[theburgh]

Hello, I'm a Pa. resident and this is part of my story. At the start of the year of 2006 I tore my bicept tendon off my forearm at work. I was sent to a doctor that the state had chosen to do the surgery. Upon speaking with him, I was told that it would take 6 months to heal. At 4 months in to my rehab. my employer ask for me to stop by work to see how I was doing. It had been about 3 weeks since I was back there so I stopped by. We talked about how my rehab. was going and how boring it was being at home. And my employer told me that it would take time for my arm to heal. About 2 days later a person called my house saying that my boss had told her that I wanted to go back to work. And I told her my arm was not healed yet. A week later she shows up at the place that I'm getting my rehab. trying to convice me and my threpist that I should be able to go back to work, to no aveil. About a week later I get a call from her again telling me that she had got my doctor to change my restriction. And would I be returning to work on Friday or Monday. I ask her didn't I get to see the doctor before he sent me back to work, and she said no I don't have to she allready spoke with him. Then she told me that my employer was going to terminate me if I refused. So I went to work that Monday, upon getting to work I asked if what my restriction were and was told that I had NO restrictions. Which I thought was strange since for the last 4 months they where 1 to 2 lbs. when I started work I was the only one working instead of 2 guys. This went on for about 4 or 5 weeks the pain in my arm was becoming unbearable. Then my doctor appointment came up and I told him about the pain I was having and he could not understand it and I told him about work and how he had released me with no restrictions. And showed him the papers that the insurance company gave me. And was told by him it was a job asessment study and that he got the same paper from them and file them in my file. He did not release me to work and that my restriction were still 1 to 2 lbs.. Now the pain in my arm needed more testing. Well after the testing it turns out the plug in my arm is coming out and that I have torn a tendon in my elbow and 2 tendons in my hand. After finding this out I got an attorney who told me that this happens all the time and as long as they'er paying my work comp. there isn't a problem. I will stop here to here what you have to say on this so for because it gets a lot better.

[theburgh]

Okay here we go again upon the news of my new injuries my doctor told me to get a second opinion from his brother who is also a arm surgeon. And upon talking to him I was told that he could repair my bicep tendon and elbow but not the tendons in my hand. But in the mean time the insurance carrier sent me a letter stating that my doctor had just released me back to work at full duty, which he did not. And upon talking to his brother farther more I would have to get a second opinion by state law. Now I find out that my doctor had dumped me. So in January of 2007 I found a doctor to do all the work at one time. At first WC would not cover the 2 tendons in my hand but 6 weeks later they did. I did not mention that I'm a forklift operator/ warehouse worker which is how I got reinjuried pulling my self on to the fork lift. My WC lawyer had recieved my medical records from the first doctor only to find the job study in my file just as he said. But there lies the problem no one in his staff or office had signed the release to send me back to work. And upon looking at the release you could clearly see that it was not my doctors signature. Also my lawyer told me that my doctor had stated in his comments it was a forgery. Now I have recieved a letter stating that I no longer work for their company. Not that I could cause I have lost most of the use of my arm oh yes it is my left arm and yes I am left handed. I will leave it here for now and get back to you all again this evening.

[theburgh]

Ok. lets get at my questions. First is that I am under contract with my attroney for my workers comp. case but he also would like to handle my civil case which I have not signed a contract. He tells me that it would be best to lump them together. But I disagree thinking that I will not get the justice that I should get for the loss of the use of my arm. In my thinking the company that did the fordged work release would get off the handle. And at what he says at the total with comp. settlement at 100 and 100 for torte it does not seem fair. Also I know this is a workers comp. forum but I need help in trying to get justice from the person that did the forgery. I tried to file charges against that person but was told that only the doctor could do so, any help ?