Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 10:25 AM
Hey Porter!
Was so good to see you the other day and give you a hug finally!
I composed the following to post on a message board on the web. Read it first - then I need your advice at the end.
I've about decided that if you want good medical attention when you're injured on the job, you're best off not going the way of Worker's Compensation. Problem with that is none of us can afford to take the time off to heal. If you take too much time off you lose your job. Then you have to pay your own insurance premiums (Cobra) - which have now jumped to well over $300/mo just for single coverage. You can't pay it because you can't work because you were injured on the job. What I don't understand is why the Worker's Comp insurance companies are so reluctant to pay for good medical attention, and why the doctors regard you as not eligible for good medical attention once they realize you're a Worker's Comp patient.___________________________________________
I went to see the ortho yesterday. I'm very unhappy with his diagnosis, which was basically that there's nothing wrong with my shoulder except the rotor cuff is "bruised" and it'll get better over time. This in spite of a sharp, stabbing pain that nearly dropped me to my knees as he was testing ... something other than whether or not I could lift my arms over my head. Apparently, if you can lift your arms over your head, there's nothing wrong with you except a "bruise" - if you're a worker's comp case. The doc-in-a-box up in CT saw that I could pass this test and said the same thing - "bruise - take Motrin."
After stereotyping me yesterday, the Ortho wrote a return to work authorization which said I may resume work on 1/13/09, the same day, with the following limitations: "no repetitive overhead use of right shoulder for 2 weeks then resume duty." He also said he could give me a shot of cortisone "if I wanted one", and I could do physical therapy "if I wanted to." (I declined the shot.) He left the room and some other guy (a nurse maybe) came in to tell me about the physical therapy.
How am I going to do physical therapy if I'm to resume work? Why, in my truck, of course. This nurse said he was recommending a "home" program so I could do the therapy in my truck while I'm on the road. Therapy is to include "A/AA/PROM with stick, pulleys, wall walking, etc.,.... and give patient T-bands and pulleys for home use", according to the paper I'm supposed to take to the therapy people. As I write it I'm overwhelmed with a sense of ridiculousness.
Consider this: If it doesn't hurt to lift my arm over my head, why would he say I couldn't do it for 2 weeks while I'm at work? However, it does hurt when I move it in almost every other position, but there are no restrictions on those movements.
Why is everybody insisting I have a rotator cuff problem in the first place?
It dawned on me, just as I wrote that last sentence, that my problem won't involve researching rotator cuff injuries. It'll involve convincing the w/c people that maybe I have an injury that's not related to the rotator cuff. Something's wrong with my shoulder, and it damned sure isn't a "bruise".
I'm sick and disappointed over the Worker's Comp racket. Knowing I'll probably have to hire an attorney makes it even worse. I kinda feel like crying. I think it's gonna be a busy day.
Porter,
I'm not sure where things are at this point, and I need your advice. Should I contact my w/c person myself, and tell her I want another opinion? Or should I point out to her that physical therapy in my truck is a ridiculous notion? What should I do?
Shifting make whatever's wrong hurt worse. Lots of other things I have to do, like pulling 5th wheel release and pulling release for trailer tandems requires all my strength on a good day. It's almost impossible now. In fact, when I finally got home, I thought I was going to have to ask somebody to pull 5th wheel so I could drop the trailer at Food World.
I appreciate it Porter.
Love Sherry
