What next??? Poor Hubby!!

[GR8DAME]

Screw Amtrak, Jeanne. Get a lawyer and make the cold ba@#$!ds  FLY his broken self home. Their callus disreguard for his comfort and welfare is wonderful grounds for a lawsuit.
Stella

[NoDogNow]

Get a lawyer and make the cold ba@#$!ds

Stella's right. 

It's absolutely, totally, completely IRRESPONSIBLE of them to expect him to take a bus home. 

The train, well, Amtrak does have sleeper cars, etc., that can accommodate his need for his leg to be elevated, AND IT DOES need to be elevated and iced regularly.  Icing an injury is effective for up 72 hours for pain management and also to reduce swelling, etc.   If he's not in a cast, he should be icing his leg 20 minutes out of every hour, as long as he's awake. 

He already has grounds for a lawsuit, both against Swift and also their Workers Comp med provider, IMNSHO.

Look, I fell last winter at work--there were wet leaves on wet steps in a rainstorm, and I just slipped, and I actually bruised my shin BONE because I landed on the edge of the steps.  And I walked OUT of the WC emergency clinic with narcotic painkillers in my hot little hand, along with half a dozen ice packs, 4 6" Ace wraps, a pair of crutches and orders to stay off my feet for a week--and returned to the doc to be told yeah, another 4 days off your feet, and I'll look again.  I continued to receive appropriate pain meds in my hand at the clinic--high dose ibuprofen, tapering down to OTC level ibruprofen, all thru the period I was allowed to be at work, but was required to keep my leg elevated, and restricted from walking distances of more than 100 yards, and I had to see the doc every week for a month, then every 2 weeks for another 2 months to check my progress.  I was still asked if I needed any pain meds for my leg on the very day I was released to full duty work, and the doc asked for a 3 month followup then.  FOR A BRUISED BONE!  Not a broken one--a bruised one.

I can't stress this to you strongly enough:  THIS IS NOT HOW A WORKER'S COMP INJURY SHOULD BE BEING HANDLED.  Worker's Comp is supposed to be about making sure that the injured party can go back to work at 100%, thus avoiding the need for lawsuits. 

There is a serious issue here, and you're going to need an attorney.  I will bet you a quarter that they're going to try and say it's his fault, it's not worker's comp, and try to stick you with the bills, including the hotel.   I've seen medical records of it happening to people who were "in training" before--all the letters disputing who's responsible, why bills aren't being paid, credit ruined, medical services denied--it's a disaster in the making.

Call an attorney, and do it now.  The more I think about it, the more I'm getting scared for you and your hubby, because my BIL is a trucker, and I can see this happening to him SO easily. 

Please, please call an attorney.  Before you even talk to Swift at this point, call an attorney.

[declanssexymama]

I'll tell you from personal experience regarding lawsuits with Swift Trucking Company that you will get tired of their BS faaaaaaar before they'll give you a penny.  Should they?  Yes.  Will they?  No.  They'll jack you around for so long that you finally just give up.  Seriously, I've been there with my ex-husband, trying to sue this company when one of their drivers hit him.  Two years after the accident there was still no restitution.  They are impossible to deal with legally. 

IMHO, they suck and every time I see one of their trucks, I cringe.   

[ZooCrew]

Your poor hubby!!  Man, that must have been some fall to break his leg from tripping.     I hope you can get this resolved quickly, and he can get home in a timely and comfortable manner.

Keep us updated.

[Leah-n-boy-os]

Jeanne honey, I don't want to sound like an alarmist, but you might want to drop a hint that if they stick him on a 15 hour bus ride, cramped up with no way to move or stretch, the potential for a serious Blood Clot (DVT - Deep Vein Thrombosis) increases SIGNIFICANTLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do not, DO NOT let him get on a bus!

[Scootergirl]

OK, finally got home and got a chance to get on the computer. Thanks for thinking of me all days, guys. I really have to say my best friends are ones I have never met before. I love you all.

Here's the update:  he is now on his way to South Carolina with another Swift driver. First they were going to send him on the bus, then on the train, then on the bus, then on the train, then they went back to the ride-along plan. I've been a nervous wreck all day 'cause I couldn't call anyone 'til noon (I had to testify in an animal cruelty case - another long story). By that time, he STILL had no pain meds. I called and begged to Driver's services for someone to get him somewhere to fill his prescription. I was told they would do that immediately.

When I called driver's services again around 3:30, they had brought him to the terminal and he was waiting for his ride. I asked the driver mananger if anyone had taken him to get his pain medication. He said, "he's sitting right here in the terminal and doesn't look like he's in pain." I said, "He has a BROKEN LEG! OF COURSE HE'S IN PAIN!!!!!" So they told me they were going to take him to Wal-Mart on his way out of town to fill his prescription. Well, the truck he was going to go in was "in the shop" 'til about 7pm so he didn't get to fill his prescription. He said he'll try to get someone to take him to get it filled when he gets to South Carolina. So, he'll have gone 3 days with no pain meds by then.

And no, NODOG, he has not been told anything about icing it as far as I know. I am definitely calling a lawyer tomorrow. I've tried to be nice and complimentary to the work comp dept., etc. because I always believe you catch more flies with honey, but I'm beyond that now. I can't believe they would let him go 3 days with no pain meds and delay getting him home for almost a week. It's going to take 27 hours to get to South Carolina, then he has to hop a ride with another driver on his way through to Laredo, TX. If they had put him on the train, he would have been home by tomorrow afternoon.

And he still needs to see a bone specialist. I am not a litigious person and I can't stand people who file frivolous lawsuits, but this is becoming potentially dangerous and is definitely cruel. I didn't even think about blod clots. I'll text him and make sure he gets out and moves every once in a while.

I'm so glad I have you guys. You bring up some very good points. This weekend is going to be rough for me - and even rougher for him. I'll be on as often as I can for your support.

Jeanne

[GrumpyBunny]

Jeanne, I am glad to hear that he is on his way home, even if it isn't under the ideal conditions.  Get him home, and then start kicking some *ss.  It is unconscionable that they would let him go that long without pain medication, and that is only just the tip of the iceberg from what you have said...

Marsi

[brandon]

And he still needs to see a bone specialist. I am not a litigious person and I can't stand people who file frivolous lawsuits, but this is becoming potentially dangerous and is definitely cruel. I didn't even think about blod clots. I'll text him and make sure he gets out and moves every once in a while.

I've been thinking about this all day on / off.  I think you and your husband are just really nice people and might be willing to turn the other cheek at times, but I really think you need to talk to an attorney, especially someone who understands labor laws, etc.. It sounds like you're getting the shaft big time from this company, and will probably end up getting screwed from them.   If the doctor that examined him said he needs to see a bone specialist, unfortunately this probably won't be something he can get a cast and be better in 6-8 weeks, and its certainly not going to help his recovery time the way they delayed.  They not only we're really (*insert not nice words here), but thats just irresponsible. He most likely has an extended recovery ahead, but they also killed his earning potential for a long time by not getting him the help he needed.   

Just my thoughts, I'm really glad he's on his way home now, and out of that mess.. And hope the weekend is not too rough on you.. Sounds like he's a pretty tough hombre.

[Scootergirl]

As soon as the clock turns 9:00 a.m. I am calling a lawyer. I tore the page out of the phone book last night and have it in front of me as I type this. I am also calling Swift again and informing them they are putting him at risk of DVT by making him take the long way home instead of just putting him on a train or plane and getting him back here. Plus it's now day 4 with no pain medication and that is completely unacceptable. And, you are right, they are significantly delaying his treatment.

thanks again for all your support. I wish you guys were here.

[lins_saving_grace]

I hope the attorney can do something.  It's sad you have to take such drastic measures.  But ... you gotta do what you gotta do. 

[Scootergirl]

yup. I don't want to wait any longer and obviously, my pleas aren't strong enough to receive any action. I'll let you know what happens.

[lins_saving_grace]

OK, finally got home and got a chance to get on the computer. Thanks for thinking of me all days, guys. I really have to say my best friends are ones I have never met before. I love you all.

Here's the update:  he is now on his way to South Carolina with another Swift driver. First they were going to send him on the bus, then on the train, then on the bus, then on the train, then they went back to the ride-along plan. I've been a nervous wreck all day 'cause I couldn't call anyone 'til noon (I had to testify in an animal cruelty case - another long story). By that time, he STILL had no pain meds. I called and begged to Driver's services for someone to get him somewhere to fill his prescription. I was told they would do that immediately.

When I called driver's services again around 3:30, they had brought him to the terminal and he was waiting for his ride. I asked the driver mananger if anyone had taken him to get his pain medication. He said, "he's sitting right here in the terminal and doesn't look like he's in pain." I said, "He has a BROKEN LEG! OF COURSE HE'S IN PAIN!!!!!" So they told me they were going to take him to Wal-Mart on his way out of town to fill his prescription. Well, the truck he was going to go in was "in the shop" 'til about 7pm so he didn't get to fill his prescription. He said he'll try to get someone to take him to get it filled when he gets to South Carolina. So, he'll have gone 3 days with no pain meds by then.

And no, NODOG, he has not been told anything about icing it as far as I know. I am definitely calling a lawyer tomorrow. I've tried to be nice and complimentary to the work comp dept., etc. because I always believe you catch more flies with honey, but I'm beyond that now. I can't believe they would let him go 3 days with no pain meds and delay getting him home for almost a week. It's going to take 27 hours to get to South Carolina, then he has to hop a ride with another driver on his way through to Laredo, TX. If they had put him on the train, he would have been home by tomorrow afternoon.

And he still needs to see a bone specialist. I am not a litigious person and I can't stand people who file frivolous lawsuits, but this is becoming potentially dangerous and is definitely cruel. I didn't even think about blod clots. I'll text him and make sure he gets out and moves every once in a while.

I'm so glad I have you guys. You bring up some very good points. This weekend is going to be rough for me - and even rougher for him. I'll be on as often as I can for your support.

Jeanne

Jeanne!!! Without taking away from your situation...I just wanted to say that it's nice you think of us as the best friends you've never met.  But I wanted to throw that back at everyone too...you guys get me through the days too ... without even knowing it.   I'm here because you guys are with me and I know it's ok for me to be here and everyone likes to see me.  I belong somewhere...an d it's here.  I appreciate that more than all of you know!

[Winslow 151]

Hi Jeanne,

I've been following this thread and it sounds like YOU are getting a very raw deal here.  Have you been communicating with your Husband? He may be as tough as nails but if he has a broken leg and is in pain, how is he moving around.  Have you spoken to the Doctor that saw him? What kind of break does he have, if he was sitting with the dispatch guy waiting for a ride he may not be that badly injured, (now don't get me wrong, no matter what the injury he should have been medicated, splinted, put on crutches and wisked home by plane) I am just saying maybe you are getting worked up for a much more devasting situation then is the case, I hope that is so and your husband is better then we all fear.

I can't see how the doctor he saw would just say "he needs to see a bone specialist" and wipe his hands and send him on his way. That is serious MAL PRACTICE, if he was in an ER, they have bone specialists on Staff and would have had one see him that very day. 

Please let us know how your conversation goes with the Attorney that is great advice and I'm glad you are contacting an Attorney, More info on the nature of Hubby's injury might help everyone breathe a sigh of relief and let us know the prayers are working for his speedy return and recovery.

Rich

[Scootergirl]

His bone is fractured, not broken all the way through. He is in a fiberglass splint, and I assume on crutches. He says he is in a lot of pain and he is tough as nails so for him to admit that, he must be really hurting. He sounds better now that he is on his way home, though.

I think the ER dr. didn't have him see a specialist right there 'cause Swift originally said they were going to take him straight to South Carolina to see a specialist there. He has to go to a Dr. Swift sends him to because of their Work Comp. laws. Instead, they decided to leave him in a hotel in Indiana until they decided what to do with him.

It's all a big mess. I think they want to send him to a specialist because his bone fractured so easily. He just tripped and fell to his knees and that caused his bone to fracture. Normally, that shouldn't have happened unless he's not remembering that he twisted somehow or hit it on something else. Who knows when it happens that fast.

Still, it's been 4 days now with no additional treatment and no pain medication and he's still got at least 2 days before he gets home.

Thanks for keeping me grounded, though.

Jeanne

[Scootergirl]

Ok, here's the latest: Johann finally has his vicadin. They stopped at a Wal-Mart in Knoxville, TN and he got his prescription filled. However, it's only for 10 pills 'cause when the scrip was written he was supposed to be seeing a bone specialist the next day.

I got ahold of someone at the South Carolina terminal who agreed this was not handled well and said if she had been handling it he would have been on a plane home the next day.

His splint is evidently a full leg splint that is wrapped around his foot so he can't move his leg. I told her that putting him in a truck for 2-3 days means he is now at high risk for blod clots and this is unacceptable. She agreed, but said all she could do is have the guy I need to talk to call me back. I told her that while she is giving him my number to be sure to tell him I'm waiting for my lawyer to call me back, too.

Oh, and my husband had to pay for his prescription out of his own pocket, as well as his telephone calls and one meal he was allowed to eat at the hotel.