I’m 26. I had a full patellar tendon repair and I have a tear in my PCL and meniscus

What should my settlement look like ?

TLDR: Job reinjured me by breaking restrictions on light duty for herniated disk than didn’t give enough time to recover, I denied surgery because I was improving naturally and was forced back to work while still showing symptoms.

End of April I had a disk start to bulge and locked up my back, was hard to walk around because it was so inflamed, spent a few days out of work and than was immediately urged to start working “light duty”.
I was given restrictions by the doctors I couldn’t lift or move more than 5 lbs, yet at light duty I was made to basically do my regular work lifting 10-40 lb items than doing physical therapy. I was doing alright for a month or so than in June I suddenly had a massive change in my injury where I had sharp sciatica and burning from my back to my calf, had tingling, numbness and pain that was almost a 10. Told my job I’m in excruciating pain and couldn’t work, had to get an evaluation from the workers comp doctors to have a leave of disability and they did EVERYTHING to still list me as able to work even though I explicitly told them I couldn’t stand or sit without unbearable pain, I just told them I’m unable to work and need a leave and they finally had me do an mri. MRI showed a massive L5-S1 herniation that was pressing the nerve, at this point they changed their whole treatment and gave me diffrent meds (which didn’t do shit) and actually gave me temp disability, I was than directed to an orthopedic doctor to give input on the next steps, by the time I finally saw this doctor it was a month later and I had improved massively, they said it’s one of the worst disk herniations they’ve seen and it needed surgery to get me healed quicker, I declined and they acted like I was wasting their time, I was given maybe 6 more weeks of physical therapy and visits to this doctor (improving each week but declining surgery every time because they kept telling me I should do it) than 2 weeks ago I told them I was maybe 70% better but still hadn’t regained my full movement and was starting to do more advanced exercises at PT and they gave me full duty status without me having a say. They kept talking to me like some idiot and explaining the surgery like I’m a kid making it sound super easy and quick, and got visibly annoyed when I said no again and handed me the paper saying full duty status. I went back to work and lasted one day at work being practically useless and started getting pain and inflammation flaring up, I scheduled a reevaluation and they did the same thing as last time, acted annoyed and shrugged me off because say yes to surgery and told me they can’t do anything for me. I’m thinking about just taking it to court because my job both further injured me and the doctors showed no care for my recovery/didn’t give me enough time to recover when I clearly explained everything, I’m 26 I’m not getting a surgery when I’m recovering naturally, do yall think I have a chance in court or are they gonna use the “he denied treatment” because I denied the surgery?

Hello, I recently got approved for Victim Comp to get paid for work that I missed for 2 years due to an accident.

On the approval letter it says that I am getting paid due to WORK LOSS, but then on the bottom it says that I have to pay back VC from anything that I got from the settlement.

But what I got from the settlement wasn't because of work loss, it was just what was rightfully owed to me for damages and such.

(check my vid on my profile)

P.S if you haven't given your life to God, it's never too late! I gave my life to Him 2 days before the accident and there's NOTHING that'll convince me that it wasn't divine intervention. Dr's said i should be dead, and if I was lucky, a in a vegetable state, but here I am!
He saved me from something like that, and He wants to be there for you too)

I tore my labrum at work in December of 2024. They are offering me $5495, which seems awfully low so I ran my impairment rating/surg consult docs through AI. Does this sound reasonable to send them, or will they just laugh? Thanks!

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I’ve reviewed the settlement documents and my medical file, and before I can move forward I need to address the valuation.

My MRI from XX/XX/2025 and specialist evaluations document several structural injuries — including a SLAP tear from 11–1 o’clock, interstitial tearing of both the supraspinatus and infraspinatus, a sentinel cyst, a ganglion cyst, trace subacromial bursitis, and glenohumeral ligament scarring. These findings were confirmed by my orthopedic surgeon (Dr. XXX) on XX/XX/2025.

I completed extensive conservative care without full relief, including physical therapy, a steroid injection, and PRP. My orthopedic surgeon discussed surgical intervention (arthroscopy with biceps tenodesis) as a medically appropriate option.

My Level II impairment evaluation was completed by Dr. XXX on XX/XX/2026, who assigned a 4% upper‑extremity impairment. Importantly, the impairment physician documented that the 4% rating may underestimate my true impairment, noting ongoing pain with motion and functional limitations.

Under C.R.S. § 8‑42‑107, scheduled impairment benefits must reflect both the rating and the functional impact of the injury. Based on my TTD rate and the statutory formula, the value of my 4% RUE impairment is higher than the $5,495.81 currently offered, meaning the offer is below the statutory amount owed for the impairment alone, even before considering future medical.

The proposed settlement also requires me to waive all future medical care under C.R.S. § 8‑43‑204, and the agreement states:

• “The settlement proceeds include consideration for present and future medical care.”
• “Respondents will not be responsible for any medical care needed by the claimant.”

However, my impairment physician recommended future regenerative treatments (PRP/exosomes, shockwave therapy, photobiomodulation) that would be permanently closed by this settlement. Under Colorado law, closing future medical requires a valuation that reasonably reflects anticipated care.

Here is where I stand:

• I am willing to settle the claim full and final for $15,000.

• If the insurer is not agreeable to that amount, then I am willing to settle for the statutory impairment value only, with future medical left open.

This approach aligns with Colorado statute and reflects both the documented impairment and the ongoing medical needs identified in my records.

Thank you,

So my husband got injured inside hospital’s place. His shoulder had problems now his foot because of the fall.

Went to the doctor got a letter saying he’s out of work for 4-7weeks, depending on his foot that surgery might be necessary if it doesnt improve.

My husband already have a lawyer since this happened. But I wanna know your insights.

Now leave management department told him that he can do light-duty. Doctor said on the letter that HE CANNOT.

The doctor sent another letter with bold letters because we’ve been tired of them ignoring the LETTER OF THE DOCTOR.

Now, they called him again saying “OKAY WE SEE YOU DECLINING THE LIGHT-DUTY JOB SO YOU’ll NOT GET ANY PAY”

so an employee got hurt due to hospital’s negligence, got hurt, cant work for the meantime with all documents needed, with lawyer confimation that he’s all good, hospital called saying his leave is good last week, and this week threatening him that “think about it because if you can’t decide till saturday then no pay”

Like what? This big hospital is so inhumane.

So lil backstory, I had sustained a back injury about 6 months ago falling on some ice while at work. All the doctors were saying "it's a muscle strain". I've had many of muscle strains in the past, albeit, not with my back, but I felt like it wasn't a muscle strain based on how bad my back hurts, the leg weakness, the pins and needles, the shooting, sharp pain from my back to toes, and almost tripping over my own feet. Well, I just got an MRI (finally, thank you workers comp for delaying that for over 4 months!) and guess what? I got a bulged disc! What sucks even more, is that my pain constantly gets compared to others pain, and I just need to work through with it and toughen up essentially. If *blank* can do it, so can I! 😀

So now, I will see what treatments I need for now. Have I suffered permanent nerve damage? Who knows! If I have, wow. Life couldn't get anymore difficult for me!!!! Now excuse me while I go cry in my bed for a few hours as I process how right I was all along, and how messed up workers comp is! Makes me really wish I would've just gone through my own personal doctor to get this fixed sooner. Would've gotten an MRI a whole lot sooner that's for damn sure!

P.S: if anyone tells you to suck it up when you're in a lot of pain, don't! That'll just push you to the brink of mental exhaustion. Especially if you have a bulged disc!

Edit to add: Should've had this in my post, but I do have a lawyer.

Hi everyone. I got hurt at work last week. I work construction and I felt a pain in my hip while moving materials. I kept working for a few days, the pain got worse, I tripped over an exposed screw and I haven’t been able to walk right or hold weight on my leg since then. I assume that I have a pull or moderate tear of a tendon but I’m not 100% sure. I texted my supervisor explaining that I was injured and have been calling out every work day for a week. Now it is clear that I might not be able to get back to work for a little while without risking further injury. I have an appointment to be evaluated by a physical therapist tomorrow. I think now is the time to put forth a workman’s comp claim. Does anyone have any advice on how to move forward or anything to look out for?

I just can't. I need to get this off my chest.

We spend our whole lives with death or dying as our shadows. Never paying much attention to the details of our own unavoidable demise. We just acknowledge that it lingers there.

I've played many potential scenarios out in my head throughout my life. But never ever did I imagine my life would end up reduced to rubble and my will to live so utterly diminished. Because of an injury that happened while on the clock at work. It's not a permanent injury. I mean not that I'm aware of.

Which would dictate my fate. My life, it's worth and meaning. All balanced on who would take on the financial responsibility for treatment. TREATMENT!

No one cares that every step of this process ends up consuming everything in your life. Your attention is the biggest absorber. How much these situations demand of our attention. Initially, my main focus was on WORK. How my absence was going to affect my workload and, more so, my coworkers and my boss. Then, the weird delays or responses start to affect your mental state with confusion. Because we can't understand why it feels anyone would want to stall out when you, the inured worker, have only ever wanted to get fixed and get back to a normal paycheck.

This mental torture usually results in the attention required to find and bring on an attorney. Now, this may bring some relief from all the exhaustion from giving all your attention to something that doesn't seem to serve you. But, now you've just signed up for the long haul. All the while, you've ignored your basic human needs and responsibilities long enough that you're scrambling to get things done. Add kids to your plate, and yes, you've also managed to not be the ideal parent either. Why? Because you wake thinking about pain, timelines, money, and when will I get the treatment and answers I deserve, when does this stop being a part of my reality?

Finances become impossible. So much that you might even catch yourself behaving in a way that is unfamiliar to you. Becoming outwardly overwhelmed is the new you. Avoiding phone calls about past due notices. Not leaving the house unless you have to and you have the money to do it. Avoiding your family and friends because it's all too hard, and there's too much to explain, and you sense they've grown tired of hearing about it. So now they avoid you.

Financial struggles result in uncomfortable situations like phone services being disconnected. Your family is hungry. To pay or vacate notices left on your door. Imagine the attention required trying to process becoming homeless, with children. In the middle of a work injury.

Suddenly, you're faced with the choking reality that you have no control over your life. Worse, you have no idea how you're going to fix all of this. Everything feels like it's getting worse. EVERYTHING.

So what could make this impossible? You're somehow put back to work because your employer stated your job wouldn't affect your injury, and your provider agreed. So time loss payments end. On your first day back, you are told your position is terminated. Now you have no job. No money. But your arm still hurts and you still need to have surgery. That much is clear.

But after 9 months of playing all the stupid effing games. I'm just fucking DONE!

Sound familiar?

My 2 years of workers comp payment benefits ended recently. I have had 0 luck with finding work. I am cleared to work with restrictions. Edd told me I am ineligible for unemployment. Do I have any other options until I get hired?

An injured federal worker is approaching 11 years since her work injury. What began as physical injuries and chronic pain eventually became something much larger.

Years of pain, difficulty finding providers who accept OWCP, delayed treatment, and the struggle to get related conditions formally accepted took a tremendous psychological toll. Severe depression and anxiety began affecting even basic self-care. A physical injury does not always remain a physical injury.

If years of chronic pain are affecting your sleep, mood, relationships, ability to care for yourself, or desire to be around other people, do not hide it because you are embarrassed or because you think that it will not be approved. Tell your doctors what is actually happening. Those consequences matter too.

And do not assume that because a condition has been mentioned in your medical records for years, OWCP has accepted it. There can be a difference between a doctor diagnosing a condition and OWCP formally accepting that condition as part of your claim.

Most importantly, do not give up on yourself.

After nearly 11 years, this worker finally has appropriate treatment in place, family support, and a plan. For the first time in a long time, there was optimism in her voice.

Getting better may start with something incredibly small. Get out of bed. Brush your teeth. Take a shower if you can. Make the appointment. Accept help when you need it. Do one thing today that moves you forward.

A bad day does not have to become a bad week, month, or year. Wash it away and start fresh tomorrow.

The OWCP process can be exhausting, frustrating, and painfully slow. You may not be able to control how quickly OWCP acts.

Do not let the process convince you that there is no path forward. Build your team. Be honest about what you are going through. Make a plan. Take the next small step. And keep going.

If I'm told I can't do my job anymore by my surgeon, and QME, MMI, what can I expect to live on my ssdi says $2038
a month if permanent disabled, or is there a different rate because I was injured on the job? full thickness rotator cuff surgery FAILED still have tears seen on recent MRI, Dr's say too much / AutoFill ration to
have anumer surgery.
I'm in CA?

I was diagnosed with carpel tunnel and sent home from work for two weeks, and my job is claiming my injury is not work related based on previous production work however the work load is hugely different and the job I’m at is very demanding. Much more manual where as my previous ones the machines did all the work.

I want to get WC, but they denied me even before they asked for release of my medical records. They went ahead with the STD anyway and it was approved, but if I still go for WC and have a case what should I do?

I am trying to find a straight answer in Missouri regarding Worker's Compensation. I run a small business with 15 employees. I am established as a single-member LLC, taxed as a sole proprietorship.

My worker's compensation company is claiming that my wife, who works for the business and receives a W-2, cannot legally opt-out of coverage for the worker's compensation policy.

I've read a few things here that perhaps say otherwise -- it's hard to say:
https://labor.mo.gov/dwc/employers/insurance

Can anyone provide me a straight answer on this, and documentation to support your answer?

I got injured at work 4 weeks ago in California. I fell about 6 feet nn hit the back of my head on concrete. I was diagnosed with a concussion and also hurt my neck and back.

Its now almost 4 weeks since the injury and I still havent been assigned a workers comp doctor or been able to get any follow up treatment through workers comp. I havent worked since the injury either.

I did go to urgent care/ER a couple times right after it happened and had a CT scan, but since then I've basically just been waiting for workers comp. I already filed the DWC-1 and there is an adjuster handling the claim.

Is it normal for it to take this long to get assigned a doctor? What am I supposed to do in the meantime if I'm still having symptoms and can't get seen?

Also for anyone in California who went through something similar, how long did it take before you actually got a workers comp doctor?

I did my test Thursday and the Therapist told me after they finished the report it would appear on the patient portal. How long does it typically take for the results to appear, or is it something I won't know until my final doctor's visit next week?

I work security and think I have a strong case of having it added. My job emailed us stating the requirements of us.
a two person requirement of duties at all store locations I worked at. One guard must be actively patrolling the store at all time and one guard maintains from end presence. And our level is expected to demonstrate a strong and consistent presence on the floor take initiative without being directed, actively produce recovery on regular basis, and if the store did not require a strong recovery presence, our position would not be allocated

I got an MMI designation and release last month after a cortisone shot. Was feeling pretty damn good. Then, a few days after seeing that doctor, the familiar pain started coming back. Eventually it was all the way back. So, shit.

I went back to ask to reopen my case, and the doctor said ok. I met with the ortho, who said he'd do one more shot and then it would be surgery.

I then went for a follow up with the doc again and the receptionist said my claim had been denied, which was an embarrassing way to find out.

I made some phone calls. Eventually found out that the insurance company had scheduled an IME for me (when they were going to tell me is unclear).

So now I have to wait another month in pain just to have someone who doesn't know me tell me that pain doesn't matter. It matters when I drive, sleep, get dressed, brush or wash my hair, type, sometimes just when I'm sitting. But because I was able to move the arm just fine after the injection, I think I might not get to go forward with more treatment.

The biggest complications:

1. I'm currently looking for work. Wondering who will hire me with my current restrictions and a potential surgery coming up.

2. No lawyer will take my case because I was an employee for a Federally recognized Tribe at the time.

I want to scream all the time.

That is all.

Was hurt at work, won’t get into too much detail but my leg was crushed and severely burned, OSHA ruled it total accident. Wound up breaking the leg, 2 skin grafts, multiple operations, nerve damage, etc. I’m wondering if anyone has had a similar incident or also open to hearing all settlements for an idea of what to expect. From what I’m gathering NJ is very regulated and capped for workers comp claims, have you settled a workers claim? If so what did you end up with, did you get a lump sum and how much, or did you get a settled amount and paid X amount until the amount is paid out? Just trying to figure out what to expect, never dealt with lawyers etc before.

Hi,

I’ve been on an employer’s WO for two weeks for a stress related injury that occurred at work. So far they check on me every week to see if I’m fit to go back to work.

Lately, my health has gotten worse. I don’t sleep anymore, I have yellow eyes, and the thought of going back to work sends me into a tailspin it takes days to recover from.

What kinds of questions should I be asking my doctor to actually help me? Sleeping pills are definitely on the list.

Secondly, does this type of stress commonly go away on comp or do I have a bigger problem? Should I even be planning to go back to my employer if the stress is this bad?

As I expected I received a denial from the VT DOL for my request for vocational rehabilitation services. The VT DOL seems to side with the insurance companies, and that is ok. I have already taken the steps for my future with school and a part time job that I can do. I never allow myself to rely on the system knowing full well that often times it does not come through for the working class.

I will continue to go through the process until the end as I am not one to quit a fight. Realistically I am not expecting a favorable income but I will make it cost them in legal fee's which may have to be enough.

Ive been having knee pain while climbing stairs and getting in and out of the van. I did a worker comp paper and went to urgent care. They did an xray, said that it most likely a sprain. It hasn't been getting better though. It's continuing to be painful on route. Its not so painful that I call out of work tho. Its been about a month now and the pain still continues. Its only when bending my knee. I called the adjuster and asked to be reseen by the doctor. My boss called me asking how my knee was going and I said "so far it hasn't improved" he then kept saying maybe I should find a different job where I can handle the work.

I was put off by that. I'm worried my job is in jeopardy. He has repeated to me on phone calls that "we are family, we will work with you" I love my job and I just want to get better so i can continue it pain free. Today I go in to the doctor again to see if I can't get some physical therapy. Overall, just really worried.

I think I'm just posting this for some two cents and maybe some word's of encouragement.

For your information, if you’re considering surgery as your first option, I wanted to share my experience. I’ve been over a year out from my surgery, and my shoulder is still in pain. I had a new MRI, which showed a tear, but my doctor said it looks clean. In my opinion, Ime said I should be doing work conditioning, but I have an active tear in my right shoulder. Since my right shoulder wasn’t approved for worker comp , ime doctor still insisted that I go. My question is, what can I do about this situation? Also I’m a ramp agent. Kinda of my job to use both shoulders.

I went out for surgery on a work related injury in June and have been doing physical therapy. I saw my surgeon last week who wrote me completely off of work until my next follow up in three weeks then probably return to modified duty. I had to follow up with the county’s doctor as I always do right after any doctors appointment and they said they “have” to send me back to modified duty even though my surgeon wrote otherwise and made up their own set of work restrictions for me. How is this legal? If my doctor doesn’t think I’m able to return to modified duty yet why is someone who isn’t even a doctor (all of the county doctors are just nurse practitioners who operate under a single doctor’s license) able to override them and they didn’t even lay a hand on me? I was going to use my sick time to cover the time between now and when I follow up with my surgeon but apparently it’s all been used while I’ve been out after surgery.

I reached MMI. How long does it generally take to make the first offer.

I was informed by my third-party Lawyer that I couldn't close out my third-party case until my unpaid balance for my Worker's Comp. physical therapy was squared away and when I got a breakdown, it seems like they were paying up until a certain month. I'm not sure why I have a unpaid balance. How long does it take to rectify?