Update On My Slip 'n Fall

[SiouzQ.]

Well, I am not recuperating as quick as I had hoped or planned - I went back to the doctor today and he is keeping me off work activities until Wednesday, when he will do another assessment. I am going to start PT tomorrow. My right leg is pretty okay, but my mid-back, shoulders and neck are still very, very sore. I think I overdid it yesterday by taking a long walk (it was so nice out, around 60 degrees here in Michigan, that I couldn't resist, and I sincerely thought it was time to start moving around and getting back to my previous activity level). I guess sometimes I can be a knucklehead about my own body, but I was getting real tired of resting and taking it easy!

The good news is that my mishap is being covered under Worker's Comp so I don't have to worry about lost wages and the medical costs, thank god! Maybe I will be cleared to go back under some lifting restrictions soon. Anyway, today my poor body is complaining and moaning something loud, so I will take the opportunity to rest in bed for as long as I wish this afternoon; I'll resume my reading and hopefully the cat I am watching will come upstairs and keep me company on this rainy, grey day.

[rodeosweetheart]

So glad you qualified for Workman's Comp! That is great news.

[treehugger]

I know it's hard, but please try to take it easy. Be kind to yourself. Enjoy your reading and potential cat cuddling.

Feel better soon,

Kara

[Gardenarian]

Sorry you're still down and out, but that's very good news that you'll be covered!

[awakenedsoul]

I hope your body heals quickly. Glad to hear you are covered, financially. I don't know if you do any gentle yoga, but that might help your urge to get moving. All the Best!

[SiouzQ.]

Well, I just found out that because I live in Michigan, the Worker's Comp law states that lost wages are not applied until the 8th day of missed work. I am currently on day 6 of no work, and am off again tomorrow, in which I go back for another PT appointment and doctor's assessment. My guess is that I will be sent back to work on the 8th day but with restrictions. I will have gone 7 full days without pay...just great...at least all the medical stuff is being taken care of.

When I was signing up for my benefits options, I really wrestled with which options to go with because each one takes money out of your take-home pay on each check. I opted for medical, dental, and vision, which already eats up about $65 per paycheck. I only make $11/hour, so that really cuts into everyday living expenses (or so I was thinking at the time). Now I have lost over a weeks wages. Next time our enrollment period comes around (not until next December) I may have to rethink that strategy.

I just have to accept that it is what is, and again be thankful for my frugal ways and the fact that I have a nice room mate paying me $300/month for his room.

[MamaM]

I wish you healthy and fast healing. (((HUGS)))

[SiouzQ.]

Well, I am going back to work tomorrow, with restrictions. I can't lift anything more than 5 lbs or push/pull anything more than 5 lbs. I think I will be peeling a lot of carrots, chopping brussel sprouts and whatever else they can find for me to do...oh, yeah, and probably pulling chicken meat off the bones.

I am getting a little too used to being off work, so it is a good thing to be back on the schedule. I am worried at how long this is taking to heal up from; I have had this type of injury and Worker's Comp case before at a long ago job about 15 years ago. I have a lot of back/neck/shoulder issues that crop up from time to time because of scar tissue and how my body reacts to injury (it basically locks up very bad in a misguided effort at self-preservation). I get a lot of muscle spasms in various places. I also have Thoracic Outlet Syndrome because I have two little extra cervical ribs at the top of my neck. When things get injured and inflamed, it starts compressing the nerves that go down into my hand. Oi vey...I haven't mentioned that part to them because I'm afraid of the preexisting condition thing; that part was disputed in my previous Worker's Comp claim and we had to go to court and all that. Not fun at all...I ended up prevailing and got a settlement from it. I just don't like being in this position again, waiting to see if this latest injury is going to cause all this issues to flare up as badly.
I'm just doing the one day at a time thing, going to PT and pleading with my body to heal so I can get back to running around! I like how fit and trim I've gotten from this job in the nine months I've been there. I can already feel how much strength and stamina I've lost in just one week...I need patience badly.

[Tradd]

Hope you're feeling 100% very soon!

[Azure]

How did it go?

[SiouzQ.]

Just checking in - today was the first day at work that my back wasn't killing me at the end of the day! It has been a pretty good week, as I have been on a lifting restriction. First it was 5 lbs, then last week it was 1 lbs, and as of yesterday I was cleared to go up to 20lbs! Woot! The cool thing is that instead of working on the deli front counter, I have been in the kitchen doing all sorts of prep work for various sub-departments of the deli. I've learned how to make sandwich wraps, package salads-to-go, made about 25 half-dozen deviled eggs from start to finish, deep-fried 2.5 giant tubs of corn tortillas for in-house made tortilla chips (what a process)! It took about 4 hours to cut about 20 stacks of 50 corn tortillas, fry them, fill the bags, label and get them out on the sales floor! Basically I've been a floater, just helping different people get their tasks done. Today I was out on the floor making paninni sandwiches all day, and it was such a nice day, as no one called in sick, the people I worked with were easy to get along with and we all work well together. The whole day went so smoothly.

The other BIG plus this past week or so is I have had day time hours, 10 - 6pm! Same think for next week too; I don't have to open or close! I don't know how long that is going to last - I didn't hand in the letter I got from my doctor explaining why I needed more regular work hours because the day I was going to hand it in was the morning I had my accident. So I am just sitting on it for now and kind of waiting to see how the scheduling goes once I am off restriction and we get the new people coming onto the team trained. I can get my doctor to re-date the letter if it becomes a problem again.
I feel so much better now! I've been taking walks when I get off work while it is still light out, and I haven't smoked! Today is Day 13!

[Tradd]

Glad to hear you're doing better. Your variety at work sounds like a good break. I hope you can retain those regular hours.