Back to Work?

[rmbing64]

I had a rupture on March 5th, with a clipping done. I still have not been able to return to work. I had lost my vision but now have had glasses for about 1 1/2 weeks, which really seems to have decreased my headaches. I still get pain in my head when I try to lift any thing- a laundry basket seems to be about my limit, or if I bend over. It also seems like it has lessened. I haven't been as tired since my headaches are under better control. My balance has really improved since I restarted physical therapy. I still do not drive, because I tend to lose my balance if I turn too quickly. They are working on desensitizing me to my dizziness in physical therapy. My question is this- I am a nurse, working in an outpatient facility. A job opened up for a nurse to take calls for the doctor's, do computer work, maybe eventually go to the floor to see hospitalized patients. I have been told by the HR dept. that I can only return to work when I have absolutely no restrictions- I have to be able to lift a patient, though that has never really been part of the job, and I cannot use a cane to get around and be able to perform all of the functions of a floor nurse, even though I would be working in an ambulatory care setting. I truly think that this is in violation of the ADA. I know that they have hired people with lifting restrictions, as I trained one nurse who couldn't lift at all when I was a mentor on the floor. I think they have made assumptions about my condition, based maybe on medical knowledge of aneurysms. I have no cognitive defects at all and have been cleared by a neuropsychiatrist. I am no longer blind and can see pretty well with glasses. We have 2 nurses who work there that are extremely hard of hearing and they are working. My neurosurgeon said my ability to lift will improve with time, as will my balance. Has any one else had issues with this? I thought they had to make reasonable accommodation? I do not think I could work an 8 hour day yet, but certainly could start a few hours. Well, I know I am rambling, but this has been so upsetting. I have been there for 15 years and they told me they would hold my job for a year, but now have posted my position and told me when I am fully released by my doctor, I can apply for a job in the system within 30 days or be terminated. My doctor won't release me because of the lifting and balance, unless I can work with those restrictions. He actually offered to talk to the HR department. Any suggestions from anyone? Rose

[Kyria Dylan]

Hi. that is a 'bummer' how they are treating you. you said the doctor would talk to the hr dept. ask him to do it,maybe that will make the difference. i pray God will open the doors for you to be able to do the things you desire. Kyria Dylan

[rmbing64]

Thank you. I am thinking about filing a complaint with the EOCC. I think they have just assumed because I had something wrong with my brain, that I still do. I had read post that people debated about letting other's know that they were having brain surgery but I guess I am surprised that they made assumtions about me. Rose

[NHDebbie]

My goodness...somethings not right here. Things that can be listed that are undebatable:
1. Qualifying for the job that has opened.
2. Doctor has stated this is temporary.
3. HR gave you one year.

a. Ask HR for a copy of the job opening that you want to apply for. If they don't have one...this will be to your advantage. You can now debate the issue.
b. Have your doctor write a letter stating your physical and mental capabilities for this job. He can stipulate the time period for physical lifting if necessary to satisfy the "if needed" clause which I'm sure may be on the job description.
c. Talk to medical management and see if they can help with your intentions, especially the supervising staff for the opening. I'm not sure HR is staffed with nurses.
d. Keep a journal of what is happening. Dates, Times, Who you spoke with and paperwork. It would be nice to have what they told you in writing. If you do send correspondance to them...certify the mailpiece. This will be good to have if needed down the road. I hope this can be settled quick though.

Just remember that your workplace has absolutely no authority to ask for any medication information. Only to question job accommodations. I hope you get this job. It sounds attainable. Go for it!

[Lifelines Dallas]

Hi. NH Debbie gave some good advice about the job portion of your post, so I will concentrate on the mention of your balance, dizziness, headache, and vision. Have you had an occupational therapy evaluation from a therapist who specializes in sensory integration issues? The reason that I ask is because I had all the problems you mentioned and mine were related to vestibular dysfunction. I recently had an evaluation by a neuro optometrist and he prescribed prism glasses - are those the glasses that you have?

I know you are eager to get back to work and worried about your job and probably don't want to even think about more therapy. I was the same way - but I was discriminated against based on my disability for 5 years and had 3 jobs in that time frame because I still had issues from the rupture and surgery that remained undiagnosed and untreated. The stress of struggling to hold on to my job (and my reasonable accomodation was to work 30 hours but my employers expected 40 hours of work in this time) added to my health problems.

So, if you are interested, here are some therapies you might look into:

1. Get an evaluation for your vestibular system. An ENT (ears, nose and throat) doctor usually does this type of evaluation, but my experience has been that this type of doctor cannot help you. Instead, you should find a neuro optometrist who specializes in sensory integration issues and can order the following tests to evaluate the vestibular system. Alternatively, you might look for an ENT with the capability to order the tests. A routine physical exam will probably not show anything.

Visual Evoked Potential, Otoacoustic emissions, platform posturography, vestibular-ocular reflex function test (VAT), electronystagmography (ENG), ImPACT.

2. Get an evaluation from an occupational therapist with the knowledge of and testing for sensory integration issues.

3. See if there is a Tomatis center near you (www.tomatis.com) and go for an evaluation. I started this listening therapy (which fixes the vestibular system) in August of this year and by the end of the first week, my migraine and balance issues were resolved.

4. My vision problems were actually related to brain function (occipital lobe not processing properly) so you might look into finding a neurologist who specializes in neurofeedback and have a QEEG.

I hope all these suggestions didn't overwhelm you. Returning to work is a real struggle, and my reasons for mentioning all this is so that maybe the physical issues you are still experiencing might be improved. Then you would have a better chance with the job. If you are worried about the cost of therapy, you might look to see if your state offers a "return to work" program for people with disabilities. I'm in Texas, I used DARS and they paid for some of the testing and treatment.

Good luck! If you have any questions, I'm at lifelinesbi@sbcglobal.net.

Kimberly

[rmbing64]

Thank you for your suggestions. I have been evaluated for vestibular dysfunction. They think that my problems are more related to where my bleed was at. They are working on desensitizing me to things that make me dizzy/lose balance, which makes therapy loads of fun. I feel like a kid who is always waiting for someone to jump out from behind a corner. Unfortunately for me, all of my visual problems are related to the Terson's syndrom that I had, probably made worse by the undiagnosed hydrocephalus I had. By the time they found it, my pressure was so high that I had to be transferred fro rehab by ambulance to the ER for a lumbar puncture. My sister is an attorney, an assistant federal prosecutor, who investigates EOCC complaints lodged against the government. While she is unable to do any private practice, she can give me advice. I think I am going to file a complaint, then ask for mediation to get my job back. What really gets me is that a part of my disability insurance through work would cover me to go back and then make up the difference to equal my full-time salary, instead of half-time, which is what I get now. I would not lose my disability- it is to encourage you to return to work. I work for the largest employer in Missouri and I have a pretty good feeling that some of the people higher up in the organization don't know what has transpired, but they will after I file my complaint. My boss told me I could not use a cane to get around and had to be able to lift; both are untrue. She also said " Can you even see? " and asked me if I was ever going to be able to work full time again, how long it was going to take me to regain my balance, etc. My NS would release me to go back part-time with restrictions for now if I asked him to but will not release me if the requirements are that I cannot use a cane if needed and if I have to lift right now. I am seeing a neurologist who specializes in headaches after an aneurysm but I cannot get an appointment until November 26th. My headaches have really improved over the past week, which may be because of my new glasses. Sorry that this is so long. Rose

[NHDebbie]

Good luck to you Rose. It looks like you will be ok. Still apply for the desk job...in writing. Make a copy of it and have HR sign your copy as recieving the original. If they say you are not qualified, tell them to put that in writing. If they ask why..."My lawyer is so meticulous. I really don't want to upset her." :eek:
Keep us posted!;)

[kc_dawn]

Rose...Good Luck...I'm glad you have an attorney in the family...I wish I had some info to help you , but I don't. It just sickens me how unfair this is :( Good Luck Rose!

[Kim/ny]

Rose, I am so sorry you are going through this. It just doesn't seem fair after all you have gone through, to have to face yet another challenge. I would definitely have your sister write that letter, let them know if it is not taken care of you will take legal action. I have to give you credit for returning to work at all right now, March was not that long ago. I also had a similar experience at my job and finally had to leave and go on permanent disability which took over two long years. When I think back now, it was totally illegal what they did to me and I don't think I would have sued them but I would have at least reported them. I worked for a small company so not sure if I would have the same rights as you. Don't let them get away with this, think of it as fighting for all of us who have survived. :) Good luck and keep us posted. Take care, Kim

[rmbing64]

Thanks. My sister can't actually be my attorney, because she works for the Justice Department, but she can give me advice. I am waiting on an intake form from The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to file a complaint. It is not even that I want to return so desperately now but I could probably go back for a few hours a day. My work offers a benefit to where if I would return at less hours than I worked previously, my disability would continue and would pay me to equal my full-time salary, instead of 50 %, which is what I'm getting now. They also held a staff meeting about me and discussed my medical condition with everyone. I know they are all my friends but that is so far out of line, I can hardly believe they did that. I will keep you posted. Rose