Has any one been retrained for employment by Workcover?

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Originally Posted by LandyAndy

Hi Mate
In regards to pain management.
Cortisone is what turned my recovery around.I was warned it would help me grow man boobs but took the risk.I had 2 epidurals into my spine into 3 discs 8 weeks apart.With the pain gone I was able to do an intensive physio therapy program wich included home exercises,a gym programme with personal trainer and aqua aroebics,it helped re-build muscle tone wich helped hold my back together.
Do you use Naprosyn as an anti-inflamatory??? If so have you tried the slow release version??? It works much better,from memory I was on 1500mg,750mg in the morn and 750mg at night.It helped me curb an increasing appetite for panadine forte(ate them by the boxfull) and the odd shot of pethadine.
Dont ovelook DEPRESSION!!!!,I refused to belive what the specialists were telling me.Pain causes depression and anybody that has suffered pain for a substantial time suffers from depression too.The medication works but be aware of increasing doses and getting a "I couldnt give a damn" attitude.Get off them as soon as you can,they do a good job but arent good for you long term.
Once again
GOODLUCK
Andrew

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Man your right about the DEPRESSION, I went through some very bad stages, I'm on Zoloft a high dose and I got to the stage where I didn't give a damn, then it stops working, I have been down dosed since as at one time I was on 8 different medications, the cock tail of drugs didn't doing me any good. I Brought this up with the Docs but they all say I need it.
I get the shakes a lot, one says it's anxiety another says it's neurological.
I had an appointment with a neurologist last Monday, it was a revolving door, I entered his office and he said he couldn't help me. Reckons he doesn't handle work cover any more. It would have been nice if I was told when I booked the appointment. The case manager is concerned why I have not been doing Physio and aqua therapy. Seems I was sent out of hospital with no real instructions for after care. Surgeon wouldn't not let me take anti inflammatory medicines as He reckons it would hinder my bones healing. All in all I was left to sit at home and recover and deal with it the best I could. Then I was referred to a psycologist for my depression.
I even had a work cover therapist visit my home for home assistance, All I wanted was to have my gutters cleared as we live in a bush fire area. They visited assesed and spoke to my doctors and approved the help.
But I had to get 3 quotes from WC registered gutter cleaners first and send the quotes in. NO ONE WAS INTERESTED IN QUOTING. So that was another benefit let down and waste of time.

Apart from work which funnily enough I love, getting about to do things like going for a drive, fishing and other enjoyable things was not possible so that's where the depression and self worthless, let down thoughts set in.
But I'm on the road to recovery and optimistic.
Just reading this post I see there are quite a few of you that have had some misfortunes in your lives too. Regardless the sun rises everyday, I just got to make the best with what I can.
The lollie pop traffic control seems like the go, at least it's out doors.

Torn rotator cuffs in the shoulder are extremely painful. I suffer from it in both shoulders. Cortisone is only temporary, anti inflammatories and physio can help, but depending on how bad it is, surgical intervention is the key.

Mine are stuffed. Lifting arms up for a long period, or any overhead work (painting etc) is very painful. You probably wake up with a sore shoulder too.

Well at least this post gives the idea that the road ahead can be either good or bad.
I am seeing the neuro surgeon in a weeks time. Currently my treatmet is 5 chiro sessions a week and either go for a walk or lie down. Only drugs I have are thigs like valium so I can't use them in the day.
So will e told I have a buldge disk impacting on the nerves. This is the 3rd time in 6 years that I have lost control of my legs during an episode. This last one also has no identifiale action that caused it.

Mate know what you ean about the driving. I have to stop and take a break o my daily work drive as the pain and cotrol means I cat use the clutch and break at the same time after while. If I ignore it I have even started to have troule lifting my foot of the peddle:eek:.

So sorry to hear your suffering. Have you seen an independent solicitor? If not, you need to do so asap.

Sounds you are on the right track with everything you're trying to do, attitude, etc. Really hope things get sorted out for you. :)

If ever you feel like a bitch, bitch away. As you can see, everyone here is only to happy to help if they can, even if it's only a few words here and there. :D

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Originally Posted by It'sNotWorthComplaining!

Due to an accident and subsequent spinal operation, I have been unable to carry on with my previous labor intensive position.
I return to my employer next week for a maximum of 2 hrs per day, light duties and restricted to not lifting over 2 kilos.:( desk jockey/stamp licker:mad:
This is after having been restricted and spending the last 11 months away from my work place
I have been told by both work cover independent specialists and my own that they do not see me returning to my previous position, and the company is down sizing so not many desk jockey jobs around.( I previously was a desk jockey and didn't like it, I prefer hands on work)

I was told that I would probably have to under go retraining for a new job and that work cover will find me a suitable employer.

So what I want to know is have any of you had any experience in being retrained and re employed via the work cover system. Was it a good experience or was it bad? Did they stuff you around etc etc.
At 50 I'm too old to be put out to pasture.

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Sorry to hear about the back incident! How about you train up to be a workcover( or O,H,S&E) inspector/ assesor/ trainer. That way your neither sitting or standing for extended periods and can help people in similar situations to yourself or even help prevent further injuries.
One thing though dont push yourself to hard and aggravate the injury , I have seen it several times where a co-worker has made it much worse by pushing himself a bit to hard.

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Originally Posted by frantic

Sorry to hear about the back incident! How about you train up to be a workcover( or O,H,S&E) inspector/ assesor/ trainer. That way your neither sitting or standing for extended periods and can help people in similar situations to yourself or even help prevent further injuries.
One thing though dont push yourself to hard and aggravate the injury , I have seen it several times where a co-worker has made it much worse by pushing himself a bit to hard.

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Don't push myself too hard.? unfortunately the mind wants to do things but the body lets me down. I Have lots of unrestricted movement, it's just the pain after. Driving a 5 sp Disco any length of time causes left arm pain.
My work care case manager told me not to do anything that might aggravate it, easy for her to say, unless they put me into a straight jacket, I'm going to attempt something.I can't just sit still it's not in my nature. I'm not a vegetable. There are lots worse off than me , I have self pride and want my independence. On the other hand if I am seen doing something that might be seen as aggravating that will turn around and say if I'm able to do this and that then I have no entitlements.
I still would like to live my life with some quality.
I received a call yesterday from my employer, I am now going in for up to 2 hours of some work activity. They have a risk assessment officer coming as well. Funny thing was they took some photos of where I work and made a report to my work cover case manager, and She actually told me that seeing the photos, that she could see why I got injured.
I told her we had regular inspectors from Work Cover come and spend the day on site checking things out taking notes etc. So if it is a harzardess work invironment then. Why didn't they say so???

Thanks for your words and support guys.

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Originally Posted by MickS

Torn rotator cuffs in the shoulder are extremely painful. I suffer from it in both shoulders. Cortisone is only temporary, anti inflammatories and physio can help, but depending on how bad it is, surgical intervention is the key.

Mine are stuffed. Lifting arms up for a long period, or any overhead work (painting etc) is very painful. You probably wake up with a sore shoulder too.

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Driving a manual is fun too.
Yes I spent quite a bit of my time with my arms up:(

Oh far out, I can relate as I had my own business and was a CFA vol for 9 years until work got way too busy. Damaged nerves in my arm and wrists from firing nail guns and routers etc. Time off work now coming to 3 years and not dealing with Work Cover :bat:thanks to my income protection:thumbsup:. As for depression, the drugs used to knock me out for the operation caused a relapse of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) common with fire fighters and other massive stress incidents. I am worried about last summers fire fighters and locals mental health, my wife and a few others from "The Body Shop @ Home" are heading to Marysville next week to do facsials on the local women for a bit of a moral booster as my wife had done parties up there prior to last summer. Zoloft was not good for me but I found Lexapro helped then went to herbals from there to now nothing. Anxiety (fear of the future) and Depression (regret of the past) can not be explained to someone who has never had it. I went from suicidal (worst) to extreme highs and for no reason, I made it out the other side only a little wiser and more compassionate. (I was a real hard arse or tosser depending on where you stood with me)

Back to your thing of Work Cover I did deal with them with my back years ago and they where really (Moderator will delete this word) USELESS and sent me back too early and 5 years of pain and Dr's telling me to get over it, I got my back reassesed by a another rehab specialist and they found the original problem on 5 year old exrays and so to the W/C Dr's:2up:. It took another 12 months to find away around the injury which meant I could work successfully.

As for finding a way around the problem now, can you find away to get a self employed job using your skills and giving yourself the time to rest as required. I am rebuilding my business but with a difference from normal kitchens etc to doing environmentally friendly kitchens which use no white board or vinyl as all our products and off cuts will be recyled after its lifetime and I have to work around my aquired injuries. Life is good and others have walked the path before you. If the workcover case manager is good ask about self employment option and getting on a scheme like NEIS for rehab workers.

I can only do a few hours each day and have my hand wrapped up tight as possible to stop the pain, I have lost small/fine motor movements like getting small change and separating it and fine scraping of wood which meant I am using my right hand way more and way more cuts on it as well:D.

We live in a really bad fire prone area as Ash Wed destroyed the local township here and where we live still has scarred tree's from it, yep I am nervous now for next year and working out what to do in preparation for the summer again. So time to get off my :soapbox: and wish you good luck and best wishes.

Cheers
James

The above 18 inputs are the history of my life or from 1986 to now :(
One thing that I have to add is that if the person is under medication which in the label say that "May cause drowsiness" then by havong this medication the person is technically dissable.
He/she cannot drive, operate machines or do any activity that requires concentration.
Regarding pain, well believe your body, there is not machine, istrument or Doctor that can say to you taht you do not have pain and every person have diferent pain reistence than the others.
Try to be self employed and if not, well blow some money in your favorite hobby and live avery simple life.
Do not let the "system" or your mind beat you.
Just and input from a person 23 years in your situation.
Cheers

You are definately not a vegetable, you are obviously learning through pain how to work around your injury and the limitations it has placed upon you temporarily(hopefully). Maybe to aid your L/H side see if you could get a used/ reco auto fitted to the disco at least you would arive at work fresh not stressed?
Do your work offer a physio to help manage/ alleviate some issues that you will encounter on the R.T.W program?
I have been in a more extreme position where my limit to start with was getting on my feet and re-learning to walk and quickly learnt to follow the program and not exceed the guidlines by to far as it could have left me with far more damaging and permanent injuries.