July 27, 1999

Well it finally came, the day I was to return to work, June 14, 1999!  And catch this, I find out that I'm supposed to return to work from MY EMPLOYER!  There was no mention from Compensation until almost a week later when they wrote saying "Asyou are aware, due to the employer contacting you on May 31, 1999, they have made arrangements in order to accommodate your work injury and return you to emplyment" that is a DIRECT QUOTE from the letter I recieved from Worker's Compensation telling me I was to return to work!  Not only were they wrong in sending me that letter, they went about the process in which THEY have made the rules and BROKE THEM HEINIOUSLY!  Their own rules dictate they re to meet with "EMPLOYER, EMPLOYEE, CSR (Client Service Rep. or Health Service Rep. or both), MY HEALTH CARE PROFfESSIONAL AND MY UNION REP. to discuss any possibilities of a return to work.  Well of course the 3 parties  left out of the circle that they said must be formed where the ones who knew my condition as one that would continue to keep me disabled and unemployable long term, My doctor, my union and myself!  Well I see the doctor weekly, but made a special appointment to see her because it was 2 weeks before Comp said I would be cut off, and I was in no way ready to return to work!  My left arms continuos problem with tendonitis has just been getting worse, as well my pain levels have increased and spread steadily due to the functional capacity evaluations that Comp keeps putting me through (because you always want to do your best, and I tend to overdo, that's how I ended up with this MONSTER called RSD/CRPS in the first place.)!  But my doctor wrote them a letter that firmly explained that I was DISABLED and UNEMPLOYABLE.  The Union also sent a letter along with the 2 letters I had from my doctor and we finally got a reconsideration.
So on with the functional capacity evaluations to see what I can do. It took me 4 days to get over the initial flare the evaluation caused me, and the extention of pain that started at the assessment on July 9th have yet to subside, so it looks like they are there to stay!  Now it's a matter of waiting, I have done another assessment and we await the results.  What we wait for is the next battle Compensation is going to put us through, and it's not a question of if, it's a atter of when. Sad isn't it?  A service that is supposed to be there for you battles against you every step of the way! Had they followed some of the first assessments recommendations I might not  be where I am today, they just let things go with therapy and then tried to get me back to work weather I was well enough or not.  I had to initiate procedures I found out about, that might have helped me sooner, which Comp new about and never did anything about having them done! Had I known 4 months earlier about the blocks that my assessment said to try I would have done it IMMEDIATELY!  But I was once again left out of the loop of communication and now have a permanent disability, which they might have had the power to reverse.  I try not to lay blame, but with the inadequate diagnosis, and the inadequate Service from Compensation how can I not lay blame?  It is quite obvious that there is a lack of work ethics present in these cushy Government positions and I think it's about time to expose the lack of ethics with the media!

Thanks for reading my ramblings, I hope they help prevent someone else from going through the same things as I am!  Good luck to you no matter what pain you suffer from, I hope you are able to find relief.

Take care and God bless,
Bob. 


 



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