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On Thursday at work, I was walking towards a storage shelf to put up some placards (we put placards on each bin of mail to indicate where it's going). As I walked past a collapsed bin (large plastic bins we use for outgoing mail in addition to the standard cardboard boxes), a coworker moving a bin of mail bumped the collapsed one, pushing it into my path and causing me to trip (complete accident of course). Since then my right elbow has been very sore. I stuck it out a few hours thinking it was just badly bruised but it got to the point where I couldn't easily do my job so I reported the incident to my manager and went to a local urgent care place to have it looked at after filling out the necessary paperwork at work.

After a follow-up appointment yesterday, they think I have an occult fracture on my right elbow and are having me follow up with an orthopedic specialist on Tuesday.

I can move my arm more now than I could on Thursday (thanks to keeping it in a sling most of the time and putting ice on it), but the elbow is still swollen and when I talked to HR on Friday I was told that I'd have to remain off work since I can't use my entire arm (even though the doctors said I could return with light duty).

Pray for a speedy recovery and that things will work out so that I don't end up having to use all my sick time while I'm out (not that I get sick that often but it's nice to have a lot built up in case something serious does happen). I do have short term disability coverage so that might be an option depending on how long I'll be out. I'm going to call HR and leave a message later to explain the situation and of course call again on Tuesday to follow up after the visit with the orthopedic specialist.

Sorry to hear about the accident. Just prayed for you. Hope you are back to normal quickly!

Michael ( Oldiemann ) things will work out as it is meant to be...remember who is taking care of you - us, just look up if you need any reminders...

Talked to the orthopedic person this morning. There is a small break in the bone, but they think it will heal fine on its own and don't want my arm to get stiff from inactivity, so they're not going to do a cast or a splint. They want me to keep moving it as much as I can when I'm at home, and wear a sling when I'm out and about. They still don't want me to use that arm at work at all, so the next step is to get in touch with HR and see about short term disability (which I do have as part of my insurance/benefits coverage). I follow up again with the orthopedic person in 4 weeks (June 14th).

All things considered, that's pretty good news! Glad to hear it!

Having trouble trying to get hold of HR at work now though. Yesterday they apparently had new hire orientation so I can understand them being busy...

Today:
One person is out of the office
Left a message for another person (haven't heard back)
Tried calling the other two (no answer - went to voice mail instead)

I finally sent an email to all of them hoping that will get me somewhere.

I'll try again in the morning and if I still don't hear back I guess I'll have to go in and talk to them in person. I'd prefer not to do that as it's 30 minutes each way.

Finally managed to get hold of someone from HR via email last night. Unfortunately she's out of the office until next week. She did say though that the worker's comp case has been submitted and I should be hearing from the case worker soon. She also said she'd follow up next week.

Michael, that's progress...

So frustrating! Glad you finally got to someone. Keep us posted!

Good news... I've officially been approved for worker's comp. I won't get my full pay (one site says I'm limited to 66⅔% of my weekly wage) but it's better than nothing (and I've got more than enough money that the difference in that and what I'd get at work won't hurt much). Now it's just a waiting game - seeing how long it takes for them to get the money to me and how long it is until I can actually go back to work.

This is life as one gets older, it goes one way or the other...Michael, it is onwards and upwards from now on...

That's fantastic! Thank you for keeping us posted.

Still working on getting full movement in my arm back as well - still can't straighten it all the way out or bend it all the way up (bending forearm up towards my shoulder) without some pain but it's still a whole lot better than it was the first few days after I got injured. I believe they're going to start physical therapy at my next appointment as well, so hopefully my elbow will be fully healed by then.

I used to work as a physical therapy technician, and I was always amazed at how fast people were able to get back to life after an injury! Glad to  hear things are getting done.

Update on this situation. Elbow is still sore but my arm is feeling almost back to normal. I was supposed to have a follow-up appointment with the orthopedic doctor this morning, but found out last night my dad has COVID. I called the doctor's office this morning to find out what they wanted to do - we're all fully vaccinated and I don't have any symptoms, but they still wanted to reschedule. The problem is the orthopedic doctor is only at this particular urgent care place every other week so now I have to wait two more weeks before I can go in now.

It always feels like two steps forward, one step back! Glad you're feeling better.

My Multiple Sclerosis body caused me to have an indoor fall yesterday around 4.30 pm, pressed my wrist alarm, took 5 to 6 hours for an ambulance - medics to arrive to get me back up...I was not alone, i had two church males take it in turns not to leave me until ambulance arrived....They eventually got me up using an air hydraulic cushion that slowly and safely lifted me up...i could not have gotten up any other way...

Apologies Michael i was hijacking your " elbow injury " posting...

I agree with Jenny, " one step forwards, two steps back "....what bad timing for you... But dont despair, as all will turn out in the end as it should...

OH my word, Jacqueline! I am so sorry. Are you hurting from the actual fall anywhere? So thankful you had 2 there for you. Praying all will be well.  Hope you're feeling better these 2 days. Keep us posted on how you're doing!

Quote from: Jacqueline on June 15, 2022, 09:11:38 AMMy Multiple Sclerosis body caused me to have an indoor fall yesterday around 4.30 pm, pressed my wrist alarm, took 5 to 6 hours for an ambulance - medics to arrive to get me back up...I was not alone, i had two church males take it in turns not to leave me until ambulance arrived....They eventually got me up using an air hydraulic cushion that slowly and safely lifted me up...i could not have gotten up any other way...

Jenny, no i wasn't hurt, ( thank you for asking ) apart from a sore backside from sitting on that floor - carpet with my back to my armchair, only my pride was hurt as the two 70 - 80 year old men from my church " Disciple group " had to see me this way, so helpless...six hours i was on the floor waiting for ambulance to arrive, apparently they prioritise...all you are being told is one is on its way....or we will be there soon, guess they get called away on more serious emergencies....My call alert know my age ( 71 ) and my Multiple Sclerosis situation...
I did go down sideways just missing catching my head on the tiled fireplace hearth, thank God as things could have been a whole lot worse, if i had knocked myself out, how on earth could i have pressed my wrist pendant for a live voice on the other end of my alarm for help...no one would have found me for days...

I just can't believe you were there for 6 hours after calling for the ambulance. That makes me so sad. You're right about it could have been a lot worse. The Lord was there with you for sure! Years ago my grandmother fell and couldn't get back up. She was in her kitchen for 3 days until my uncle finally stopped by to check in on her. It breaks my heart when anyone falls for any length of time. I'm so thankful those men were there for you! I don't know anything about MS. How does it cause you to fall? Do you lose feeling in your nerve or a sudden pain or ??

It is a degenerative - autoimmune disease....it affects the central nervous system that interrupts the information within the brain....Affects the brain and spinal cord...Affects co-ordination...Causes spasm'ing...there is no cure...

In hindsight, if i didn't have my wrist pendant to call for help, heaven knows how long i would have been on that floor all by myself, now that is frightening, and even though the call safe was just a few feet away on-top of the fireplace, the shelf, the caller on the other end said on a few occasions that she was finding it hard hearing me....Thank heavens i now have the alarm pendant...

Michael....how is your father...

Oh Jenny, just reread your above post about your grandma, how terrible...but this is our reality as we get older and frail...the fear of falls...Is your grandmother still with you...

Oh, that was many years ago - about 20 now, but it makes me appreciate the fear of falling when alone in a home.

Another update. Finally got back to the orthopedic doctor today. He's pleased with progress and said it's healing well. I start physical therapy to help regain strength and movement in my arm tomorrow and have another follow-up with the orthopedic doctor in 4 weeks. I talked to HR at work and they still want me to remain off until I get the all clear to return to restricted duty (right now the doctor doesn't want me pushing/pulling/lifting more than 10 pounds, and even the only occasionally, so again there's not a lot I could do at work). Assuming everything goes as planned, I should be able to return to work on the 26th.

The downside now is I again have to rethink my vacation. I was originally planning to go on vacation the week of July 11th, then moved my hotel booking to August 8th. With the plan now being that I won't get back to work until the 26th, I can't easily take vacation in August, especially since my older niece starts school again in mid-August and my sister borrows my car three days a week to take her to school (her husband works Sunday-Wednesday and has to be at work at 5am so she can't easily drive him)

Michael...dont think about, nor worry about any of this until after tomorrow, your 40th Birthday...Relax your mind and enjoy your day, as you will never see 40 again...

Planning on having fun tomorrow. I got a coupon from a burger chain for a free burger for my birthday so I plan on going out to use that at lunchtime tomorrow followed by a movie (showings of the new Minions movie start tomorrow at 2) then dinner and ice cream cake with the family for dessert.

  HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Hope you have a wonderful day of fun, food, and family! 

I did. Went to Red Robin for lunch because I'm on their email list and got a coupon for a free burger, then went to see the new Minions movie. Came home for a while then went out to dinner with family before coming back home for ice cream cake and presents.

Good, that's the way, a 40th Birthday to remember, mine was my 50th...