Procedures to Follow After Being Hurt at Work

[GW1115]

My question involves workers compensation law for the state of: California


1. Hurt mid Jan
2. Dr 1 says rest
3. Dr 1 finally figures out its tennis elbow, gives brace
4. Company sends me to Dr 2
5. Approx 6 weeks now, been working light duty ( I do heavy construction)
6. Dr 2 puts me on light stretching says I could always cause the issue again by pounding fence posts (part of my job)
7. Dr 2 says I will be released mid April
8. I dont feel like I can go back to full duty yet as I still cant lift even 5 lbs
9. WHAT are my options if Dr says go back to work no restrictions and I dont feel ready? do I go back until I hurt it again or what?
10.Spoke to atty who said to contact him when I am released back to work.

Just looking for others experience in this matter so I can kind of know what to expect, thanks in advance

[greentree]

if either party disputes the opinion of the treating doctor, they are to use the Qualified medical examination process.
more here
http://www.dir.ca.gov/dwc/medicalUnit/faqIW.html
and here
http://www.dir.ca.gov/dwc/FactSheets/FactSheet_E.pdf

[sinclairville]

i was injured in o3, still on comp. the employers dr. sent me to physical therapy for 1 yr. it injured my back worse than original injury because insuance didnt want to pay for c-scan.9-10yrs later after 2 spinal fusions caused by the insisted physical therapy both legs are partialy paralized, and have stenosis. make sure you do not attempt to do something that hurts if you go back to work because they say so, it will make it worse, and never sign away your medical im going through a section 32 andimity only. in my case and alot of others do what the employer & insurance comp. says. but in the long run we suffer. my sister-inlaw had wrist surgury after she had carpal tunnel from verizon, they sent her to physical therapy first without exrays/c-scan same thing happened to her. cant use her arm permanently disabled. be careful.

[GW1115]

thanks for the info, Dr 1 never did x ray or MRi , dr 2 did x ray says everything looked intact and that stretching and light weight should help. Its going on 3 months off and I do have some relief in the elbow but not full range of motion or stregnth in the arm, any advice at this point?