I had an injury last Friday (Feb.23) at my oilfield job. I leaped over a hose and stepped on some liquid and my knee popped. I went to the ER because I could not walk and they referred me to an Orthopedist.

The E.R. Doctor said the X-Rays showed osteoarthritis and a small fractured fragment.

So the “Safety” director from my workplace started a worker’s comp. case.

I called the orthopedist an hour before my appointment and they called the Workers Comp. Phone number and got a claim number. . . So far so good.

HOWEVER, when the orthopedist got some more X-Rays, he said there was a fractured fragment as well, but said nothing about osteoarthritis. He ordered an MRI.

The safety guy from my workplace called and when I told him about the fracture, he said that workers comp. wasn’t covering it because “a fracture does not occur that way, because I didn’t hit myself or fall, so I couldn’t have fractured myself like that.”

Then I called the person assigned to my worker’s comp. claim, and she didn’t answer. I called about 5 times, so then I tried calling from a different number and SURPRISINGLY she quickly answered.

She said that she had only gotten the diagnosis from the ER doctor which mentioned Osteoarthritis and that it was a pre-existing condition. So that’s why they were not approving my workers comp.

I told her I had a medical evaluation before beginning my employment there and was cleared for work, I had also switched a trailer just 5 minutes before my injury (which is something that could not be done if I couldn’t walk) and she requested the documents from my orthopedist visit to be faxed to her but I haven’t heard from her in two days now.

Are there any workers comp. experts around here? I would greatly appreciate any advice. Thank you!!