Worker's compensation is strictly looking at physical capabilities at this time, unless your claim carried an element of mental stressors, such as PTSD or some other disorder that arose out of the work injury. AS such, when it comes time to determine your physical capabilities on the job, your job of injury is evaluated first. If it is evident that you will be unable to complete the tasks or fulfill the essential functions of that job, then it is up to your physician (perhaps with the aid of a physical therapist) to describe your exact limitations or parameters. If your employer has a position which the doctor feels you could do, they have the right to offer it to you. If the pay is equivocal, then their responsibilities have been met. If you are not happy with that, then you are completely free to find another position within your restrictions that you would like to do.

However, if the job you desire, or the work you would rather be doing, exceeds permanent physical restrictions, leaving this job to do another job which essentially would violate your restrictions could jeopardize your claim. It is never a good idea to have it be known that you have been capable of more than you either said you could do, or tested that you were capable of, by openly exceeding restrictions. Even though I agree with you that a job should be something engaging and exciting, the boundaries shift when you have been injured on the job and covered by workers compensation. You may find your claim and your permanent restrictions being reevaluated, and could even find your disability being questioned.

The best you can do for yourself is to work to achieve a level of fitness that allows you to fulfill the requirements for the job you want.