Could work stop my DW from happening?

[Mandy]

What's going on with your back? Is it something that you're going to recover from fairly quickly? Are you trying to avoid a fusion? I'm a PA that works for a neurosurgeon, so we deal with this every day. Can your doctor help out with work? I know we often write return to work forms that help out the patient. If it's work comp, you're in a whole new ball game and may have more rights than they realize. Which also may be why they're being like this. I don't know how many work comp cases we get that end up having to leave the job they were injured on (often on "request" of the employer).

[lucy106]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mandy What's going on with your back? Is it something that you're going to recover from fairly quickly? Are you trying to avoid a fusion? I'm a PA that works for a neurosurgeon, so we deal with this every day. Can your doctor help out with work? I know we often write return to work forms that help out the patient. If it's work comp, you're in a whole new ball game and may have more rights than they realize. Which also may be why they're being like this. I don't know how many work comp cases we get that end up having to leave the job they were injured on (often on "request" of the employer).

Hey Mandy, unfortunately I have had a microdiscectomy and a multi level spinal fusion already that was complicated by a PE and a DVT. Tomorrow they are removing some scar tissue from my S1 nerve root via Caudal Epidural Adhesionolysis. I have had my ortho and the pain doc write notes for me. Not workmans comp unfortunately, that woulda made life to easy, ha! Thanks for chiming in!

[Mandy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucy106 Hey Mandy, unfortunately I have had a microdiscectomy and a multi level spinal fusion already that was complicated by a PE and a DVT. Tomorrow they are removing some scar tissue from my S1 nerve root via Caudal Epidural Adhesionolysis. I have had my ortho and the pain doc write notes for me. Not workmans comp unfortunately, that woulda made life to easy, ha! Thanks for chiming in!

What kind of work do you do exactly? Is it something that you're able to keep doing throughout all of this? Do you have short term disability insurance that covered some of this? I know what they're saying: "you've missed way too much for your "back" and now you want more? Who do you think you are?" Bottom line, don't let your job stop your DW. Quit if you have to, like the other girls have said. Sometimes the threat is enough, sometimes they're actually trying to get rid of you. Either way, you'll end up in a better situation.

Wow, you're young to have a fusion! Make sure you keep those core muscles strong so you have the best long-term outlook possible! (I know, I can't help but say it!)

[lucy106]

I am a police officer but I have been on office work (ugh) while going through these issues. Yeah, I do a lot of core work at PT. Thanks so much for the input!!

[jajajaja]

I'm assuming all of this is under FMLA right? I would be interested to see how that pans out if they reject your request for time off due to FMLA leave.

[lucy106]

I have not been off right now on FMLA so I do not know if I could just use it for a couple of days kind of thing when it comes time for the wedding.

[meghan1177]

I'm coming to this late -- but wanted to echo what someone else said earlier about getting someone to donate vacation hours to you. I know that around here when police or firefighters get injured others in the department can donate sick time to them to help get them through. I would imagine that most/many departments have these procedures in place. If you have some really good friends that you work with that would be willing to give you a day each (maybe as a wedding present), I wonder if your Cheif would go along with it? Just a thought.

 

I also agree with those who said that they shouldn't be able to hold up a decision on your time off request to see how your back pans out.

[stacey]

How did your surgery go? I havent seen you around in a few days. Hope you are doing ok.

[Martha]

Steph, how are you?

[lucy106]

Hey all thanks for the thoughts and all here is the latest...

 

Work has turned into even bigger a-holes then ever. I was told they are taking my light duty spot away since I have been on it so long and someone else needs it from an off duty related injury. Well in the meantime my FI and I had already decided that I would be filing for disability through my police pension as this has been my doctor and physical therapists recommendation all along. So...I have filed for disability and have until Aug 11 until my light duty is gone. This also means that we are going to probably be getting married here before we go to Cancun because I will need to be on my FI insurance. Our COBRA is $500 a month, ridiculous. So since our wedding date is so close we figure worse case scenario we go get hitched at the court house (have to admit I am kind of looking forward to that aspect) and no one even needs to know.

 

As far as my latest procedure it went well, thank goodness for anasthesia!! I am feeling pretty good but mentally kind of a mess right now.

 

I have been looking into getting into the Travel field or event planning so any TA's or WCs out there who have advise on how to do this I would love to hear it.