Workcover making things worse

[JayEss]

Now I'm not very good at expressing myself so im just gonna start typing and see what happens.
Also if this is posted in the wrong area i apologize


On the 6th of May 2016, 4 days into a new job working in a warehouse i suffered a left thumb injury. UCL Tear and a bone abrasion.

Essentially my thumb bent a way its not meant too, damaging ligaments and tearing a small chunk of bone off also.

This new job was just after a period of time off work due to my mental health.


I was put onto workcover by the employment agency i was hired through, and it has been one of the most horrible experiences of my life.

The original diagnosis of my thumb was just extreme swelling which my gp advised me would be gone in 3 days. After a week of no improvement i went back to the doctors and saw a different gp.

He reffered me to a local hand therapist and my thumb was put into a plastic splint, to keep the joint stable while the ligaments healed.

I was immediately put onto 'light duties' in the employment agencies office, as I technically still had a capacity to work and the doctor/hand therapist where hopeful my thumb would recover with rest.

It didnt.

My light duties are shortened hours, sitting in a tiny room with a table and a laptop, doing work which they say is used, but nobody has ever even opened the spreadsheet.

I dont receive my payments unless I do the hours specified each day.



After 5 months of being in the splint, xrays, an inconclusive ultrasound, an mri and an independent medical examination, i was finally reffered to a surgeon and given an actual diagnosis; UCL tear.


I was given 6 weeks off work fully after surgery, then put back onto light duties.

Its been 3 months now since surgery, and while it 'went well' progress on movement and building strength has been painfully slow.

Monthly hand therapy appointments are apparently enough, and while they say things are looking good its hard to believe that when i can barely move the joint.



My motivation has hit rock bottom, and some days (like today) I get so anxious i just shut down. The thought of going to work and sitting in that room make me feel sick.

I just feel lost. I've grown to despise anything to do with this place and i know its not helping me.

Im thinking about asking my gp about a mental health plan again?



Its now been over 9 months and I feel useless



Has anyone else whos been through the workcover nightmare got any advice or help?

[Wednesday]

Hello JayEss,

I'm really pleased you came to the forum it's a great place to chat and work through things.

You poor thing you have had such a horrid time. I've been through the work cover system and it wasn't fun. I'm fairly sure that you are supposed to be worthwhile work not just fobbed off with a busy job. I am appalled at the way you have been treated though sadly not surprised. It is important that you address this very soon you and your mental and physical health are much more important than any silly bureaucracy.

I'm sorry that despite everything you have been through you still have a physical injury and I'm worried about your mental health. Yes I think you are absolutely on track getting a mental health plan from your doctor the sooner the better. Hopefully you are seeing the same doctor who knows about the issues you have had with your thumb? Maybe ask for a sick note to give you a break too, given your anxiety about going back into work.

Please know you are really not alone. There are many people on here with lots of experience to help out too. Just in case you haven't noticed there is also the chat line 1300 22 4636 available 24/7.

Good luck, I’d love to know how you are going. Do keep talking and asking for help it's not you it's the system.

[Wednesday]

PS. You did a great job of expressing yourself! x

[Ivan0491]

Hi

I'm stilling going through the work cover nightmare 6 years and counting since the first injury back in 2010. After the second injury or re-injury in 2012 I was treated very much like you have been isolated and treated with contempt. I developed major depression due to this, the work place became a major trigger and my doctor pulled me out of the place as I couldn't cope. You really need to speak with your GP tell them how the work place makes you feel and get a mental health plan and go from there. Good luck and keep us informed with your progress

[geoff]

hi Jay, I do what you're talking about, because for me after 33 years I am still having problems with workcover even though the court ruling was for workcover to pay for anything that is related to my head injury, counseling, medication, doctor's appointments etc, but in your case it's always upsetting that someone does tell you that everything seems to going along well, when in fact you know yourself it's not.
I'm sorry to hear of your plight, but just be careful that they don't put you into any position at work that you detest, hoping that you will resign, so their problem will go away. Geoff.

[cray]

workcover increases stress, in my experience as they bounce you from doctor to doctor, theirs deny or play down your injury, your doc stating the truth. its almost my doc trumps your doc kinda gameplay and that in itself can increase the stress and make you despise working there even more.

in 2000 i had a shattered elbow due to tripping over something on the floor and over extending my elbow, this also affected my hand since the muscles and tendons in your hand go right up your arm too.

i got movement back in my hand by using a stress ball and rolling it around in my hand, lightly squeezing it, and holding it between thumb and one finger and moving/rolling it around a little, then doing the same with thumb and next finger along.
i used to do this while watching the telly with my arm on a pillow or cushion on the arm rest so it was very comfy and the telly was a mental distraction. i also did elbow movements aswell. it helped get me back to full movement in a short space of time.

i hope it helps give you some ideas on increasing movement.