FedEx Freight | Workers Comp Appeal

[chitownpeddler]

Has anyone ever appealed the decision of our workers comp department and the doctor the company sends you to? Yesterday I made a delivery and after getting back in the tractor I started having back spasms. The company doctor said that nothing I had done at work that day should have caused that and said it is not work related. After telling me this she said it may be because I am overweight. Then left the room and they escorted me out of the clinic. I read the form to return to FXF and it says I have to go to a private doc on my dime and get released before returning to work. So the short of the story is FXF says don't bother coming back until I get released by a different doc. So I went to a different doc who gave me meds and said that how could you say this is not work related based on the type of work we do. She offered to give me info to appeal FXF's decision. Just curious if anyone else has had the pleasure of playing this game

 

[imported_River17]

Has anyone ever appealed the decision of our workers comp department and the doctor the company sends you to? Yesterday I made a delivery and after getting back in the tractor I started having back spasms. The company doctor said that nothing I had done at work that day should have caused that and said it is not work related. After telling me this she said it may be because I am overweight. Then left the room and they escorted me out of the clinic. I read the form to return to FXF and it says I have to go to a private doc on my dime and get released before returning to work. So the short of the story is FXF says don't bother coming back until I get released by a different doc. So I went to a different doc who gave me meds and said that how could you say this is not work related based on the type of work we do. She offered to give me info to appeal FXF's decision. Just curious if anyone else has had the pleasure of playing this game

chitownpeddler

Did the company send you to a place like Concentra or something similar??
Good info for future reference.

 

[chitownpeddler]

chitownpeddler

Did the company send you to a place like Concentra or something similar??
Good info for future reference.

I told my CCM I needed to go because the pain was overwhelming and he sent me to the clinic we use for injuries and drug screens

 

[imported_River17]

I told my CCM I needed to go because the pain was overwhelming and he sent me to the clinic we use for injuries and drug screens

chitownpeddler

Sounds like that clinic wanted you to be seen by your personal doctor
in case you needed further treatment.
Although I thought that those clinics are the ones to release you to go back to work.
Hope you get better.

 

[chitownpeddler]

chitownpeddler

Sounds like that clinic wanted you to be seen by your personal doctor
in case you needed further treatment.
Although I thought that those clinics are the ones to release you to go back to work.
Hope you get better.

It seems to me and the 2nd doc I saw as......Work related=workers comp....Not work related= no pay no nothing everything is payed for by me

A year and a half ago I had the same problem and they gave me meds and therapy. I have had back spasms twice in my life and both times I was in my tractor

And the 2nd doc I went to was a walk in clinic. The doc didn't know me and I didn't know her and she said it makes more sence that it is work related

 

[FX Sam]

A spasm goes away, a hurt back does not. Which one do you have?

This is always a fine line when you get hurt. but if it happened at work you should be covered by FX or WC. Also depending IF you get hurt alot or have the same problems over and over would be a whole different issue on how this gets handled. FRAUD is becoming so progressive anymore the Dr and company is very cautious. BOL and hope it gets resloved soon.

 

[imported_River17]

It seems to me and the 2nd doc I saw as......Work related=workers comp....Not work related= no pay no nothing everything is payed for by me

A year and a half ago I had the same problem and they gave me meds and therapy. I have had back spasms twice in my life and both times I was in my tractor

And the 2nd doc I went to was a walk in clinic. The doc didn't know me and I didn't know her and she said it makes more sence that it is work related

chitownpeddler

Sounds like you are a younger driver that is not going to see their doctor
every couple of months, like some of us older fellows.
Maybe this is a good time to find a personal internal medicine doctor that you visit once or twice a year, so the doctor can establish a baseline and keep a file on your medical history.

 

[chitownpeddler]

A spasm goes away, a hurt back does not. Which one do you have?

This is always a fine line when you get hurt. but if it happened at work you should be covered by FX or WC. Also depending IF you get hurt alot or have the same problems over and over would be a whole different issue on how this gets handled. FRAUD is becoming so progressive anymore the Dr and company is very cautious. BOL and hope it gets resloved soon.

Last time I believe I was out for 2 weeks This time hopefully less. With pain killers and muscle relaxers it is better but still sore so I guess time will tell

 

[chitownpeddler]

chitownpeddler

Sounds like you are a younger driver that is not going to see their doctor
every couple of months, like some of us older fellows.
Maybe this is a good time to find a personal internal medicine doctor that you visit once or twice a year, so the doctor can establish a baseline and keep a file on your medical history.

I don't like doctors. Thats why I don't have a regular doctor like I did when I was a kid. If tylenol would have fixed this I wouldn't have seen the doc. To me it just doesn't make sence to get checked out every 6 months or year if nothing is wrong.

 

[imported_River17]

I don't like doctors. Thats why I don't have a regular doctor like I did when I was a kid. If tylenol would have fixed this I wouldn't have seen the doc. To me it just doesn't make sence to get checked out every 6 months or year if nothing is wrong.

chitownpeddler

There are two ways of looking at this.
If you wait to see the doctor until something is really wrong
then sometimes that is too late and more expensive to treat.
The idea is to do preventive maintenace so the doctor can keep you from the major breakdowns.
It is like your truck.
It is cheaper to change the oil and do the prescribed PM services,
than to run the truck till it blows up or breaks down to fix it.

 

[Guardrail]

Check the laws on work comp. in your state. The state is the one who can help you out, not the company.

 

[fedex_employee]

I had a case against another company a few years back. It was the same scenario, I went to the company DR(who was a PA not an MD)who said it was just a pulled muscle. I couldn't get up or lay down without extreme pain. After a week I couldn't take the pain and obtained the advice of an attorney. I saw another DR who immediately took me off of work and sent me to get an MRI after an evaluation. It turns out I had 2 herniated disks in L4 L5 7MM and L5 S1 8 MM. In my state I was able to obtain the care I deserved only after an attorney was contacted. WC clinics always do this to weed out the fraud and the workers who will just give up regardless if they are truly hurt. Protect yourself since you may lose your right for treatment if you wait too long. PM if you want any more information about the entire WC claim being denied by the company and how I got it reversed.

Good Luck.

 

[redracer3368]

First off what type of truck do you drive? Second do you drive with your wallet tucked in your back pocket all day? I know it sounds funny but you would be suprised how much different you will sit without having wallet butt all day. That came straight from a MD that I went to for back pain. Those medi-quick places that we use for drug screens and such should be named medi-quack instead they are useless when it comes to diagnosing anything worse than a head cold. I herniated 2 disk in my back in March of 2000. I was off work for a little over 2 months. Since I was at home when the severe back pain took me down to the floor workers comp wasn't involved. I do not like going to the doctor either but it is better in the long run to take care of your self than to rely on the company to care whether you are hurt or not. They will use and abuse you till you can't work any longer and just find someone else to do the job. I would get the MRI done if not already done, do some physical therapy, *I went to a place that had a heated pool that I could do the exercises in* makes a difference. Take the meds to help get the back spams under control and then go see a pain management doctor. They can give injections directly into the area of the back where the injury is at, plus pressure point injections into surrounding muscles to take the tightness out. Back surgery is always the last resort and I do mean the last resort. I ended up having the nerve endings zinged (burned out) in my back to east the pain and allow me to return to work. I watch what I pickup, get someone to help me pick it up or I use the tow motor to do the lifting. And yes if you do exercises like crunches or sit ups to strenghen the stomach walls this does help. If you have any other questions about this send me an e-mail and I will gladly share what I know.

 

[kevin653]

I told my CCM I needed to go because the pain was overwhelming and he sent me to the clinic we use for injuries and drug screens

You should go to the state you live in web site for workers comp and make sure you have reported the injury for one thing. Secondly you should at some point have a MRI to find out what is causing the spasms. I am not a doctor nor a lawyer. You could have a pinched nerve caused by some sort of disc problem. Although some company doctors might tell you it is because you smoke, are overweight, or are not wearing boxer shorts. That is why you need to report it properly, and progress to a MRI. The tube tells the tale!!!

 

[Franklin]

.

First of all, never go to the company doctor. They are paid by the company so will tell you what the company wants them to tell you. If nothing else, go to the emergency room at a hospital. Company doctors are there only to save the company money. They can't force you to go to their doctor.

If it's worth it to you, get a lawyer versed in these matters. Usually just having a lawyer involved helps matters along nicely.

Good luck. Hope your back gets better.

 

[SMOKESTACK]

I got one thing to tell you ....

Get a lawyer and don't play around.

I have been screwed by the company .
They do what's best for them not you .
If Concentra is involved you may as
well go to your dogs vet because all
they practice there is malpractice .

 

[Cornbinder]

FDX FRT Work Comp/Uncaring!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I got one thing to tell you ....

Get a lawyer and don't play around.

I have been screwed by the company .
They do what's best for them not you .
If Concentra is involved you may as
well go to your dogs vet because all
they practice there is malpractice .

I 2ND AND 3RD That motion,To quote a good friend of mine (CONCENTRA DOCTER'S ARE MEDICAL SCHOOL REJECT'S)

Don't wait for FDX FRT to help you,They will fight you. WORK COMP AT FDX FRT DOE'S NOT CARE....PERIOD

(Just this man's opinion)

 

[chitownpeddler]

First off what type of truck do you drive? Second do you drive with your wallet tucked in your back pocket all day? I know it sounds funny but you would be suprised how much different you will sit without having wallet butt all day. That came straight from a MD that I went to for back pain. Those medi-quick places that we use for drug screens and such should be named medi-quack instead they are useless when it comes to diagnosing anything worse than a head cold. I herniated 2 disk in my back in March of 2000. I was off work for a little over 2 months. Since I was at home when the severe back pain took me down to the floor workers comp wasn't involved. I do not like going to the doctor either but it is better in the long run to take care of your self than to rely on the company to care whether you are hurt or not. They will use and abuse you till you can't work any longer and just find someone else to do the job. I would get the MRI done if not already done, do some physical therapy, *I went to a place that had a heated pool that I could do the exercises in* makes a difference. Take the meds to help get the back spams under control and then go see a pain management doctor. They can give injections directly into the area of the back where the injury is at, plus pressure point injections into surrounding muscles to take the tightness out. Back surgery is always the last resort and I do mean the last resort. I ended up having the nerve endings zinged (burned out) in my back to east the pain and allow me to return to work. I watch what I pickup, get someone to help me pick it up or I use the tow motor to do the lifting. And yes if you do exercises like crunches or sit ups to strenghen the stomach walls this does help. If you have any other questions about this send me an e-mail and I will gladly share what I know.

I am one of the lucky city drivers that have the opportunity to drive one of the old kenworths. I keep my wallet in my lunch box because it does make your butt and back hurt sitting on it.

I understand the whole fraud deal because we have a few drivers that are milking the system and have been for a couple of years now. with all of the cameras they put in our center a couple of years ago they can see when I arrived at work and worked the dock I was moving fine. And after getting hurt I could barely walk and had a hell of a time getting back into my tractor.

 

[Slackdragon]

chitownpeddler

There are two ways of looking at this.
If you wait to see the doctor until something is really wrong
then sometimes that is too late and more expensive to treat.
The idea is to do preventive maintenace so the doctor can keep you from the major breakdowns.
It is like your truck.
It is cheaper to change the oil and do the prescribed PM services,
than to run the truck till it blows up or breaks down to fix it.

River 17...

Great advice .....

 

[Super Chief]

If Concentra is involved you may as
well go to your dogs vet because all
they practice there is malpractice .

We don't have Concentra but the clinic we get sent to has a "doctor" that is definitely sold out to the company.

The joke about him is that when he became a doctor, he didn't take the Hippocratic Oath, he took the Hypocritic Oath!!

I sprained my left ankle at work. After taking an Xray, he said I had a bad sprain. He told me to stay off of it for 3 days, keep it elevated, and iced down. While he was saying this, he was filling out the form to return me to work IMMEDIATELY WITH NO RESTRICTIONS!??!!! I was expected to push a truck clutch with a badly sprained left ankle. Incredible!!

I hurt my back one time. He said I had a mild back strain, restricted me for 2 weeks, and had me go through some light physical therapy. When I went back to see him, I told him I still hurt and gave him the therapist's report that said I wasn't ready to return to work. He ignored both of us and released me to work.

The next day, I hurt all day and at one stop, I closed the trailer door and injured myself further. When I went back to see him, I was put back on restriction for 2 more weeks. When I still didn't improve, he FINALLY decided to send me for an MRI. Turns out I had a herniated disk. He referred me to a spine specialist who doesn't play around. This guy put me on some serious physical therapy and would not release me to work until he was totally convinced I was ready! Haven't had any back problems since.

I have no confidence in the company's hired quack. His DOT physicals are a joke. My hearing has not been checked in 6 years and one time my vision wasn't even checked!

There's that old saying "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." Well, it took me two times to learn my lesson. Hopefully, I will never have another injury. But if I do, I will go to my personal physician - or even a veterinarian - before I go back to the company paid quack!!!