Best of luck to you with this situation. I had my one and only WC trial (so far anyway) last August. Just remember that it's not about looking bad or good. I had on my pain patches and ankle brace and was dressed wearing a skirt. The judge did ask to see the brace and the patches which I thought was odd.

The best thing I can recommend for a work comp case is to not worry about how you look or what sort of shape you are in. Remember...a work comp case is not about blame or any of the emotional stuff that you go through at WORK (if you have been able to work in any capacity). Just tell the truth and answers the questions they ask you. Work lawyers may approach it like a game to trick you into saying something or bait you into getting emotional about work stuff. But you need to try to keep as clear a head as possible in the pain.

I know they asked me a question that was along the lines of this, "How long at work before you start to experience the pain?" My answer, "I don't remember what it is like to NOT be in pain...that hasn't happened since I got hurt. I am ALWAYS in pain." The work lawyer didn't appear to like that answer but it was the truth. They tried to bait me by asking if work ever didn't comply with the restrictions. Honestly...I think they did but they say they didn't because it was a matter of "interpertation." So my answer was, "There were several occassions where work required clarification of the restrictions and then things were followed accordingly." Truth is they were jerks...but that doesn't matter in a work comp case. So don't let them bait you or rile you up. Stick with the truth and try to stay calm. And who cares how you look and feel...just do your best.

They even had my boss's boss at my case who gave me dirty looks through the entire thing. Just answer honestly, know you're right, and it will all be okay. Work comp stinks...and I am sorry for what you will have to go through...but my hopes and thoughts are with you that this will be over soon and you won't need to go through it again...ever. Good luck!