Work Injury

Lacie, BSN, RN · Jun 16, 2009

Report it immediately and also note if there were any witnesses at the time who may have heard you "ouch" at the time. How long was this from the time of the incident to the time of your first treatment with an MD (prior to the MRI)? This info would be important. I used to do medical case management for worker's compensation injuries, as well as expert testimony at court hearings and also handle all worker's comp claims at the job I just quit. Feel free to private message me if you like as it's best not to divulge too much info on a public forum in these instances. You never know who may be reading. I have had public postings come back to haunt me lol.

2BSure · Jun 16, 2009

Thanks. I think I will go in today (my day off) and do the paperwork. There was a radiologist with me at the time of injury.

I have never had a work injury before (unbelievably). My question to you is: I am not gonna sue or anything nor do I plan to go into WWIII about this if they give me a hard time. So is there any point in reporting it?

Boog'sCRRN246, RN · Jun 16, 2009

If you need any more medical care in regards to this particular injury, there is definitely a point in reporting it. Your employer will be responsible for covering the cost rather than you paying out of pocket or through personal insurance.

Hoozdo, ADN · Jun 16, 2009

I have never had a work injury before (unbelievably). My question to you is: I am not gonna sue or anything nor do I plan to go into WWIII about this if they give me a hard time. So is there any point in reporting it?

It depends on what state you live in. Workman's Comp is not federally mandated, there are different state laws on it. I would never report a WC injury after going through what happened to me in my state. My income was cut to 300 bucks a week, I could not have my choice of doctors, and I eventually ended up losing my job over this injury. I also could not use short term disability or long term disability r/t "it's a WC injury".

Workmen's Comp is not your friend. They exist solely to protect the employer. The incident report I was required to write for the injury automatically turned into a WC claim. I much would have preferred using my own insurance!

morte, LPN, LVN · Jun 16, 2009

unfortunately if your insurer finds it work related they wont pay either

RedhairedNurse, BSN, RN · Jun 16, 2009

unfortunately if your insurer finds it work related they wont pay either

This is great advice. If you let your insurance know it was work related, you'll be

stuck between a rock and a hard place, seriously! My DH was just in the hospital

recently and we've got all kinds of mail from second party that the insurance company

hired wanting to know if any one else, ie employer,

MVC, etc that was responsible. You'd be surprised what the insurance companies

try to get out of paying.

RheatherN, ASN, RN, EMT-P · Jun 16, 2009

whatever your situation ends up being, i really just want to say GL! i have done the workers comp thing.. not fun either way! but gl with everything!! i am thinking of you!

-H-RN

BrnEyedGirl, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN · Jun 17, 2009

unfortunately if your insurer finds it work related they wont pay either

This could get messy,....I had an injury,..filled out the incident report because the pt also fell. I really didn't think anything about it until 3 days later and my pain was worse instead of better. I went to my family doc expecting some flexeril and a back adjustment. The doc wanted me to get an MRI and when the staff called to pre approve it with my insurance they denied it because I had told the staff how I hurt my back. It just got uglier after that,..in all honesty I wish I'd kept my mouth shut!

Lacie, BSN, RN · Jun 17, 2009

Contrary to opinion I will agree work comp is not your friend if they can get away with it but if by chance your injury should progress and result in the need for surgery then you will recieve paid time off (much less than what your regular wages are for sure) but you do get paid for that recovery time. I recently had to hire back one of my pct's who has been out for over a year on a comp injury. Get this she has 3 different claims with my company. Settled on one, settlement coming up in july for the second and we were required to bring her back as you cant terminate just because of a comp injury. While she was back she claimed a 3rd injury and now is out again. Yes some have had bad experiences with comp but I also have seen good come out for many also. Many people also abuse the system and there are those with genuine injuries that need treatment. Yes you can turn it into your own insurance and not make a claim but who is going to pay for you to be off work during that surgery and the recovery time if you do and if you develop future problems. Example my mother fractured her ankle at work, had surgery and recovered. Returned to work and within 3 months developed Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy directly related to the injury which put her back out permanently for the type work she was performing. If she hadnt turned it in she would have been screwed in relation to wages and would have had no income. Even short term disability has it's limits. Again please feel free to pm me.

I feel for you as I have had 3 surgeries on my knees and currently working with a torn meniscus once again. I just underwent Supartz series and still no relief. Hang in there, get it treated asap, dont wait and allow it to progress. I did that the 1st tear and it became scar tissue which ended up tearing even worse the second go round. Now I have severe osteo and chrondomalacia grade 3 in it. Take care of yourself first.

2BSure · Jun 17, 2009

Aaaaagh! I just can't believe I was so stupid. I'm getting it scoped mid-July. It never even occurred to me about my own insurance not paying...doh!

As the Aussies would say..."crickey (crikey?)".

Just off to take a few deep breaths. Thanks for the responses.