Hurt your ankle or knee? Limping as a result? Forced to use crutches?
Putting more weight on other/opposite body parts while you try to lessen the pain to the injured body part as you walk? Is your back starting to hurt because you are walking with a limp? If so, read on!
A flow through injury is allowable as an additional condition in your Ohio Workers’ Compensation Claim, but you have to request that the additional diagnosis/condition be included in your claim. This is done by filing a formal motion with the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.
We always counsel our clients to pay attention to the way their body feels after their workers’ compensation injury. Did the client hurt his/her right knee and does that cause a limp? Does that cause the client to put more weight on his/her left knee, left hip, lower bakc to try to lessen the pain from the injured right knee?
If the answer is yes, then the injured worker must start talking about the flow though pain to the new body part to the doctor of record, the therapist, and/or anyone with a medical chart who is providing medical care for the workers’ compensation claim.
After a few visits to your medical providers, alert your lawyer about the new condition. Your lawyer should contact your doctor for a report seeking a diagnosis and causal relationship between the original injury and the flow through condition. Assuming the doctor agrees with a new diagnosis and provides the causal relationship letter, a motion to amend your claim allowance should be filed with the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.
We stress that just because you hurt your knee don’t think that other flow through conditions cannot be included in your claim. An informed client is the best client. Be informed and keep your lawyer in the loop regarding your medical care, and any related problems/denials of treatment.