Need advice on how to navigate a WC at my job.
I got injured at work on April 2,2026. I was putting away Boxes of empty To-Go boxes which have 150-8x8 in each box. I am 5’1-1/2. The reach to put the boxes away was way above my head but I figured since I did the first two ok, that I could the rest (Total of 10 boxes but only put away 8). Yes, there were other ppl (Men) working that I could asked for help or to put it away, but we all try to help each other. Technically this isn’t my job because it was in the kitchen and it was their delivery to put away. But like i said i was helping. On the 4th-5th box I felt a pop or crack on the right side of my neck (About hairline level) but I didn’t feel any pain or discomfort at the time. I continued to work like normal in the front as a cashier/server and had no issues. Later on that evening of April 2nd, I felt a little discomfort but no pain so I figured it was nothing. The next day Friday April 3rd, I felt a little discomfort and pain in my neck, but I figured maybe I slept wrong/had a stiff neck. I went to work like normal and did my normal work duties but I did let my supervisor know that my neck was sore but wasn’t exactly sure why and I did let her know that I put away the boxes. On Saturday April 4th and Sunday April 5th, I woke up with a lot more pain and at that point it started hurting in my whole right shoulder, Armpit, and my whole arm down to the tip of my fingers (all on the right side only). At that point I was still try to figure out how what happened and why the pain happened to extreme and fast. Saturday and Sunday was still doing my normal work duties even tho I was in tons of pain. So on Monday April 6th, Tuesday April 7th, the only verdict I had for my pain was putting the boxes away on April 2nd because I did absolutely nothing Monday and Tuesday. So on Wednesday April 8th I turned in an injury report to my supervisor, owner and hr around like 5:30am as I was leaving house to go to work. About 3hrs later my hr called me to ask about what happened and why I didn’t report it sooner and explained why. She then told me to head to urgent care to get checked out, so I did. The doctor initially told me to stay out of work for 5 days to rest and if that helps along with ibuprofen, muscle relaxers and lidocaine patches. I got a doctor note and left urgent care. I then called my hr and explained what was told to me and sent her a picture of my note, she then told me to go back to urgent care and have the doctor change my note to have restrictions and to only work 20hrs a week so I can make required weekly hours to keep my medical with the company. I went back and explained to the doctor what my hr said and she reluctantly changed my note to what my hr requested. So I went back to work the next 3 days Thursday April 9th, Friday April 10th and Saturday April 11th, while being in so much pain still. On the 11th I told my supervisor that I was In a lot of pain and I was going back to urgent care after work that day because at that point I was starting to feel my arm get extremely cold to the touch. Went back urgent care and the doctor was like “ok your for sure not allowed to go back to work”, she ordered a CT my cervical spine. I then found out a few days later that my WC case was denied/pending investigation. No doctor would see me and I couldn’t do the CT because my case was not approved. A week later I ended up in the ER and they did a X-ray which showed arthritis in my neck , I then requested a CT and they did one, but they said it only showed arthritis as well. They wouldn’t do an MRI, they said it would have to be ordered as an outpatient. I went to see a doctor at Work Star and he ordered an MRI but it was denied because my case is not approved right now. I have spoken to my adjuster and she told me it could take months to get a final approval decision. She had another person call me to take a recorded statement about my injury and how it occurred and about what I do at work and at my other job. She said they have to get all my doctor records to see if I’ve ever had a neck injury before, even tho I’ve told them I haven’t. So now they have to look over 10+yrs of documentation from doctors and well let’s just say, I am a very sick person so I have many many many doctors/ER visits on my record. Anyway, I am still in so much pain and no answers as to what’s wrong with my neck. The last time worked April 11th but on May 4th I had a follow up appt with Work Star and they said I can go back to work with restrictions and only 5hrs a day for 4 days a week so that I can keep my medical. I officially went back to work on April 14th but they seem to only wanting to schedule me 4hrs 2 days a week. So 8hrs a week 🤦♀️😭. Which I understand because I’m injured and can’t do much to help with big things. I can basically only do register because I can’t use my arm much when it comes to lifting more than 5lbs. The my employer just told me a couple days ago that they can only accommodate my restrictions for 90 days. Is this true? I asked her “then what, after 90 days I’m fired?” And she didn’t have much of a reply other than “You shouldn’t worry about that right now” I then said “Oh so I shouldn’t worry about where I’m gonna live if I can’t pay my rent?” She just continued to tell me not to worry about money, to only worry about getting better. So I now have another follow up with Work Star tomorrow morning. I only just turned in my TDI forms because I didn’t have a doctor to be able to fill it out till a couple weeks ago. I have like $0 to my name and my poor husband has to pay everything for me when we have little money. I am thankful for him tho. Not to sure what else I can do to try and fight this because from what the adjuster told me, once they look over the medical records they will have their physician call to schedule a physical with me. I don’t know why tho since I’m already seeing someone and have their notes. This recent appt I had, the doctor ordered an MRI and PT. But not sure it will be approved just like the other one. So frustrating. Does anyone have some advice or information on how to handle this or something I can do? I have had anxiety and emotional instability due to all this crap. Need help! Please and thank you.