[dspine]

Hello all,i am having an on going problem with my r/ankle wich my workers comp doctors have tried but can't resolve.I recently was seen by a dr from my medicaid ins for other foot issue,when he saw my r/ankle and examined it he immediatley gave me a script for an mri,he said their was to much looseness in the ankle possible ligament rupture.Yesterday was seen by an orthopedic surgeon from workers comp,he said he was sorry he could do nothing for me and that my ankle problem was due to my back issues.So he gave me a refferal for a knew pain management dr,now isn't this giong backwards i have been seeing a pm for the past year with no progress.I know you should not mix any workrelated injuries with medicaid or they will want their money back when case is settled,but i need to know how bad is the r/ankle before getting it gets worse, .What would you advice me?

[Eight]

Call your Medicaid office billing department and report this issue. Also, you could try calling the Ombudsman's office regarding a complaint against workmans comp. However, if you do get some sort of settlement, they divide it between payment for pain and suffering/loss of use and medical expenses is what I hear. Either way, you don't have to pay, so that's a win. Focus more on getting better, not the money aspect. If you are better, you will be able to make more money, the pain will be gone, life will be good again.

Does your states Medicaid pay for orthotics? You can check out what your states Medicaid covers at kff.org. Search "state health facts" then pick your state.

Best of luck to you!

[lefthanded]

I am assuming your original injury was to your back, but that led to a change in how you walk, and the ankle issue? Or do you have a pre-existing back issue that has made an injured ankle worse? You did not describe what body part was injured, or how it was injured . . . information that is rather important when you are seeking advice on what to do about a work-related injury and the medical treatment you need.

Either way, there is no "pain and suffering" under worker's compensation. Worker's compensation is designed to pay for your medical treatment, to provide a percentage of your wage when you can not work (TTD) or can only partially perform your job (TPD), for vocational assesment if you can not return to your job of injury, and vocational retraining if you are unable to return to work with your current skills, and a disability award (settlement/PPD) based on the percentage of loss of function resulting form your injury after you have healed as good as you are going to get. Pain may be a factor in your permanent disability rating calculations, but the idea of "pain and suffering" is a tort term used in liability bodily injury claims, not in worker's compensation claims.

Any further advice depends on what body part your work injury consisted of. With the information given it is confusing and I am not sure if you had a back injury or an ankle injury . . . .

[dspine]

Originally Posted by lefthanded

I am assuming your original injury was to your back, but that led to a change in how you walk, and the ankle issue? Or do you have a pre-existing back issue that has made an injured ankle worse? You did not describe what body part was injured, or how it was injured . . . information that is rather important when you are seeking advice on what to do about a work-related injury and the medical treatment you need.

Either way, there is no "pain and suffering" under worker's compensation. Worker's compensation is designed to pay for your medical treatment, to provide a percentage of your wage when you can not work (TTD) or can only partially perform your job (TPD), for vocational assesment if you can not return to your job of injury, and vocational retraining if you are unable to return to work with your current skills, and a disability award (settlement/PPD) based on the percentage of loss of function resulting form your injury after you have healed as good as you are going to get. Pain may be a factor in your permanent disability rating calculations, but the idea of "pain and suffering" is a tort term used in liability bodily injury claims, not in worker's compensation claims.

Any further advice depends on what body part your work injury consisted of. With the information given it is confusing and I am not sure if you had a back injury or an ankle injury . . . .

Hi their lefthanded,on 2010 i had a lumbar fusion ,wich i ended up with weakness on both legs mild drop foot on left.So i started using my r/leg more,1 yr ago the pain managt dr i was seeing told me the calcaneal bursitis i have in my r/ankle is due to overuse by compensating for the left leg.W/C authorized treatment with no relief,why wouldnt the pm dr referer me to a specialist?last week i had to see a podiatrist for other issue,he asked me what happend to r/ankle told him it was getting treated under w/c.He asked to exam it after the examination wrote me a mri script and said i should go as soon as i can.Findings thickening of achilles/tarsal tunnel,couldnt my lawer send me to another dr for an opinion before ending up like this?

[lefthanded]

Originally Posted by dspine

Hi their lefthanded,on 2010 i had a lumbar fusion ,wich i ended up with weakness on both legs mild drop foot on left.So i started using my r/leg more,1 yr ago the pain managt dr i was seeing told me the calcaneal bursitis i have in my r/ankle is due to overuse by compensating for the left leg.W/C authorized treatment with no relief,why wouldnt the pm dr referer me to a specialist?last week i had to see a podiatrist for other issue,he asked me what happend to r/ankle told him it was getting treated under w/c.He asked to exam it after the examination wrote me a mri script and said i should go as soon as i can.Findings thickening of achilles/tarsal tunnel,couldnt my lawer send me to another dr for an opinion before ending up like this?

I think that is for your lawyer to answer. Complicated case . . . and if you have an attorney, you really need to sit down with them and discuss this. Sorry i can't be of more help.

[dspine]

Originally Posted by lefthanded

I think that is for your lawyer to answer. Complicated case . . . and if you have an attorney, you really need to sit down with them and discuss this. Sorry i can't be of more help.

Hello Lefthanded,thank you for responding your last response is my main problem,in the past year my lawer has become very arogant/sarcastic and less helful.In regards to this matter zero guidance/advice this is why he is soon to become my ex-lawer.It is not my fault this case has morphed out the way it has now more than ever is when i need strong lawer,or maybe it is to overwhelming for him.Respond when you can, thank you

[lefthanded]

Originally Posted by dspine

Hello Lefthanded,thank you for responding your last response is my main problem,in the past year my lawer has become very arogant/sarcastic and less helful.In regards to this matter zero guidance/advice this is why he is soon to become my ex-lawer.It is not my fault this case has morphed out the way it has now more than ever is when i need strong lawer,or maybe it is to overwhelming for him.Respond when you can, thank you

Fire him and get a new lawyer. I am neither a lawyer, nor well versed in the law surrounding a case like yours.

[Dmom3005]

Thanks for these questions. Hope you get better soon.

Donna