Sandy- please don't feel that way! it is just a quiet day...

lawyers, judges, legal system, they all really suck. I am sorry you are caught in such a stupid ring...

Sandy,

It is very frustrating to be in the work comp arena, but then we have to be thankful we even have that - there are people here who didn't file or go TOS perhaps outside of work activities and so they have no insurance and no permanent disability. I have so much compassion for them. They are the brave ones, they have real hope! They turn to Medicare, and Social Security - which, although I was getting TTD, it took almost 3 years to get my SS hearing...imagine if I'd been waiting...I shudder to think. So ultimately, although work comp really gets me angry, at least I have it, and I know you feel that way, too...you were just sharing the frustration...and boy, yes, when the insurance co. won't approve something so simple and so needed, it is morally reprehensible that at our stage of illness they make up road blocks or just ignore us.

Work comp is NOT the place though that we're going to be "heard." Even in trials / hearings (I've had three expediteds to get treatment, and you'd think that would get my adjuster in trouble, but no), you're not going to feel heard. My attorney cannot even patiently wait while I list my symptoms - he always cuts in and says, "just the big ones..." So I don't think we'll get heard there, and fear you need an outlet for that NOW. Are you in the LA area so you could go to a TOS meeting or meet another TOSer somewhere comfortable? That is the ONLY place I've found peace Sandy. Other TOSers gave me peace, and in person was so helpful.

Push your attorney to get you to hearing if you want this to end. You'll either get a judge's decision on your disability level, or, you'll get a firm offer from that other side...but it's up to your attorney to move it to trial, and stop these "settlement conferences" - also, I'm a little surprised that at a settlement conference the other side came with no "authority" to settle - in my courts that would have gotten him/her in trouble, because the judges DEMAND you come with authority, and if it's too small, the judges get irritated and quickly set it for hearing...yes, the whole thing starts to feel overwhelming.

For everyone else, as we all are talking about laundry, please do not forget that whether you have work comp, or you have to call a social worker, there are "Home Aids" to help us. Depending on how you describe your limitations to your own doctor, if work comp, your PTP, if not, your primary doc - the doctor can PRESCRIBE certain hours of home aid. The Home aid is to get you food, help prepare food, take you to the doc, do prescriptions / errands, help you bathe, get dressed, do your personal laundry including bed, and light housekeeping including vacuum and wipe floors.

You don't have to suffer in silence and necessarily let your entire house slide...at the point that you can't do these things I listed, and I couldn't after one year of TOS but didn't get a home aid until year 3 I think - you can talk to your doc. Maybe all you can do is drive your kids to school and hug them, and then your arms give out at 3 PM. Tell your doc. Describe things to him/her in this area of what you're needing at home. Only you know when you hit this point, and if you have that help, it doesn't mean that then you go and clean out a closet, it means hopefully that you refrain from those arm movements and lower or maintain your pain level.

Right now my pain is off the charts again...but I've moved and haven't got a home aid, so I was ok for a week, then hit the wall, and now I'm no good for anything, even getting something to drink. And the pain is excruciatingly high - it hasn't been this bad for a long, long time.

Anyone who has a prescription and then wants to know what to do next, feel free to PM me. ASK FOR HELP from the medical community. Other people (disabled) get help in, so should we. I put this out here as I don't hear of many people getting home aids, and we should, when we hit a certain disability level, which I think quite a few have!!!

God bless. And yes, TOS sucks bigtime.

Monday when I was in court was the final hearing. The judge is making a decision as to how disabled I am and about voc-rehab. At least he said he knows what TOS is....I was told his order should come down in a couple of weeks. I live (let's just call it somewhere north of Texas) and I do know one other person with TOS-my best friend from work, of which the company we worked for filed bankruptcy and shut down. We were laid off 12/31/03. After having our first surgery on the same day by the same doctor back in Jan 04 and being almost in the same boat since then we have now had a disagreement and I don't even talk to her anymore. So yes you're right I could use a TOS support group, but unfortunately am in the wrong area for that. As you probably remember I have had the rib resection on left along with 7 other surgical procedures. I am terrified my right side is going to become as bad as left was and I have no recourse left with WC.

Six months with no TTD is about to break my spirit much less my bank account. That was gone a longgggggggggg time ago.

Hugs for you Sandy!! Don't give up!!