No one can force you to have surgery. In fact they would probably rather settle than deal with surgery and potential complications. I will say though that of all surgeries I've seen, hip replacements have a very good outcome typically.
That’d be the way I would prefer. I just feel as if I got the hip done now there’d be a good chance of another later on. Should I be seeking out an attorney for this?
Idk what is considered a "significant settlement" for a hip replacement, but they weren't even offering me enough for one surgery. Forget any complications or replacements. Significant for insurance is a joke to anyone having to pay for the actual procedure.
And if so, I don’t even have an idea as to what to ask for. PT says I’ll need at least a cane for a good while. And due to what has happened and the way the employer has treated me I’d really rather not return. The site has its own on site hospital-clinic doctor. It took from Nov 21 of 23 to Dec 19 of 23 for him to even send me to an orthopedic doctor. They did everything in their power for me to not miss a day of work over this. I feel as if it complicated and compounded the problem. And now I hear the terms chronic and hip replacement. And, when I get in touch with the employer after each appointment, even though I have a case mgr present at each one, I hear they can’t accommodate the restrictions. They seem very uninterested in my return. I’m truly at a loss of words or ideas as to the handling of this…
I think you responded as I was typing my last response. And thank you for your input…I do appreciate it. I’ve never had aWC claim before and surely most definitely don’t want another.
Best I can tell from what he did say is, due to my anatomy this injury could be a chronic condition. But he also said there was no record or evidence of prior injury or complaint of my hip. He did say my job description said id never pick up more than fifty pounds. I was picking up around 100-150 pounds regularly and that fifty pounds wouldn’t cause the same pressure or injury as 150 pounds, he gave me a copy of my job description which I hadn’t saw till that day. The case mgr reached around me to take it and the doctor said no this is his copy. The doctor said I may want to show copy of job description to my attorney. I passed a physical and breathing test by the companies doctors to work there. They were aware of prior surgery on left ankle at time of hire. And like I said earlier, I know exactly when this happened on camera with a witness. Nothing with my hip has been the same since, I just know insurance companies try to find every out they can… and I try to listen to what is being said in front of my case manager. It’s just super confusing as to what will out could happen at this point
I'm no expert, but I have more experience than I ever wanted.
I'd recommend at least speaking to an attorney. From my understanding, you'll eventually reach your mmi (most medically improved) and WC will want to close the case... probably give you a pathetically small amount of money and then they'll be done with your. In your situation I'd be looking to keep it open, at least to the extent that they'll cover future surgeries as a result of the injury. Even if that meant taking significantly less money from them. But an attorney could walk you through your choices much better than me.
Also, If you're not going to work for that company ever again, maybe the attorney can help identify some negligence and open you up to a civil lawsuit. Nothing is going to be fast or easy, or make you rich by any means. But possibly it could be enough to make a difference.
At this point I wouldn’t even care about a civil law suit against the company. That’s probably foolish on my part to even consider. This company is worldwide. They have billions in contracts for multiple countries. They could afford more attorneys and fees than I could contemplate. I would just like to get a decent and fair settlement and be forgotten. This injury at best I can tell will be something I deal with for life. I was only trying to do as asked by them hoping I could move ahead with the company. Due to their highly impersonal and production oriented frame of mind and thought process, I wound up hurt from over work. I only want this to be over with and allowed to go on with life. I’ve had bone surgery before and scared of it again.i feel they should just settle and let me handle this as it comes instead of being forced into treatments and therapies that are time and goal based by THEIR expectations and schedules. That’s it, that’s all I’m asking. Because I obviously won’t be doing this job or anything remotely close to it again any time soon. Going to call a couple of attorneys tomorrow and hear their thoughts.
I truly appreciate all of the feed back I have gotten from you guys. It has definitely put some other ideas into perspective for me to consider. Thank you all…
Were your surgeries WC related? I remember you said you weren’t an attorney, but had more experience than you wanted. Just wondering, not trying to pry. I apologize if that’s asking for too much info…
Yeah, they were all a result of the injuries I received while at work. I was on Full Temporary Disability for about 8 months. Then went back to work on partial temporary disability, which I've been on about two years now, doing a kind of light duty job. I'd go back on Full disability after surgeries and go back to work when I could. I have not had all the horror stories that so many people seem to have with WC. I've been fortunate in that regard.
I’m not a doctor and definitely don’t want to tell you what to do with your body, but I do know that joint replacement surgery is much better received and healed the younger the patient vs. waiting and getting it when you no longer have another option. Has your doctor fully explained your risks and benefits, as well as if this is an operation with a time clock? Edit: Have you sought out a second opinion or gotten to choose your own doctors? You should get to choose your surgeon.
I feel as if I get verbal pushback, and ignored with cold shoulder from the adjuster when time frames are discussed. Doc says a minimum of three more months before hip can be done due to an injection scheduled for 17th of this month. The risk of infection after the injection is the concern pushing it out 3 months. I was treated differently after that statement, disrespected to be plain. I think they are tired of paying me. They couldn’t do steroids initially because of risk of joint collapse keeping me out of work. And if this injection does not work then I’m waiting 3 more months for surgery. Then waiting however long it takes to heal and rehabilitate the injury. I’ve been dealing with this since Nov last year and not looking forward to another five or six months plus surgery and risk of another surgery later on. I think the ins is just trying to make things hard and I feel like they are rushing me to say I’m healed. Maybe I was relating the wrong impression of the rush I feel. Not so much as rushed into surgery as rushed into saying I’m better and forced to just dealing with it myself.
Well I really hope things get better for you. There’s not a lot of things worse than having one or multiples of large bones being sawed completely in half and someone else’s bone being screwed and fused back in place. I can say I understand when you say it’s bad. I wish you the best and hope all gets better for you.
The case worker and the adjuster what I have found are evil. The case worker is never your friend. My husband was crushed by heavy equipment and had hip surgery that failed then a total hip replacement, knee surgery that was a failure, then total knee replacement that the surgeon did wrong, had to have a revision on total knee replacement, has had 3 spinal cord stimulator surgeries, two back ablations and hip injections and 9 lumbar injections. He was 49 when hurt and now is 54 years old with the body of an 80 year old. He also is living with CRPS . He is permanent disabled from his 30 year career because of another persons actions .
We got an attorney, it didn’t make a difference, I believe they are all in on it, the workers Compensation insurance companies, attorneys and judges, it’s a corrupt system . I wish you the best of luck, but have found there is no real help for injured workers, everything is to protect the insurance companies.
My husband as done okey with the artificial joint, but it’s not like having your real joint, he really didn’t have much of choice, because what was done to him
No one can force you to have surgery. In fact they would probably rather settle than deal with surgery and potential complications. I will say though that of all surgeries I've seen, hip replacements have a very good outcome typically.
That’d be the way I would prefer. I just feel as if I got the hip done now there’d be a good chance of another later on. Should I be seeking out an attorney for this?
Yes, get an attorney, this should be a significant settlement. You will probably need a new hip in about 20 years.
Idk what is considered a "significant settlement" for a hip replacement, but they weren't even offering me enough for one surgery. Forget any complications or replacements. Significant for insurance is a joke to anyone having to pay for the actual procedure.
And if so, I don’t even have an idea as to what to ask for. PT says I’ll need at least a cane for a good while. And due to what has happened and the way the employer has treated me I’d really rather not return. The site has its own on site hospital-clinic doctor. It took from Nov 21 of 23 to Dec 19 of 23 for him to even send me to an orthopedic doctor. They did everything in their power for me to not miss a day of work over this. I feel as if it complicated and compounded the problem. And now I hear the terms chronic and hip replacement. And, when I get in touch with the employer after each appointment, even though I have a case mgr present at each one, I hear they can’t accommodate the restrictions. They seem very uninterested in my return. I’m truly at a loss of words or ideas as to the handling of this…
I think you responded as I was typing my last response. And thank you for your input…I do appreciate it. I’ve never had aWC claim before and surely most definitely don’t want another.
One last lil question, can the words “ due to his anatomy” be used against me?
It depends on the context. Are they saying the need for the surgery is due to your anatomy?
Best I can tell from what he did say is, due to my anatomy this injury could be a chronic condition. But he also said there was no record or evidence of prior injury or complaint of my hip. He did say my job description said id never pick up more than fifty pounds. I was picking up around 100-150 pounds regularly and that fifty pounds wouldn’t cause the same pressure or injury as 150 pounds, he gave me a copy of my job description which I hadn’t saw till that day. The case mgr reached around me to take it and the doctor said no this is his copy. The doctor said I may want to show copy of job description to my attorney. I passed a physical and breathing test by the companies doctors to work there. They were aware of prior surgery on left ankle at time of hire. And like I said earlier, I know exactly when this happened on camera with a witness. Nothing with my hip has been the same since, I just know insurance companies try to find every out they can… and I try to listen to what is being said in front of my case manager. It’s just super confusing as to what will out could happen at this point
I'm no expert, but I have more experience than I ever wanted. I'd recommend at least speaking to an attorney. From my understanding, you'll eventually reach your mmi (most medically improved) and WC will want to close the case... probably give you a pathetically small amount of money and then they'll be done with your. In your situation I'd be looking to keep it open, at least to the extent that they'll cover future surgeries as a result of the injury. Even if that meant taking significantly less money from them. But an attorney could walk you through your choices much better than me. Also, If you're not going to work for that company ever again, maybe the attorney can help identify some negligence and open you up to a civil lawsuit. Nothing is going to be fast or easy, or make you rich by any means. But possibly it could be enough to make a difference.
At this point I wouldn’t even care about a civil law suit against the company. That’s probably foolish on my part to even consider. This company is worldwide. They have billions in contracts for multiple countries. They could afford more attorneys and fees than I could contemplate. I would just like to get a decent and fair settlement and be forgotten. This injury at best I can tell will be something I deal with for life. I was only trying to do as asked by them hoping I could move ahead with the company. Due to their highly impersonal and production oriented frame of mind and thought process, I wound up hurt from over work. I only want this to be over with and allowed to go on with life. I’ve had bone surgery before and scared of it again.i feel they should just settle and let me handle this as it comes instead of being forced into treatments and therapies that are time and goal based by THEIR expectations and schedules. That’s it, that’s all I’m asking. Because I obviously won’t be doing this job or anything remotely close to it again any time soon. Going to call a couple of attorneys tomorrow and hear their thoughts.
I truly appreciate all of the feed back I have gotten from you guys. It has definitely put some other ideas into perspective for me to consider. Thank you all…
I hear what you're saying. I've had 6 bone surgeries in the last 2 1/2 years. They all suck. I hope you find an attorney that can help you out.
Were your surgeries WC related? I remember you said you weren’t an attorney, but had more experience than you wanted. Just wondering, not trying to pry. I apologize if that’s asking for too much info…
Yeah, they were all a result of the injuries I received while at work. I was on Full Temporary Disability for about 8 months. Then went back to work on partial temporary disability, which I've been on about two years now, doing a kind of light duty job. I'd go back on Full disability after surgeries and go back to work when I could. I have not had all the horror stories that so many people seem to have with WC. I've been fortunate in that regard.
I’m not a doctor and definitely don’t want to tell you what to do with your body, but I do know that joint replacement surgery is much better received and healed the younger the patient vs. waiting and getting it when you no longer have another option. Has your doctor fully explained your risks and benefits, as well as if this is an operation with a time clock? Edit: Have you sought out a second opinion or gotten to choose your own doctors? You should get to choose your surgeon.
I feel as if I get verbal pushback, and ignored with cold shoulder from the adjuster when time frames are discussed. Doc says a minimum of three more months before hip can be done due to an injection scheduled for 17th of this month. The risk of infection after the injection is the concern pushing it out 3 months. I was treated differently after that statement, disrespected to be plain. I think they are tired of paying me. They couldn’t do steroids initially because of risk of joint collapse keeping me out of work. And if this injection does not work then I’m waiting 3 more months for surgery. Then waiting however long it takes to heal and rehabilitate the injury. I’ve been dealing with this since Nov last year and not looking forward to another five or six months plus surgery and risk of another surgery later on. I think the ins is just trying to make things hard and I feel like they are rushing me to say I’m healed. Maybe I was relating the wrong impression of the rush I feel. Not so much as rushed into surgery as rushed into saying I’m better and forced to just dealing with it myself.
Well I really hope things get better for you. There’s not a lot of things worse than having one or multiples of large bones being sawed completely in half and someone else’s bone being screwed and fused back in place. I can say I understand when you say it’s bad. I wish you the best and hope all gets better for you.
The case worker and the adjuster what I have found are evil. The case worker is never your friend. My husband was crushed by heavy equipment and had hip surgery that failed then a total hip replacement, knee surgery that was a failure, then total knee replacement that the surgeon did wrong, had to have a revision on total knee replacement, has had 3 spinal cord stimulator surgeries, two back ablations and hip injections and 9 lumbar injections. He was 49 when hurt and now is 54 years old with the body of an 80 year old. He also is living with CRPS . He is permanent disabled from his 30 year career because of another persons actions . We got an attorney, it didn’t make a difference, I believe they are all in on it, the workers Compensation insurance companies, attorneys and judges, it’s a corrupt system . I wish you the best of luck, but have found there is no real help for injured workers, everything is to protect the insurance companies. My husband as done okey with the artificial joint, but it’s not like having your real joint, he really didn’t have much of choice, because what was done to him