've seen a neurologist - ask to see a neurosurgeon (or the other way around). Because you can only see 2 docs in same field, so by switching types you can get into see someone else. sometimes it helps to have a fresh perspective too.
Hey, thanks. I did call my lawyer yesterday and she said that because my regular dr sent me to a pain specialist it was the same as getting a second opinion. I don't believe that!!! He did find bulges in my neck and nerve damage where she has overlooked it for 6 months. I still want to see a neurologist tho.
I dont belive that either. My Dr had made me a appt with a pain managment Dr three weeks early and notifidy the INS company. then when I got to the appt I sat there for about a hour or so and when they called me the lady said that the INS company was not gonna let me see the dr I said why is that she said they are saying your regular dr didnt submit enought paper work ahhaha
ahahahahahhhahahaahhahhahahahh this has been going on a year this month .
Now if this had been when this first started I would have been ****** but I just calmly look at the lady and said WELL NOW THAT DONT SURPRISE ME AT ALL, AND TOLD HER WHAT WOULD HAVE SURPRIZED ME WOULD HAVE BEEN IF I WOULD HAVE GOTTON IN HERE WITH OUT ALTERCATION!
NOTING SURPRIZES ME WITH THESE WORKERS COMP INS COMPANYS ANY MORE. MY OWN DR SAID THAT THERE IS HARDLY NO HOPE LEFT FOR WORKERS COMP INS ANYMORE AND IT IS DOWN THE DRAIN FOR THE WORKERS THEMSELFS. HE TOLD ME YESTERDAY HE IS ABOUT THE ONLY ONE LEFT IN THIS TOWN THAT WILL TAKE A WORKERS COMP PERSON ANYMORE. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT THERE IS MORE AND MORE AND MORE PEOPLE THAT ARE REALLY HURT HE IS SEEING THAT ARE JUST SAYING THE HELL WITH IT AND BAILING OUT AND QUITTING WORKERS COMP . THEY TRY TO STARVE YOU OUT AND FLUSTRATE YOU TILL FINALY YOU DO THIS.
HE SAID IT IS ASHAME AND NOTING IS GOING TO GET ANY BETTER ANY TIME SOON.
YOU PEOPLE THAT ARE HAVING GOOD LUCK WITH WORKERS COMP YOU BETTER COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS BECAUSE I CAN PROMISE YOU THERE IS NOT MANY AND YOU BETTER KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN IN THE BACK OF YOUR HEADS BECAUSE IF YOU THINK THESE PEOPLE ARE ALL FOR YOU YOU ARE SADLY MISTAKEN!
Bluestream:
Keep fighting until you get to see the type of doctor you need to see. I can tell you from my experiences that when I was referred to a Pain Management doc it was the BEST thing that ever happened to me. I had seen dr after dr and no one could decide exactly what was wrong with me. I started seeing the PM dr and it was rocky at first. He wasn't sure if he believed that I had a real problem, etc. but after doing a discogram realized I had serious disc problems. If you can find a PM that you like, he can often be like your primary care doctor, over seeing what the specialists are doing and take care of your RX's. If you find one you like, they can be very helpful to keep seeing.
I hope things start going better for you very soon!
Hey Texas!
Oh do I remember what you just went through! I got to a dr. appt and same thing happened and I wanted to come unglued! Why is it so difficult for these people to get their heads out of their butts and take care of things? It wouldn't be accepted in any other type of business for so many things to get "forgotten" but when it comes to WC it's so common place.
A few years ago I was seeing a dr. and he wanted to do one type of treatment and WC told him no I needed something else done instead. He tried his best and fought them for a while and then finally gave up and said he couldn't see me as a patient any more. He said that he wasn't going to loose his medical license because WC refused to authorize the treatment needed and were trying to bully him into recommending something that was not in his patients best interest. Why on earth does a person sitting at a desk reading a chart have the authority to over ride a doctor that is actually seeing the patient? Why bother sending us to docs at all if that is the way it's going to be??? The whole system needs to be overhalled in my opinion. Start all over from scratch.
Things are better with my case now, but believe me it took a lot of years, a lot of strength and about put me out on the streets. The stress of WC alone will drive you to the loony bin not to mention the lack of income, and the main issue - PAIN!
Good luck my friend! I hope things start turning around for you soon
Been there. I'ts unbelieveable that their on staff ?doctor? out ranks the specialist that has been recomended along the way. Comp is claiming they need an indepenent dr look at it. Yeah right, like the specialist we have is going to make up lies for us. I've never had he or she over to my house for dinner. hahaha. I would not call him my best friend.
Good example of comps delaying tactics-they just are requesting from a couple of business, information/history that they claim is needed badly. They have already delayed 2 court dates the day before we were to get this completed. So you know they are doing everything they can pushing the trial back, leaving the money on interest. The never intended to be ready for trial until THEY decide.
You are right, Work Comp needs to be totally revamped, soon or we all will be broke. I have not received any tempory/permanent disability for over two years. They ***** if I attempt to make alittle money, they claim I must be able to work full time if I can do something. They don't know how you work 2 minutes, rest an hour or two, then putz some more. They want to starve you out so you take pennies instead what you have coming. This is what employers around the world pay premiums for? Time to call my congressman again.....
Last edited by cornburner; 05-02-2006 at 03:37 PM.
I need a few questions answered, please anyone. i live in chicago ,il i injured my back at work lifting someone. i seen my doc. and then another doc. i have bulging disc L2/3 3/4 AND ANOTHER ALL THE WAY TO S1 I HAD STERIOD INJECTION WHICH THE IC PAID FOR THAT DIDNT ORK SO I HAD A NECLEOPLASTY BUT THE IC HAD NOT APPROVED YET SO THEY STOPPED ALL MY BENEFITS AND WE ARE IN DISPUTE UNTIL I SEE ANOTHER ONE OF THIER DOC. MY LAWYER ACTS LIKE THER IS NOTHING HE CAN DO, BUT SIT IT OUT. I NEED MY MONEY I'VE BEEN OFF WORK ALMOST A MONTH NOW AND AM SCHEDULED TO RETURN TO WORK NEXT WEEK, UNLESS I'M STILL IN TOO MUCH PAIN. CAN THEY REALLY DENY ME ALL OF MY BENEFITS LIKE THIS AND DO I NEED A NEW LAWYER? MY CASE IS ABOUT TO BE SETTLED BUT I STILL HAVE PAIN DO ANYONE KNOW ABOUT HOW MUCH MY SETTLEMENT OFFER WILL BE? I HAVE NO PRE. CONDTION. NEVER HAD BACK PROBLEMS TILL THIS WORK INJURY. MY DOC WILL BE RELEASING ME LONG AS I'M NOT IN SO MUCH PAIN.
I was using my regular insurance for my injury thinking that it would get better. But, it didn't, so I filed for a re-opening of my case. All of my care providers immediately fired me.
Well they can do anything they really want to do . If you have not had a BRC hearing or a CCH hearing then they do not have to approve anything at all. Still if you do have to go to a Contest Court Hearing a CCH and you win it , then they still dont have to approve treatment , they cannot stop you from going to the Doctor but they dont have to approve the treatment so whats the use of going in the first place. This happend to me last week, went to a appt that I had for three weeks and sat there for a hour then called my name and told me the ins will not pay for the vist or treatment said my doc did not submit enought info with is pure BS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Its a long long long drawed out process that is pitfull! As far as the pay goes ahahahahahah
I went from May when I got hurt to Jan of the next year before I got paid and I had to go to two BRC hearings and then to Contested Court Hearing were there is a judge and he ordered them to pay me my back pay which really didnt amount to a hill of beans because you only get 70% and then the Atty gets his 25% out of that so go figure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Also if you are in pain and you are not sure you are ready to go back to work dont GO!!!!!!!!! Because if you do , you are proably gonna get fired if you filed Comp! I have been thru all of this in a years time. I got hurt and the next day called in and told them I was going to the doc and i had to file Comp they tried everything in world to try to get me not to file it but I was hurt and hurt bad and I knew it, so they told me to make a appt with a doc which turned out to be the one I was going to any way then they figured out they screwed up and they went to the doc's office and made such a A$$ in his office that he cancled my appt with out me knowing so i go and they tell me all of this and that my appt was cancled so i go to the workers comp lady of that hospital and she see's iam in pain and tells me she is going to try to get me in to see another doc so i wait all day and then she comes and tells me she cant get me in to go to the ER room so i do and they xray me and tell me I have big problams with my back and i needed to make a appt with a speiclist, so the next day i tell my work and they are nearly cussing me out saying why didnt you anwser you cell phone we tried to call all day yesterday to tell you we are not letting you go to that doc we are sending you to our doc ahahhahahahahaha well it was a hell of a fight on the phone so I went to there doc and had to have help getting into the office he taps my knees checking my reflexes and tells me to stand up take a step foward and one back and tells me iam fine you are going back to work tommaro hahahahaha
I tell him to stick it were the sun dont shine and as iam walking out of there i see my safety man running out of his back door office and i am trying to get to him he is running down the hall with the relese paper in his hands and i cant stop him , so i leave there and go to my doc were he puts me off work indefenly well the safety man thought i was coming back to work the next day and so what they done was aready send in my termination papers to the head office they fired me and i wasnt even back to work yet hahhahahahaha
well i never knew they fired me till six months later it came out in CCH hearing ahahahhahahaahah boy my lawyer thru the book at them and the judge nearly fell out of his seat and the look on there faces when my atty came out with that termination paper that he some how got i still dont know how with all there signtarues on it aahahahhaahha . Man this is just the tip of the ice burg here for me they have sent PI's filming my house and me and everything else. I still have not gotton to see a real spine speiclist due to them dening me! Its a damn joke is what it is. I wish you well but what ever you do dont go back to work if you filed comp unless you are fully well cause chance are high they are going to fire you with in the week if not the day!
Back Injury & Workers Comp 
Re: Back Injury & Workers Comp 
and hope you find the strength inside you to fight.
Re: Back Injury & Workers Comp 
Bluesteam:
I found out a few years ago that a good way to get a second opinion is to change the type of specialist you are seeing. Say you've seen a neurologist - ask to see a neurosurgeon (or the other way around). Because you can only see 2 docs in same field, so by switching types you can get into see someone else. sometimes it helps to have a fresh perspective too.
