Thanks, Kathy. Maybe a scooter would be easier to get than a wheelchair. I hadn't thought of that. I'd like to bring some suggestions to my dr's appt Monday and that will be one of them.

I was very hurt by their comments and was crying the entire time. They didn't say a word when I said only my ability to do my job should be what matters...they know I can do my job. It really is discrimination but they're trying to say they just care about my health. I think it's all bs, but of course there's no way I can prove that. Maybe getting my dr. to write them a note saying I'm perfectly capable of doing my job will be enough...although, I'm pretty sure they'll look for any reason to let me go if I do that. I feel like I'm stuck in a catch 22.

How did you ever make it after losing your job? Were you able to find a new job? If I could just get into "remission" I think I'd be ok. However, money is beyond tight and the only thing that helped so far was the ketamine infusions....which the dr. I went to for those decided that he doesn't do infusions anymore. I know he does. So, I have to assume he just doesn't want to deal with me anymore either because either: A. he knows I don't have the money, or B. because I called him out on the insurance company covering the claim. Since Blue Cross outright says they don't cover it for chronic pain, he must've lied about what exactly he gave me in order to get it paid.

Work Comp is set up to help you deal with the aftermath of a work injury. You could receive retraining even. If you file a Work Comp claim, also file a state disability claim at the same time as soon as you stop working. You may be able to collect both depending on the rules of your state and your income. You might experience a lapse in WC benefits at some point, etc.

Al Ke,

Just a suggestion; if you are unsteady with a cane, you can go to a walker or a rollabout, that may ease there concern. But I agree with everyone else, your doctor needs to be very specific. (ie the heater, how long to sit, stand, stoop, bend, etc.)
I also was driving with my left foot. I don't believe this was ok, but I really wanted to be at work.

Okay...again this is all just my opinion based on the stuff I have seen and had to deal with...but if I were you I would not ask to be taken off work. Get a note from the doctor releasing you to work and if you feel you can do your job without restrictions then don't ask for any.

I understand your worries about keeping your job and about them finding some other way to get rid of you. So...here's the thing with that. There is no way to control what a company will do. But you can do your best to protect yourself and advocate for your rights. Companies do know the laws, so you need to know them too. Documentation is the single most important thing you can do if you feel that you are being discriminated against because of your disability. Make notes of the date and time of the conversation, what was said, and if there were any witnesses to the discussion or comments. Report your concerns to HR and follow the company procedure for reporting claims of harassment. They have to follow up on them. If the problems continue, then file a compaint with the EEOC/ADA or consult with an attorney.

But I would hold off on any of that until after you see the doctor and get the release to work. At this point they may just drop it all, especially if there is no decline in your work. Also document your performance any way you can. I know that for me when I was working and was getting a hard time, I kept records of the sales numbers in my area, how they compared to the rest of the district, and awards or recognition I got, etc. They still tried to give me a bad review...but I had all my numbers to back me up and I made sure that I got all that information documented in my self-review.

They may just be trying to take advantage because they think they can. If you just take it all in, act professionally, and continue to do your job well then hopefully they will just stop what they are doing. If not, report the concerns to HR. You are legally protected from retaliation as well as discrimination for your disability.

As far as WC goes...if you believe your injury is the result of (or was made worse from) a repetitive trauma work injury then by all means get advice from a WC attorney and see if a WC claim can be filed. You would need to have a doctor that could back up the claim that repetitive motions either cause or made your injury worse. But WC gets very complicated and can also get very nasty, so unless you and/or your doctor strongly believe that the work activities are responsible for your condition...I wouldn't want to get involved in all that mess. But that's just me and I am sure others may have very different opinions. WC is a nightmare (generally...not always) and you likely don't want or need that stress. Since you are honestly unsure about how your RSD started...I would avoid the whole thing.

Thanks catra--Repetitive Trauma Injury. I was waiting for it to come to me...

WC is a PITA. But, that's kind of their goal. To scare off injured workers. RSD is a long term health concern. The OP would prefer to continue working, so let's assume resources (financial, medical insurance, subsidized jobs that allow for major work accommodations) from SS won't be an option to him anytime in the near future. He's already experiencing spread--which could continue. His medical deductibles could become outrageous. Finding new employment could get tricky...

If a doc or docs evaluate his case and determine it's not a work injury, then fine. But, if it is found to be a work injury, and it likely will, then he can always choose to settle out if he gets fed up with the system.

WC is inconvenient, but is dealing with any insurance company pleasant when you have a major illness? And if the main thing he's looking for from WC is to have his medical care taken care of and he continues working, it'll be less adversarial in all likelihood.

I'm not suggesting he be dishonest in any way. I'm just suggesting he needs to have a proper medical legal eval.

Just my two cents!

My employer doesn't have an HR dept....is that shady??? So, there's no-one I can report this to really. It's a small company (well under 100 people). Also, the director of operations said the VP was the one that came to her about it and I have a sneaking suspicion that my boss was the one that brought it up to him. It was the way he chimed in to say the VP asked him about it that made me think he was covering up something. So, I really can't report discrimination to anyone there. I'd have to file a claim with some state or govt agency if I wanted to take any actions against them.

Anyway, unless I can sue them and get enough money to last the rest of my life, I'd really rather just keep my job....at least until I can get into remission well enough to go looking for a better job. I can't consult with a lawyer before my dr. appt. So, I'm going to tell my dr. what they said and how I feel and see what he wants to do. I hope he doesn't leave it up to me though. Maybe if he writes me out for only a few weeks and makes it clear that it won't be permanent, that'll be enough to show them I did what they wanted but I'm very much capable of doing my job. I don't know anything for sure....

Keep the opinions coming. I'd like to hear all sides. I still haven't made up my mind, but if they're just worried about me hurting myself at work, maybe I can find a way to ensure them that I won't....like getting a scooter to transport me from my car to my desk. I'll have to do a better job of hiding the pain at work though. I did that fine with my hand because I stopped using it. So, maybe if I can stop walking, they won't see me in pain and they'll be less worried. Who knows? I don't think I'll make up my mind until I'm at the dr. though and even then I think I'll make him decide whether or not I should be working instead of asking what I want to do. I really don't see how he could say I can't do my job, but he may want me to rest a little longer, which will give me time to consult a lawyer and see what I can do about getting another ketamine infusion.

I don't see how a walker will help when I can only use one hand. I'm not sure what a rollabout is. Is that some kind of motorized scooter I can sit on? I could get a ride to and from work if I had to, but that shouldn't be any of their concern anyway. I don't drive a company vehicle or anything like that. I guess if it's against the law, I'll stop driving until my right foot is better (hopefully that'll happen). I certainly don't need them reporting me to the police out of spite.

If it's not safe for you to drive--distraction from pain or meds, and driving with the wrong foot in an unmodified vehicle, anyone can report you to the DMV. I doubt it's out of spite and more a public safety concern. Seriously!

How long have you had RSD?

Getting a ride to work, sounds like a very good idea, btw. There is also sometimes public transport for the disabled available.

I think you'll have a better argument for keeping your job, if you stop trying to hide how you're attempting to cope one handed. Get your doc to write you accommodations that will allow you to work 8 hours on the clock, but with extra breaks where you clock out as needed. There are all types of adaptive equipment available.

What about inpatient Ketamine? If you've had a good experience with out patient, you might have a good chance for remission.

You might read up on our Workers comp and ssdi forums to get an over view of how things go. You might find something to help you along.
be sure to look thru the sticky threads.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum28.html
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum30.html

Al Ke -

Sorry to be getting in late here, but I should clarify something that was said earlier. I believe that suggestion that you not apply for disability immediately was meant as a reference to the FEDERAL SSDI program.

You don't say what state you live in. But if - for instance - you live in California there is a state disability program that will pay you for one year (which dovetails nicely with SSDI) 95% of what you were making in the quarter immediately before you became disabled, commonly defined as when you became to sick to work. So if you live in California, and file the moment you are terminated because you have become too sick to work (and note there is also a question of not conceding the point prematurely if your employer has not made an effort to "reasonably accommodate" your illness under the Americans with Disabilities Act) you would be paid 95% of what you were averaging on a monthly basis in the quarter before you left your employment, for each of the next 12 months! (This is, of course, something I learned the hard way, not understanding that it had been available - even while I was still technically "working" - until my income had long since dropped to close to nothing.)

But if you wait to file until all you got in the last quarter was unemployment insurance - for which, at least in California, you can't get in the first place unless you are fired - the state disability payments would be limited to 95% of unemployment insurance, if in fact that counts as income in the first place: otherwise you would be eligible for 95% of nothing, which is where I basically wound up. (And just so we're clear, at least in CA, it's common knowledge that if the employer can show that you voluntarily resigned or otherwise "abandoned" your position, there is no unemployment insurance. Period.)

Now, you haven't said what state you live in, but any applicable state disability program is something you should be looking into NOW. Ditto your rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). And in that regard, my suggestion is that you get a consultation with a reputable attorney who represents plaintiffs in employment litigation ASAP, i.e., before you do ANYTHING. That's who can best advise you of your rights under the ADA.

Mike

Lit, it's been about a year and a half since the initial pain started and only a few months after tops that the RSD set it (I'm really bad at remembering dates). I'm willing to try inpatient ketamine. The only option I had available to me was outpatient at the time and I took it. Now, I have to look out of state to find a dr. who will take me and I also have to find a way to pay for it.

fmichael, I'm in a state with temporary disability and I already collected when I was out for about 2 weeks. I was only back at work for about a week before my employer decided I wasn't well enough to work. Since it's now Sunday and my appt is tomorrow morning, I don't have time to find a lawyer and ask them what to do before my appt. I have to find someone who'll give me a free consultation though because I'm lucky if there's enough money in my account to last until my spouse's next paycheck comes in. Plus there's a 1 week waiting period for TD that I won't get until I'm out for 8 weeks. Even though I was just out, I returned to work already. So, I have to wait that week all over again.

I just want some advice for my dr. appt right now. He's good in that he knows only the patient can say how much pain they're in. So, I think he's going to ask me if I feel as if I can return to work the next day or not. I haven't asked for any accommodations from my work except the heater and they gave it to me. They offered the closer parking spot before I even asked. I don't think I can ask them to provide a motorized scooter or something similar to get around with. The question is can they really tell me I'm not well enough to work....last I checked, none of them were doctors. If my dr. writes me out of work, I will certainly apply for TD, but for now, I'm only home because my work told me to leave and see my dr. to get written out of work. Maybe once I tell him that, he'll be able to steer me in the right direction. I'm just not sure that he'll be able to though. I can't imagine many of his patients have had their employer tell them they need to see the dr. to get written out because they just aren't well enough to work and they need more rest.