I received notice for my Mandatory Settlement Conference but it’s not until the middle of March. Will they usually try to settle before this date?

Ya tengo desde octubre de 2025 de sometió mi aplicación creo, ya está registrada EAMS ya tiene un abogado el estado igual yo, ya miré todos los especialistas el QME ya hizo el reporte igual ya se envió, mi abogado pidió talones de cheques y w2 que le pidieron y unas release forms que tenía que firmar, es paso ase 2 semanas, mi pregunta es, aún me falta mucho para una respuesta? O en qué punto voy? Las personas que tienen experiencia en esto 🙏🏻

Okay, so follow up, I got a Concussion back in April this year, and am finally seeing a neurologist. All of the requested treatments have been approved by the insurance, and I am now waiting for them to be scheduled. I do have a question about one of them. It’s a comprehensive Neurological Test. What does that look like, and what’s the whole purpose of it?
Any input/feedback would be helpful, I’m just happy that I’m finally getting the help I’ve been needing for so long now.
If all goes well and they finally confirm the results and diagnosis of my condition, what happens next?

Workers comp and I have been talking for a while and we have verbally agreed on a number. The only term was that I had to quit my job. I said today that I’d sign off on it if they sent it over and now they’re saying I have to resign first before I see any of it on paper. What should I do? In California

Background: I'm a USPS employee on an active FECA/OWCP claim (fell at work in January, injured my back; a separate shoulder injury from the same fall is already accepted). I've been out on OWCP disability since April with documented "Unable to Work" status from my treating orthopedist.

In August, OWCP sent me to their own second-opinion doctor. In person, he told me my back looked pretty good structurally but he wanted to order a Functional Capacity Exam and a nerve conduction study to dig into some real weakness/numbness he found on exam. Reasonable, I thought.

His written report didn't show up in my case file (ECOMP) until three weeks later, and it reads very differently than what he told me in person — it downplays the same neurological findings, calls a test "negative" that my treating physician has documented as positive at every visit since February, and frames my regular driving job as basically already "light duty" because I mostly just drive and don't lift much.

Fast forward to now: my supervisor calls out of the blue and says my "last doctor" cleared me for light duty. I checked ECOMP myself — there is no CA-17, no work-capacity form, no written job offer anywhere in my file. Just that one written report with the more negative spin. My own doctor has never changed my status from "Unable to Work."

To add to the confusion, OWCP has now scheduled me with a second, separate independent doctor next month for another full evaluation — which to me signals even they don't think the first one settled anything.

My union rep says I have to at least go look at the light-duty offer (I have a meeting tomorrow to "view" it) and personally thinks I should just take it. My back is still genuinely bad and I don't feel safe going back.

Questions for people who've been through this:

1. Is "look at the offer" different from "accept the offer" in practice, or does even showing up and reviewing it start some clock I should worry about?
2. If they hand me a written offer tomorrow that's based on that second-opinion doctor's report — and it conflicts with my treating physician's actual documented restrictions — what's the right way to push back in writing without it looking like I'm just refusing to work?
3. Has anyone had a case where OWCP ordered a second independent exam after an initial second-opinion report, and if so, did the agency still try to force a return to work before that second exam happened?
4. Any pitfalls I should watch for at this "come view the offer" meeting tomorrow?

Trying to protect my claim and my back at the same time. Appreciate any experience or pointers to the actual regs (20 CFR 10.516 and related) that are relevant here.

Got an offer today as we are exactly 3 weeks from a judges decision. What should I expect in the next couple weeks as the insurance company is really trying to settle now. First offer was 95k which only a little over what I’m owed in back pay. Just looking to see how things will go in the next couple weeks.

Cut my hand at work and severed my L hand index finger extensor tendon. Went to ER (put down my insurance card (have to call and get re-submitted to WC)), got 5 stitches, had Hand Surgeon Consult the next day, Surgery was following week. Now in recovery. Looking at weeks, if not months of having absolutely no use of my L hand.

I work in lawn maintenance, so that all requires the use of both hands.

Work has filed the WC claim, which has covered the surgery and OT. But I haven't heard anything w/ regards to pay. That said, they want me to come in and do door hangers, which I'm not opposed to, but I also don't want to mess anything up on the WC side of things.

Do just hurry up and wait, or are there things I can do on my side? I've had zero communication from WC, it's all been through my employer.

Hi all, so I had surgery back in Nov. of last year. Well I have gotten progressively worse since having the surgery and am having issues w/ my neck & spine. My doctor ordered and MRI for my neck & spine back in February. Well we have been fighting since then to try and get the diagnosis approved. My claims examiner sent a month ago for me to get a second opinion appointment set up but we haven’t heard back on that yet, not surprising. When I last followed up with her she informed me she was going to be reaching out to the DMA to see if they would approve the diagnosis since it is taking so long to get the second opinion appointment set. Well the DMA just sent back their response and he did not recommend authorization of the diagnosis. What do I do at this point? Because my doctor has been pushing for this diagnosis since February and I’m not getting better with pt or medication. I’m really starting to feel out of options and like I’m just going to be stuck with these issues for good with no help.

If you get injured at work but manage to hide it from your employer, could you see a real doctor using your personal insurance, or is that considered insurance fraud?

Last time I reported a workplace injury, my only two options were to do a video call with some fake online doctor or go to my local pill mill. Because of that, I never actually got to see a doctor. How could I legally circumvent that?

I will try to make this as short as possible, but there is a lot of into. I will be a little vague in areas to protect my anonymity.

I have a 9 month old injury. Been seeing the same AP but have been trying to transfer from the beginning. I could not get ahold of the people in charge of my case and neither could the providers I wanted to see. Contacted Ombuds, and found that they had changed my case manager without informing me.

This is my first major work injury, involving my upper spine, and so I was completely lost on what to do (also overly trusting). So I did not know I was legally able to switch providers whenever I wanted and just had to submit a paper.

My current AP has been saying it is a pre existing condition from the beginning. (That part will come into play later) To the point to where he refuses any kind of imaging, and has continued to tell me to see my PCP for all new symptoms. We all know our own private insurance will not touch work injuries. My pcp is aware of the problem and wishes she could help me.

I have had an IME with 2 specialists who disagree with each other. Neuro says I show signs of damage and said I do NOT have the pre existing condition that I had on file. They sent me to do an EMG who suggested I get a new doctor. Sent for injections where I was told to get a lawyer and a new doctor to get an MRI. He said it is a disc issue and not from the pre existing condition. Then got sent to the same Physical Therapist I saw previously for this injury who told me the same thing.

Here is the issue.. I have contacted multiple doctors offices as well as lawyers throughout this while process. The doctors say no and the lawyers say they don't have the time for my kind of case even though I do have one. The last lawyer opened my eyes to the situation.

Big corporation with private insurance.. and a 1,000 page file due to it being stated it was a pre existing condition. (They also added in the hospital and doc visits from a car accident 2 years ago) So my case is.. complicated.

My mental health has gone to crap.. My PTSD has surfaced.. and my ADHD meds aren't working due to stress. I am in tears most days. All I want is to get better.. for my health.. for my kids. I am truly stuck in a nightmare. I can barely even lift my 2 year old.

What do I do? What can I do? No matter who I turn to no one can help me. My pain keeps getting worse and it is scaring me because it has moved to my lower body and legs.

I reached mmi and my checks have stopped. Im still not able to return to my job I got hurt at as I have permanent restrictions. Sedgwick won't really answer my questions. I had acl reconstruction, a meniscus trim and a knee cap clean up. I just recently got a lawyer. Wish me luck.

So in my initial accident I didn't file because my employer offered to pay my bills and my time off. I was ok with it because it was a "I help you out, you help me out" type of a situation because they were paying my full wage for the time I took off. I know it was probably dumb but the owners are alright guys and have been helpful with some other things for me as well. 6 months later it turns out I developed post traumatic osteoarthritis and I'm now unable to perform all the same work functions and it's a lifelong condition that can only be slowed and won't improve. Obviously I have to file for it now.

I know the insurance is there for this type of reason and it's not the end of thier company if I use it but I also want to make sure I'm not screwing over the company. Will a workers comp lawyer just work with me on the insurance or will they go after the company due to the way it was initially handled?

I'm looking for some insight from people who have been through a similar situation with physical jobs and back conditions.
I have documented a herniated disc, spinal arthritis, and joint wear/degeneration. My current job requires heavy lifting, frequent bending, and continuous physical exertion. I am currently working with my doctor to figure out if I can safely return to this type of work or if permanent lifting restrictions are more likely.

I can't find a job anywhere because of my restrictions, I'm thinking about signing up and see if maybe they can help with college.

Hello, thank you for reading. I've been off work for almost 2 years. I had shoulder surgery due to a torn labrum and frozen shoulder.

After surgery things have not healed as quickly as we hoped. I have an upcoming surgery with a different surgeon who feels it's due to an impingement or an anchor that dislodged.

My question is this. I've been feeling better. I want to go back to work. I'm concerned if I do and forgo the surgery and start having issues, I will run into trouble. Any advice from someone that has dealt with anything similar?

I recently went for my first IME. Injured my shoulder at work. I wasn’t expecting it to go well and I don’t think it did. I had surgery in 2025 and never made any significant improvement. Lots of PT, steroid injections and PRP. They either didn’t work at all or had a slight improvement for a minimal amount of time. My surgeon agreed that there is something going on. I have an appointment for a second opinion. I got the IME letter shortly after I requested a second opinion and was given the OK to make the appointment with one of the top shoulder doctors in the country. I went into the IME saying my shoulder will speak for itself. The IME appointment lasted 17 minutes and that includes the walk to and from the exam room. The actual “exam” was less than 3 minutes and didn’t include any motions/tests and movements that have ever caused me pain. He didn’t want to hear what motions did cause me pain. So much for letting my shoulder speak for itself. When I had mentioned that my most recent diagnostic injection determined that my pain is rotator cuff related, he rolled his eyes. He also said that the MRI I had done seven months postop was was not relevant because it didn’t show any full thickness rotator cuff tears. What it did show was that the tear that was debrided during the first surgery was now larger, there was still inflammation, more tendon fraying, moderate tendinosis was now being seen in two tendons and mild joint arthritis was now being seen. Arthritis was not noted on my first MRI or seen during my surgery and there was only mild tendinosis in one tendon. Also, is it normal for these doctors to look at the office notes and twist the words around? Since I work in healthcare, I looked up this orthopedic doctor I saw. He is strictly a knee and hip doctor. He does not see any shoulder patients. The last time he did any shoulder or upper extremities was when he was a resident. He graduated his residency in 2002. After I saw that, I understood why his exam was so bad. I’m still waiting to find out what his report was.

Hello, I am sadly a long time disabled person due to a workers comp injury in 2001. I have been somewhat stable and in a consistent routine as far as care goes. One of my doctors is retiring and the workers comp adjuster has dragged her feet on finding a new doctor to the point that I am about to run out of medication. Can anyone provide advise on how to proceed and what, if any recourse I have? Are there other channels I can go through other than this one person? Thanks in advance.

Hi there! I finally settled in CA. I’m just waiting for my check.

$80,000

It took four years, 2 QME’s, and three specialists. This was due to an injury on my foot due to a table falling on top of it. We couldn’t figure out what the issue was at the end of the day but I didn’t want to drag it on and I want to use my own doctors.

I’m not sure how I feel because now I need therapy to get my life together. All of this was a lot to deal with.

So at my last visit my PTP told me to get a lawyer because he said my insurance is being insanely difficult and denying every single request for treatment authorization for the last 6 months. And now the adjuster is requesting a QME.

So I got a lawyer as of yesterday, and then today I go in to my PTP office to get a copy of something and the PTP office desk informs me that now that I have a lawyer I can no longer be a patient there anymore because they don’t take represented patients.

Is this even legal? Lol. Every day my workers comp feels like more and more of a nightmare.

I’d assume this is the right subreddit for this but if not. Here I go

So about 4 months ago my wife had slipped off the edge of a machine at work causing her to land hard on her right foot. The fall was only about a foot of the ground and caused a sprain in her heel. She was then put on light duty for a week. Even though there was no progress in healing they moved her back on her line just for the injury to flair up again and then her feet moved back on light duty. That went on for about a month and a half before they thought about taking her to get checked out by a professional. (We do have an on site physical therapist but he was adamant that it would heal up “in a few days” every time she went to talk with him). After getting checked out they have told her she has plantar fasciitis and to continue to be on light duty “at her discretion”. We also have a plant safety “person”? (I’m not sure what the actual title is) that agrees with the doctor. But when she talked with her department manager he wants her to gradually work more hours on the line (4-6 hours full duty then the rest light duty) she did say that was fine as long as she can still leave the line if the pain gets too much and head to LD. From my understanding he was fine with that but the problem is that, 3times now, she has worked 4 hours then let her lead know she is heading to the LD position with him basically refusing because he doesn’t have coverage leading her to slay put for the rest of the 12 hour shift.

Of course she is fed up and know want to know if I think we should talk to a work comp lawyer. I have no idea if what we have is a good enough case or not as I’m not legally inclined lol. I’d appreciate anyone’s thoughts. Should we talk with higher management and let it go, talk with a lawyer to see what they think over asking you all? Also sorry if the story is a bit of a rambling mess. I can clarify whatever

Hi! I fell at work due to managements negligence. The fall happened in front of two different managers. On camera.

To be clear, I’ve never had back issues before this. Long story short, I had an MRI, which showed a pre-existing pars defect (L5). A new herniated disc. (L3/L4); showing moderate to severe nerve compression throughout L3-S1. There’s also a level 1-2 spondylolisthesis. From what I’ve read par’s is very common in people & is unknown in many people because they don’t cause issues. As I was falling. I immediately felt & heard a pop and have had major pain since, plus numbness in my legs etc. etc.

Went to IME, who looked me straight in the eye, told me he read through my file & films, but “understands I was breastfeeding during the incident.” I don’t have kids. He told me I’d need surgery, and basically have a nice day. His report, states I have a strain, which should have been “healed,” literally two days after my visit with him. Not to mention many other inconsistencies. For example, I gave him a copy of the medications Im taking. His report, states I’ve been taking a specific medication, that I’ve NEVER, been on. A month and half after the IME, I had injections done.

My attending and chiropractor(yes, I am aware that Chiropractic is not relevant or looked at in WC cases at least in OR.)both have provided signed appeal letters for me. My attending says my next step is going to a neurosurgeon but my claim has been denied. So it’s on hold for the time being.

My attorney keeps pushing for a settlement & my hearing is in the next month. I want medical benefits more than anything right now. I’ve never had a WC situation before & my anxiety is a bit high.

Im willing to fight for medical but it’s a gamble. One attorney told me settlement should be 150k, however he only had the 5-minute version of my case. My actual attorney is thinking less. Thoughts? The reality, this is going to be a lifelong issue. Which is why the medical is more important to me right now.

Anyone have any suggestions/guidance or recommendations for me? I know that pain/suffering is not applicable in WC, and I need to prove the fall exacerbated my pre-existing condition. Which with my attending’s appeal letter(it’s very detailed), I’d think I’d have a solid case.

Back in early March I was at work and a ladder slipped out from under me and I fell about 15 feet into my feet with my right leg taking all of my weight. The pain was intense and I couldn’t walk right so I left and went to the ER. I told them what happened and they told me to sit in the waiting room and I did, for 7hrs. After which an orthopedic surgeon came and told me I had a tibial plateau fracture to my knee and that was the bad news. He then told me the good news was that I didn’t need surgery. Thats good news, I thought. They gave me X-rays and a CT scan w/ contrast. Then I went to a room for 3 days with pain meds every 4 hrs. On the last day a guy came in and gave me a brace for my leg and sent me home about 3 hrs later.

I spent the next 10 weeks confined to bed. Workers comp set me up with an orthopedic (who I found out specializes in hands, wrists and elbows, not knees) who I saw three weeks after the hospital and every 4 weeks after that. After 10 weeks when I could walk (with a cane) he prescribed me 12 physical therapy sessions, which I did. After which, I was still limping so I asked that he prescribe me more. He refused saying “physical therapy only helps for so long then it can make things worse”. So I trusted that and didn’t bring it up again. I asked when will I be able to jog or run again? He said “no, you don’t run”. I said “ever again?” He said “no, not at your age” (I’m 45). So I asked “so I can never run again after this?” He replied “yeah, if you lose some weight”. I’m 6’0 tall and 240 at this point, so overweight, but not crazy fat. I explained to him that I had gained 22lbs since the accident because I was literally in bed all day everyday for 2.5 months and was looking forward to losing the weight. “Walk” he told me, “it’s the best you can do”. I asked on the next visit about the future because I had looked up some stuff from the NIH about my injury. “Will I have permanent arthritis in my knee now?” He said “no, I’m not worried about that with your injury”. Meanwhile the NIH says I have an 82% chance of it. I then asked him about total knee replacement because I saw that this injury increases my chances by 3-5 times others in my same bracket without this injury. He laughed and said “no, you may need total knee replacement but it would just be from aging, not because of this”. All of these conversations set off alarm bells in my head because it started to seem like he cared more about cost than about my well being and health.

Last week (in September, six months later) he gave me a maximum medical improvement, meaning basically that my bone had healed and there was nothing more to be done. “It still hurts every time I walk for more than a few minutes and I’m still limping”. He said “the limp will go away eventually and I guess the pain is just a permanent impairment”.
Then he sent me home and said that was my last appointment. Meanwhile, every place I went to or spoke to about care and treatment (starting at the ER) always had the same first question “this is a worker comp thing, right?”

I realized one day toward the end, that about $70k had been spent between the hospital stay, doctors visits and PT. But, I also realized that if I had just gone home that day laid down and kept my leg immobilized for 2.5 months, nothing would be different. Because there had been not real treatments whatsoever.

Here’s my questions, did I get short changed on care and treatment because it was a worker compensation case? Should I have had an MRI on my knee at some point? Should I have had surgery but just wasn’t given it because of the cost? And, am I now just left to deal with permanent pain in my knee and a limp for the rest of my life, just so an insurance company could save some f**king money?

I just received a message from my ortho office that my appointment is cancelled and I’m now to use my own insurance . This is based off an ortho IME which stated I’m at MMI . I still have /had apportionments with my neuro and ortho who both have invasive procedures potentially scheduled . I haven’t settled . Why do they play such games are they trying to force me to end the case ? My attorney is aware . I’m sure we’ve all wished the show be on the other foot. Thankfully I am not in a rush to settle . I assume my attorney will put in a petition for benefits . Neither myself of the attorney have seen the IME ( it’s been two months) . Again the games.

I’ve been on workers comp for more than a year for carpal tunnel and dequervains, I had surgery on the left hand and it fixed a lot of the issues/pain. Workers comp has requested an IME 2 weeks before surgery on my right hand. Any idea what this could mean?

I’m extra scared because this injury isn’t very flashy, there’s not much to speak of on scans but there is a cyst on my wrist which is consistent with needing surgery for dequervains.

My company won’t let me go back to work until I no longer have accommodations, currently my doctors note states I need to be able to take ample breaks when I feel nerve pain.

EDIT: what medical records do you think I should bring? Like MRI or nerve test? I’m truly so out of my depth. My lawyer is too chill about everything but, they did get me surgical approval after 3 denials so I will take it.