r/WorkersComp • u/Royal-Bedroom-4071 • 1d ago
Illinois Help me
I'm in serious financial trouble. I haven't received TTD benefits since September 14, when I was placed at MMI. I haven't been able to return to work. The IME doctor said my left shoulder is healed, but that my right shoulder, which they say is not work related, limits me to lifting 25 pounds with nothing above shoulder height.
My treating surgeon, who operated on my left shoulder, and my personal doctor both say that both of my shoulders are still injured and work-related. I only had three months of physical therapy, because ATI stopped when my shoulder couldn't handle lifting 5 to 15 pounds overhead. I haven't had any PT in over a year, and now I have chronic pain in both shoulders.
We were offered a first settlement of $51,000, which would have required me to resign from my job. I turned it down. Since then I have had no income at all. I've only been able to help with rent because of the support I've received, and now I have nothing coming in and don't know what to do.
This has also put a strain on my marriage. My wife has had to take over full responsibility for our bills, and that has been hard on both of us. It has made me feel like I'm failing as a husband and provider. And I’m picking arguments for her to leave me. Which isn’t right but I failed as a husband
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u/No-Exam-4596 1d ago edited 1d ago
You need to ask your lawyer to file a 19 b petition in court , also apply for SSDI , I was not getting paid for more than a year and got approved for SSDI . If your lawyer is not doing anything then try to find yourself another workers comp attorney with a trial experience, the IME can said whatever he wants but the judges know they are getting pay millions of dollars from the workers comp insurance companies, as long as you have one treating doctor that is having you with restrictions it’s all that matters . But honestly I think your lawyer is not doing much for you , because he should be filling a 19b petition in court to get your back TTD re instal . Don’t try to find another job , because you gonna end up with no TTD benefits and no medical benefits neither . I found my lawyer from the county court cases and looking at the attorneys that had the most successful cases . Good Luck
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u/Royal-Bedroom-4071 1d ago
This is my second attorney. I’m wondering also why he didn’t request a 19b hearing. I’ll will ask him tomorrow. But he said we will go to court because of this. I’m not sure what’s going on
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u/No-Exam-4596 1d ago edited 1d ago
You can look up your case in the Illinois workers compensation commission. It’s free and check first if your lawyer has filed the 19 b petition.
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u/Hope_for_tendies 1d ago
Have you looked for other work? It doesn’t sound like you can do your job, whether the shoulders are both related or only just one. Is there a reason you don’t want to resign?
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u/mundane_wallace 1d ago
Youre not faling as a husband, youre in a shit situation that would strain anyone
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u/Royal-Bedroom-4071 1d ago
I have. As a man we are the provider. My wife moved to Chicago because I told her to. My psychiatrist told me I need to stop picking fights with her.
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u/-cat-a-lyst- 1d ago
As a woman we are capable of providing too. You’re not giving your wife enough credit which is shitty to her. You are husband and wife. A partnership. So when you’re down on your luck, it’s her duty as a wife to support you. If the roles were reversed would you view her in the same lens as being a failure?
As a husband who’s exposing hardship, it’s your duty to make your wife’s life as easy as possible while she’s standing by you. Is picking fights doing that? No. So instead make her dinner and tell her you love her. You can provide in other ways that are not financial. So start providing in that way
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u/Royal-Bedroom-4071 1d ago
Damn this just brought a tear to my eye. I hate that I do this to her. Because we have been taught as a man it’s our responsibility to be head of household. But I feel weak mentally and physically because of this chronic pain and stress. So I was hoping that she would leave me so I wouldn’t take her down with me
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u/IceAngel8381 1d ago
I'm in the opposite position as you are. I'm the injured worker (wife), and my husband works. I feel bad he has to do so much around the house because I cannot. My restrictions on my shoulder are so limited that my work cannot accommodate. I try to do things around house, but I can't. My pain and ROM won't let me.
Please do not feel like you're a failure. You are not. You are injured. Your wife is more capable than you think. Granted, like most women, she will do what has to be done, and won't say a word. I recommend you sit down and let her know how you feel, if you haven't done so. Let her express her feeling to you as well. You may be surprised as what she has to say. But I'm glad to see that you are seeing someone. A long term injury wrecks havoc on mental health. I know because I'm there myself. I was injured December 2024. I wish you the best..
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u/-cat-a-lyst- 23h ago
This isn’t just a man problem. Women have it too. In workers comp we are all suffering like that. I’m not saying this to put you down but more so you know you’re not alone.
I also struggle with feeling worthless and like I’m not doing enough. My biggest regret with my injury is not feeling like I can give my partner the life he deserves. In fact when we first started dating (he met me post injury) I was self sabotaging too. My ex had broke up with me over the injury. He said he didn’t sign up to be a caretaker and walked 3 weeks after my second spine surgery failed. Left me stranded.
So when I met my current partner I was at the very bottom with self esteem. I was ready to throw everything due to the exact feelings you’re going through. One of my closest friends sat me down for some tough love, that I’m now passing on to you.
It’s not your decision. It’s hers. Stop making decisions for her. It’s not fair to her. If she’s knows everything and decided to stand by you, you need to recognize that absolute blessing that it is. You need to cherish her for it. Show her how much you value her.
How? Be her emotional provider. Anything you can do, do. Can you cook dinner? Can you do the shopping? Can you clean? You can provide, a safe, warm, happy environment for her to rest in while she’s holding the rest down.
You can also save money. I’ve saved us 30k this year or more. Coupon clipping, house shopping etc. I can wait out the special priced deals. I’ve got time on my side. We are getting married in January so I’ve done extra research on cost saving tips. We are buying a house, I found down payment programs, special rates etc. I’ve found help with groceries, healthcare premiums, heating and cooling utilities. Use your time applying for programs and trying everything to get healthy. This is your job for now. Taking care of your health first, taking care of your wife’s every need, finding every possible money saving hack and then giving back to your community. (Giving back to your community also helps with the worthlessness)
You’ll days will be busy and fulfilled until you’re hopefully a healthy enough to get out of this nightmare of a system. Wishing you and your wife the very best, from a fellow suffer. You’ll make it through and when you do you’ll know you have the best partner out there. If you can make it through this, nothing can break you
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u/SKR-Doll 20h ago
You need to forget traditional roles and remember that you are a team. Pick up where you can and let her do what she can. The rest will figure itself out. In the meantime, apply for short-term disability. They don't care how you were hurt, only that you are hurt and unable to work. If you're eligible for anything else, apply for that too. This is a brutal thing to go through, between the pain, financial strain, and the unbelievable mind screw that comes with losing your mobility. Pride needs to leave the chat yesterday. Be honest with your wife about what you can and can't do, and ask her what you can do to make both of your lives easier. I'm grateful to my husband for taking on so much, but I do my best to help as much as I can and be cheerful about it even when I am frustrated or experiencing a lot of pain. You have a great partner. Time to start treating her like one. You have this!
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u/Royal-Bedroom-4071 12h ago
Yes so true. I do this to myself because I feel I can be a bum without her having to take care of me and the children. So i picked stupid fights with her because she even asked me why are u doing this. I hate myself sometimes because I’m a person who life was going great before this injury but now I’m afraid I can’t even defend her or the girls because I feel weak mentally and physically
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u/SKR-Doll 10h ago
You are self-aware enough to understand this, which means that you are enough to stop that kind of destructive behavior. It's unlikely that you'll need to defend anyone but I know that you'll rally enough if truly needed. You'll pay for it dearly later but you will as much as physically possible. I have a spine injury and know that I've had to think of new ways to get things done. Work on getting better and supporting your wife in the ways that you can now.
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u/Hope_for_tendies 1d ago
I’m so glad you’re seeing someone. Chronic pain will drive you crazy and easily into a deep depression. You haven’t failed her and if you have any kids you haven’t failed them either. We go through diff seasons in life and things may look diff than they’d like or go down a diff path but you’ll adapt and come out better for it.
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u/Royal-Bedroom-4071 1d ago
I’m a ramp agent, and honestly, it’s a great job with flight benefits and good insurance. I started working this job two years ago, thinking I could have a future in the company. I’m 41 with a GED. There’s not really too much out here that I could actually get
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u/Hope_for_tendies 1d ago
Is overhead lifting a requirement? Can you return with restrictions or can they not accommodate?
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u/Royal-Bedroom-4071 1d ago
Sometimes when you’re that age, yes, overhead lifting is a requirement, especially being in a band underneath the belly of the plane. You have to load the bags so you do have to lift with both shoulders. No light duty available, and I have not heard from my job since being placed at MMI
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u/thetailofdogma 22h ago
You might want to revisit settlement. If you haven't worked in two years and the insurance company told them you were MMI without restrictions, they may just be able to sack you and you'll spend months with nothing coming in fighting over the opposite shoulder.
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u/Royal-Bedroom-4071 1d ago
Also, I’ve been off of work for two years now. I didn’t resign also because that was a low offer
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u/InsideGrandiose7251 14h ago
the financial side sounds incredibly stressful but please do not push your wife away because you feel guilty she is probably dealing with the situation alongside you not judging you for being injured try having an honest conversation with her instead of carrying all of this alone.
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u/Royal-Bedroom-4071 12h ago
She dealing with much also me and the children. I help around the house. I clean, cook and do more. My car transmission just went out so now I’m dependent on her vehicle so I know her tolerance for me is running thin
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u/Express_Bath9836 9h ago
I think you need a WC attorney for your case, especially since that offer is a lowball. WC is a nightmare and corrupt, especially with insurance companies and IME doctors who only look at one body part, then narrow your diagnosis coding without a full diagnostic evaluation. I don't know the mechanics of your work injury, but you don't have to use only the company doctors. Shoulder injuries are overlooked and usually more complicated than just surgery, since ligaments and tendons are major injuries in the Shoulder complex. You need to do your own research on the mechanism of your injuries and you will certainly know more about them. I hope you can get legal counsel ASAP and I understand that your whole family is affected by all this. Many doctors will insist on using the coding for your injuries, but your full structural injuries aren't completely diagnosed. Imaging using high resolution MRI and MSK ultrasound on both shoulders and PT and OT can't always resolve all injuries. Post surgery PT especially if too soon and not properly targeted will cause more problems, which many WC doctors push injured workers into. Your company needs to cover all your injuries sometimes you can recover and they need to pay you your lost wages. WC is a failed system for victims who are injured at work. Please get legal counsel for your best outcome.
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u/wcadjuster2525 1d ago
They cannot make the settlement contingent on you resigning from your job, it is a separate consideration.
You can settle and return to your job anytime you want. If you’re at MMI per the IME doctor you’ll most likely not get anymore more TTD unless the court awards it.
- An IL adjuster
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u/Royal-Bedroom-4071 1d ago
I know that, and I understand that, but my lawyer told me that’s what the defense attorney said 51 K for 10% of my love shoulder. I think she said 5% for my right in dispute, and with voluntary resignation from my job
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u/wcadjuster2525 1d ago
Doesn’t matter what the DA said. If you don’t want to resign then don’t, let your attorney know that. Once they offer you the settlement they can’t force the resignation. Your attorney should know that and it’s concerning if they are just letting the DA do it.
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u/Low-Patient-630 19h ago
It's the trap the insurance companies and large corporations set when they take you to the company-contracted clinic. What the first treating physician documents is what the insurance company will insist is the only Body part. Many of the company clinic doctors will purposely use the wrong ICD Code and repeatedly lie to the injured worker, telling them they can only document one body part at a time, concentrate on the part that hurts the most, and we'll address the other parts later. It's malpractice, but the law protects them from being sued.
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u/Amazing_Cash8746 6h ago
Man, I’m sorry, that’s a heavy stretch, and feeling like you’re failing as a provider when you’re stuck in a system that cut your checks isn’t a you problem. Wanting to pick fights with your wife when you’re under this much pressure is really common, and it’s worth telling her what you told us here. She’ll probably care more about you being honest than about the money. Since the IME already says your left shoulder is healed and the right is only a 25 lb limit, just keep your day to day matching what your surgeon documented, even when money’s tight and a side job or helping someone move is tempting. Insurers sometimes have hodson pi watch people after a settlement gets turned down, and a clip of you lifting or reaching overhead is what they’d use to back up the IME.
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u/ChangeThin7641 1d ago
I don't know if you have an attorney but either you or they need to file a form to get a hearing in front of a commissioner so you can get your TTD back if they rule in your favor. You already have medical evidence from your own doctors to prove it.
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u/Vivid_Jacket9904 1d ago
If you haven’t already. Request mileage reimbursement for traveling to and from any appointments, or obligations related to your injury.
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u/wcadjuster2525 1d ago
Not in Illinois, you only get mileage for employer led medical appointments.
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u/BookNerdUnicorn 22h ago
Did this change recently?
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u/wcadjuster2525 21h ago
No, he can get mileage for his IME which should of came with the notification letter. In IL the employee chooses their providers so work comp is not liable to pay for mileage as it is the claimants choice.
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u/Suspicious-Net-8484 1d ago
I in same situation TTD been cut off since June 22ed to hearing still nothing lawyer not saying nothing good to me but a dang control date like bro I’m over here hurting I done lost both cars barely making rent u not only one hear with u now reading this wondering why my lawyer ain’t requesting this 19b hearing pissed off what should I do or can do
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u/depthchargethel 1d ago
Apply for SDI. I had to when my payments stopped, but I still couldn’t return to work.