This Is PART SIX IN THE SERIES

IMPORTANT STAGE OF THE W.C. CLAIMS PROCES

In a moment will soon find out why this is an important stage of the workers compensation claims process. Things will start to pick up momentum in the remaining articles, as well as in your calim in general. Once your claim has reached this stage of the process, you should be nearing a time when you start to get some definite figures about money to support yourself and take care of your current needs.

If anything is UNCLEAR in this information that you have been reading, or in any of the paperwork that you have been receiving, now is the time to get it clarified. Go visit the Department Of Workers's Compensations website. Talk to any attorney (if not one of your own), see a union rep. Do something to get the necessary information and clarification you need before allowing things to proceed any further! All the other information has led you to this crucial section, so you must have a CLEAR understanding of what's happening on your "on the job injury" case.

KNOWLEDGE: SAVE IT - PASS IT ON - OR BOTH!

PLEASE NOTE: The information you are about to read is contained in a ten part article series. Those who have an existing claim or pending claim in the making will benefit greatly from "Don't Get Screwed On Your Worker's comp Claim", not only from one individual part, but by reading the entire series. Each segment is designed to provide the needed workers compensation information for that particular topic, but it also flows right into the next portion of the information, so you can get the full gist of what is being conveyed.

At some point during your medical treatment the doctor will look at your condition and determined that it has reached a permanent and stationary state, also referred to as P&S. When that happens, you will more than likely be eligible for vocational rehabilitation if it is determined that you cannot return to your customary and usual job position. Prior to this point, the amount of permanent disability you are eligible for could not be calculated, therefore this is a crucial point in your case. This is another important date you need to make note of and keep handy.

Since this particular stage of your condition is crucial to your monetary benefits, you will need to do all you can to assist your doctor in appreciating your level of pain and discomfort. This is where all that good record-keeping you’ve been doing will really come in handy. Have specific injury related events logged and a good account of your level of pain during various activities. The physician will be observing, monitoring and rating your behavior, your comments and your reactions to outside stimulus to pain. Are there certain activities or other factors that "trigger" your pain? Be clear and definite about how you really feel and why.

The thing you want to keep in mind is: the Physician’s Report that the doctor will supply to the court will be based on both subjective and objective information. That means it is up to you to let the doctor know how you really feel on visits, so he can make a proper evaluation. His diagnosis will take into account his physical findings from observation, test results, various procedures and yes, certain details you provide. Simply saying “I didn’t feel too well yesterday”, or “I had a bad night last night” is not enough. Be specific. Instead use the following example or something similar.

EXAMPLE: “I was opening a jar of pickles yesterday and it started a pain in my upper elbow, right here (show him the specific area). The pain lasted about two hours. I finally took an anti-inflammatory and laid down for a while and it gradually went away.”

Notice all the information the doctor is provided from the above patient’s comments. He now knows where exactly the pain was, what initiated the pain, how long the pain lasted, and what helped to reduce the pain. Not only is he in a better position to instruct the patient about his daily activities, but the doctor can more accurately document his notes for the Physician’s Report.

It is very important that you not be a passive observer in YOUR CLAIM process. Let me re-emphasize here that this is your life, not the lawyer, not the insurance company’s and not the doctor’s! You play the lead role in this battle that feels like melodrama. You have rights and you have a say, and you do not have to sit idly by and let others speak and make decisions around you. Just keep in mind, it doesn’t matter that they are the professionals. It’s your body and your life, and if you’re not willing to stand up in behalf of it, you can’t honestly expect anyone to. Be Aware of Your Condition!

While my number one complaint and primary medical condition was diagnosied as carpal tunnel, another condition (that no doubt resulted from the primary condition) continually was documneted and even billed in my medical records, but never verbally addressed by my physician, my attorney (when I had one), nor by my employer and their team.  As a result, this information I am sharing about the Medial Epicondylitis has no bearing on my claim, but I mention it to let you know, you may have other information in your records that relate to your claim.  MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS!

Whether or not you will be having surgery, you will still have to learn to do things in a way that accommodates your injury. That means learning to compensate for your injury whenever and however you can. Just as I did in the case of my wrist and upper elbow injuries to my right side. I eventually had to learn to use and rely on my left side instead. My left hand had to learn to do all the stuff I typically had to do with my right. I also had to start adjusting things in my household in order to make allowances for my weakened and painful state. That included buying things like:

• Electric Toothbrush
• Electric Can Opener
• Electric Blender
• Electric Mixer
• Jar Opener
• Lightweight Cookware
• Lightweight Cups & Dishes
  

While not having these simple little conveniences didn't seem to matter that much before, they became items of necessity once I started living with carpal tunnel!Apart from the typical day-to-day stuff like brushing my teeth or buttoning clothes, one of the most difficult things for me was to use the computer mouse. Typing, in and of itself didn't bother me as much (as long as I didn't type more than 20 minutes or so), but using the mouse to manipulate my way around on the computer was a big problem. I tried every type of ergonomic computer mouse and mouse pad that I could find, but nothing really helped.

Eventually I stopped using the computer, except to do something related to my workers compensation case. It made me angry and depressed, because I'm a writer by nature, and I used to freelance write before I became injured at work. Not being able to write was the most depressing thing I could have experienced, especially not being able to do my daily journaling. My physical limitations were now beginning to take a toll on my emotional state.

Being the writer that I am, I did lots of research into my condition. When I got to the phase of rehabilitation, i was introduced to a voice activated software called Dragon Naturally Speaking. People with carpal tunnel and other similar conditions that impair their hand mobility use this program.. Learning to use this software helped me to start regaining my sanity, and woke me up to the reality of my disabled state. That was the begining of my true recovery.

So learning to compensate for your injury is not something that will happen right away. There are several phases that I believe everyone goes through. The all important one is where you first have to realize how far reaching the effects of your work relate injury has on the rest of your life. It may take some time for you to get over the initial shock that your "normal" way of doing things will never be the same. While surgery will certainly call for a change of lifestyle, opting not to have surgery will mean alternative measures, which will also take just as much getting use to.

• Don't Get Screwed On Your Worker's Comp Claim - Part One

  This Is The Introduction and PART ONE IN THE SERIES From the contents below, you will find out why this information was complied and the best way to benefit from the following article segments. You will...

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