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FOOTBALL STAR DOCUMENTS HIS LONG- STANDING WORK INJURY IMPAIRMENT: INJURED WORKERS IN THE NEWS #104

Posted on November 28, 2023 by Edward Singer

Super Bowl Winning Quarterback Drew Brees recently recently discussed his long-standing right shoulder problems. In 2005, while playing for the San Diego Chargers, he dislocated his shoulder. Now-in 2023- he can no longer throw with his right hand. Brees was told that the dislocated shoulder placed him on him on the “fast track to a degenerative shoulder, and all kinds of arthritic changes. I don’t throw with my right arm anymore. If I could, I would absolutely still be playing.’” Nola.com. Besides tossing a football, he reported problems using arm above his shoulder.

What Is Impairment and Why Does It Matter?

In California, Permanent Impairment is assigned to work injuries. This impairment is used to determine an Injured Worker’s Permanent Disability Percentage. In order to do so, the AMA Guides for Rating Permanent Impairment, 5^th Edition, is employed. Impairment, per the guides is defined as ““a loss, loss of use, or derangement of any body part, organ system, or organ function.” Per the Guides, “[a]n impairment can be manifested objectively, for example, by a fracture, and/or subjectively, through fatigue and pain. Although the Guides emphasizes objective assessment, subjective symptoms are included within the diagnostic criteria. According to the Guides, determining whether an injury or illness results in a permanent impairment requires a medical assessment performed by a physician. An impairment may lead to functional limitations or the inability to perform activities of daily living.”

In Mr. Brees’ workers’ compensation case, throwing a football would not be considered as an impairment. Tossing a ball is not an Activity of Daily Living. (ADL) ADLs are as follows: ” Self-care, urinating, defecating, brushing teeth, personal hygiene combing hair, bathing, dressing oneself, eating Communication writing, typing, seeing, hearing, speaking Physical activity standing, sitting, reclining, walking, climbing stairs Sensory function hearing, seeing, tactile feeling, tasting, smelling Nonspecialized grasping, lifting, tactile hand activities discrimination Travel riding, driving, flying Sexual function orgasm, ejaculation, lubrication, erection Sleep restful, nocturnal sleep pattern.”

While Mr. Brees’ main complaint does not fall within the AMA guides as an activity of daily living, he did describe an impairment of the inability to use the arm above shoulder. Therefore, his ADL impairment would be related to putting on clothes or doing laundry. Additionally, his impairment would also be range of his lack of range of motion and other conditions.

Workers’ Compensation law also allows for doctors to most accurately describe the impairment should there be some difficulty in doing so. Per case law, a physician can deviate from the strict rating by doing the following: “(1) provide a strict rating per the AMA Guides; (2) explain why the strict rating does not accurately reflect the employee’s disability; (3) provide an alternative rating within the four corners of the AMA Guides; and (4) explain why the alternative rating most accurately reflects the employee’s level of disability.”

What If I Need Legal Advice?

If you would like a free consultation regarding workers’ compensation, please contact the Law Offices of Edward J. Singer, a Professional Law Corporation. We have been helping people in Central and Southern California deal with their workers’ compensation cases for 30 years. Contact us today for more information.

DUPUYTREN’S DISEASE(DD) AND WORKERS’ COMPENSATION: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Posted on May 18, 2021 by Edward Singer

Dupuytren’s Disease (DD) is an upper extremity disorder. DD has been a source of controversy with respect to whether it should be considered as an industrial injury. If DD is considered an industrial injury, then the Injured Worker suffering from the disorder would be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. These would include medical treatment and disability compensation. A recent study addressed industrial causation of the condition and made interesting findings.

This article will discuss Dupuytren’s Disease (DD), industrial causation for DD, the study’s results, and what it means to Injured Workers.

What Is Dupuytren’s Disease (DD)?

Dupuytren’s disease (DD) results in “the chronic contracture of the fourth and/or fifth finger of the hand towards the palm and is usually accompanied by a thickening of the palmar skin. These clinical manifestations significantly impair and restrict hand functioning.” Murínová L, Perečinský S, Jančová A, Murín P, Legáth Ľ. Is Dupuytren’s disease an occupational illness? Occup Med (Lond). 2021 Feb 6;71(1):28-33. doi: 10.1093/occmed/kqaa211. PMID: 33420499.

Why is Dupuytren’s Disease Important for Workers’ Compensation?

Per mayoclinic.org, “Dupuytren’s contracture can make it difficult to perform certain functions using your hand. .. as Dupuytren’s contracture progresses, it can limit your ability to fully open your hand, grasp large objects or to get your hand into narrow places.” These activities are both labor disabling and can impact the performance of activities of daily living. Thus, DD can be the basis for impairment within workers’ compensation and would therefore translate into a permanent disability percentage.

In sum, if DD is work-related, it is likely an injury for which a permanent disability award is possible.

What Work Activities Did the Study Find That Impact DD?

There are two types of work activities that have been implicated as a source of causation for industrially-related DD. They are working with vibrating tools and performing heavy manual labor.

There are many tools used in the work force that vibrate. For example, jackhammers and power saws. The study used involved workers who used hand-held pneumatic rock drills.

Heavy manual labor can take place in various occupations. Heavy labor that was used in the study was working involving “prolonged, heavy, physical labour that required strength and energy, and included lifting, lowering, pulling, pushing or carrying a load.”

The theory behind these two types of activities is that they can cause cumulative micro-traumas which then can cause impairment of the micro-circulation in the hands. Murínová L, Perečinský S, Jančová A, Murín P, Legáth Ľ. Is Dupuytren’s disease an occupational illness? Occup Med (Lond). 2021 Feb 6;71(1):28-33. doi: 10.1093/occmed/kqaa211. PMID: 33420499.

It was noted that risk was 4-fold for vibrating tools and 3-fold for heavy manual labor compared to controls. Supra.

“A significant independent association was found between DD and HTVs (OR 4.59; 95% CI 2.05–10.32) and HMW (OR 3.10; 95% CI 1.21–7.91).” Supra.

In the Study, Was the Length of Time Performing the Injurious Activities Significant?

Yes. They study found the length of exposure to be significant. This was especially the case when there was at least 15.5 years of employment. “Exposures that lasted for more than 15.5 years were sensitive and specific predictors for the presence of DD.” Murínová L, Perečinský S, Jančová A, Murín P, Legáth Ľ. Is Dupuytren’s disease an occupational illness? Occup Med (Lond). 2021 Feb 6;71(1):28-33. doi: 10.1093/occmed/kqaa211. PMID: 33420499.

In the Study, Did Age Matter?

Yes. The study noted “[w]hile DD was more common in older patients, it was much more frequent in exposed subjects compared to controls across all age categories.” Murínová L, Perečinský S, Jančová A, Murín P, Legáth Ľ. Is Dupuytren’s disease an occupational illness? Occup Med (Lond). 2021 Feb 6;71(1):28-33. doi: 10.1093/occmed/kqaa211. PMID: 33420499.

Is There Any Limitation to the Study?

Yes. The study was limited to only men. Thus, additional studies beyond this one would assist is a female injured worker making a DD claim. Murínová L, Perečinský S, Jančová A, Murín P, Legáth Ľ. Is Dupuytren’s disease an occupational illness? Occup Med (Lond). 2021 Feb 6;71(1):28-33. doi: 10.1093/occmed/kqaa211. PMID: 33420499.

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THE LOWER EXTREMITY FUNCTIONAL SCALE (LEFS) AND WORKERS’ COMPENSATION: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Posted on May 6, 2021 by Edward Singer

In Workers’ Compensation, Doctors and Medical Evaluators, in order to address matters of disability and impairment, frequently use testing. Testing can be in the form of self-reporting questionnaires filled out by Injured Workers.

Many Injured Workers have injuries to their lower extremities. Lower extremity injuries can include the hips, knees, ankles and feet.

This article will describe the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), what the questions are asked, how it is scored, and what it means to an Injured Worker.

What is the Lower Extremity Functional Scale?

“The Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) is a questionnaire containing 20 questions about a person’s ability to perform everyday tasks.” Honorhealth.com

What is the Purpose of the LEFS?

“The LEFS can be used by clinicians as a measure of patients’ initial function, ongoing progress and outcome, as well as to set functional goals. The LEFS can be used to evaluate the functional impairment of a patient with a disorder of one or both lower extremities. It can be used to monitor the patient over time and to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention.” Honorhealth.com

How Are You to Answer the Questions?

When provided the LEFS, there is language on the form. It provides as follows: “We are interested in knowing whether you are having any difficulty at all with the activities listed below because of your lower limb problem for which you are currently seeking attention. Please provide an answer for each activity.” Honorhealth.com

“Today, do you or would you have any difficulty at all with:”

What Are the Activities That Are to Be Assessed?

There are twenty activities that are to be addressed within the LEFS:

Usual work, housework or school activities

Usual hobbies, recreational or sporting activities.

Walking between rooms

Getting into or out of the bath

Walking between rooms

Putting on shoes or socks

Squatting

Lifting an object, like a bag of groceries from the floor

Performing light activities around a home

Performing heavy activities around a home

Getting into or out of a car

Walking 2 blocks

Walking a mile.

Going up or down 10 stairs (about 1 flight of stairs)

Standing for 1 hour

Sitting for 1 hour

Running on even ground

Running on uneven ground

Making sharp turns while running fast

Hopping

Rolling over in bed

How Are the Questions Answered?

The questions are answered with respect to a level of difficulty. The levels of difficulty are as follows: extreme difficulty or inability to perform activity, quite a bit of difficulty, moderate difficulty, a little bit of difficulty, and no difficulty.

How Is It Scored?

Each level of difficulty is assigned a number from 0 to 4. The range being from “O” for being extreme difficulty or inability to perform to “4” being able to perform with no difficulty.

Extreme Difficulty or Unable to Perform Activity (0)

Quite a Bit of Difficulty (1)

Moderate Difficulty (2)

A Little Bit of Difficulty (3)

No difficulty (4)

What Is the Total Score?

The total score can range from 0 to 80. The lower the score implies the greater the disability.

How Can This Scale Be Used in Workers’ Compensation?

In California, the American Medical Association Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, 5^th Edition, employs the use of “activities of daily living” (ADL) to address impairment. “Activities of daily living” include the following items

Per the AMA Guides 5th Edition, Table 1-2, See Page 599, the following are the definitions of each ADL. These ADLs include standing, sitting, walking, climbing stairs, lifting, dressing oneself and bathing.

Thus, the LEFS may assist doctors and examiners as to the nature and extent of the injury’s impact on the ADLs. The ADL assessment can impact the assignment of the permanent impairment number.

Are There Any Concerns with Respect to LEFS?

The LEFS presents problems with respect to workers’ compensation.

First, the scale is to be filled out with respect to the individual’s perception as of the day of the evaluation. Thus, if someone’s condition gets worse during the day from prolonged weight bearing, their answer in the morning may be different from that in the afternoon. Likewise, there is the issue of the Injured Worker having good days versus bad days. Further, there is the issue of whether the assessment is made with respect to one being medicated or not. For example, an Injured Worker may be able to perform well on activities while on narcotics but have problems without.

Second, the scale may be used for credibility issues. Since the scale documents activities on a particular day, contemporaneous sub rosa film may show the Injured Worker performing activities either consistent or inconsistent with their answers.

Third, the scale asks a “would” question concerning the activities. To some extent, the Injured Worker is being asked to speculate as to their ability to perform certain functions. In workers’ compensation, speculation cannot be used as a basis for an award and is therefore problematic.

What If I Need Advice?

THE QUEBEC BACK PAIN DISABILITY SCALE AND WORKERS’ COMPENSATION: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Posted on December 24, 2020 by Edward Singer

For both workers’ compensation treatment and evaluation, Injured Workers are frequently asked to fill out surveys concerning their medical conditions. The Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale (QBPDS) is one of those surveys.

This article will discuss how and why such scales are used within the workers’ compensation system, what is the Quebec Back Pain disability Scale, what questions are asked within the scale, how the scale is scored? and what it can mean to a workers’ compensation claim.

What is the QBPDS?

This questionnaire is one that addresses back pain. It inquires as to the daily activities that impacted by Back Pain.

Why are Surveys and Scales Used?

Surveys and Scales which ask the Injured Worker to self-report on their conditions are helpful to both treating doctors and evaluators. First, they are a cheap quick method of getting some insight into the Injured Worker’s complaints. Second, they can give the doctor or evaluator a sense of how serious the worker perceives their injury. Third, they can give some insight as to whether someone is exaggerating with respect to the complaints. Fourth, if the same scale is administered over time, it can reveal some insight as to the course of the injured Worker’s condition. Repeated testing may show whether the Injured Worker sees their pain improving, staying the same, or getting worse.

What are the QBPDS Questions Asked?

There are twenty questions asked within the inventory. The questions are about getting out of bed, sleeping through the night, turning over in bed, riding in a car, standing up for 20-30 minutes, sitting in a chair for several hours, climbing one slight of stairs, walking a few blocks, walking several kilometers, reaching up to high shelves, throwing a ball, running one block, taking food out of the refrigerator, making your bed, putting socks or pantyhose on, bending over to clean the bathtub, moving a chair, pulling or pushing heavy doors, carrying two bags or groceries, and lifting and carrying a heavy suit case.

Note: The questions are interesting in that they include activities that an individual may rarely or never participate in. For example, there are some people who do not throw balls or handle suit cases.

How Are the Responses Scored?

There are five responses that can be made. They are not difficult at all, minimally difficult, somewhat difficult, fairly difficult, very difficult, and unable to do. They are scored from 0-5.

Note: The responses address ability to perform activities as opposed to the individual’s pain experience.

What Do the Scores Mean?

A higher score represents a greater level of perceived functional disability. A lower score represents a lower level of perceived functional disability.

Is The QBPDS Helpful for Treating Evaluators and Physicians With Respect to Permanent Disability Assignment?

In California Workers’ Compensation Law, Activities of Daily Living are a basis for making impairment assessments. Impairment assessments render a Whole Person Impairment which then translates into a Permanent Disability Percentage. The QBPDS can be helpful to an evaluator on their assessment. The Activities of Daily Living based upon the AMA Guides 5^th Edition are Self-care: urinating, defecating, brushing teeth, personal hygiene combing hair, bathing, dressing oneself, and eating, Communication: writing, typing, seeing, hearing, and speaking, Physical activity: standing, sitting, reclining, walking, and climbing stairs, Sensory Function: hearing, seeing, tactile feeling, tasting, smelling, Nonspecialized Hand Activities: grasping, lifting, tactile discrimination, Travel: riding, driving, flying, Sexual Function: orgasm, ejaculation, lubrication, erection, and Sleep: restful and nocturnal sleep pattern.

The QBPDS does not explore self-care and sexual function. Therefore, it is not fully comprehensive to render an ADL assessment.

As an Injured Worker, What Should I Do When I Fill Out These Scales?

When fill out these scales, try to be accurate as possible. Sometimes, I personally roll my eyes when I see scales in which every answer is the highest.

What if I Need Advice?