Getting through a physical after a work related injury - help please

New to the industry and I have a situation where I am basically going to have to lie my way through a physical in order to get a job. I have strong reservations about doing this because it goes against everything I believe in and strive for as a human being. I am hoping to find someone who has been in a similar situation and can advise me if lying about a workmans comp case will even work.

A little history about the situation, I pulled a abdominal muscle in 2009 and continued to work while injured not realizing that I was jeopardizing my future. I thought it would heal after some time. After working though the pain for 2 months I ended up bedridden for another 2 months (on workmans comp) eventually I got back on my feet. The doctors said that all indications were that I had a abdominal tear that should have been healed after 2 weeks and I should have no problems going back to work. After thinking about it I decided to return to duty and try to tough it out which was a terrible decision. I ended up aggravating the injury and hindered any slight recovery I had in the two months I was off work. At that point I decided I couldn't rely on the doctors to tell me how I felt and how I was recovering. So I went through the paces of workman's comp and here we are in February of 2014 and I have not been giving a OK to return to duty and my case has not been dispositioned.

So I landed a job with a flatbed company after class a school, thinking as a driver this would be somwhat of a non factor. So I went in to take the physical and of course the questions came up about whether you have ever been on restricted duty from another job. being a honoralble man I couldn't bring myself to lie about the situation so I said I had been on restricted duty. I said I have healed and I am ready to return to work. Those words were a stake through the heart of getting the job. The doctor would not go through with the lift test and said everything is on hold until I produce my workmans comp papers. By producing my workmans comp papers I would be disqualified anyways because the lift requirements for the job are 50 pounds and I believe my workmans comp papers say something like 20 pounds. It looks like my only real option is to remove that job from my resume and lie about the fact that I've ever been on workmans comp. I'm wondering is a prior workman's comp case something that is accessible to a perspective employer or is that protected by patient confidentiality?

Thanks in advance for any and all advice.

 

Thank you so much for responding that information helps me tremendously. I'm not receiving payments anymore, I am only waiting for the disposition of the secondary doctors evaluation, he's going to say whether they pay for some training to get me into a different career field or they tell me I can return to duty.

 

I have been employed doing customer service "ughhhh" work since a couple months after the injury happened so my work history is solid. This was my first potential job as a entry level truck driver (fresh out of school). Looks like I have to chalk it up to a learn to lie experience sad to say.
My injury has been getting better slowly but surely year after year. Working out is the main thing that is helping me recover. I have learned the age old rule first hand, "work smarter not harder". I am confident I can lift 50+ pounds on a consistent basis. When I injured my ab I was throwing 200+ pound bags of rice 8+hrs a day. The heaviest thing I would have to deal with for this flat bed job is the chain binders if needed and tarp.
Yes the next doctors report is a QME.
I choose not to deal with a lawyer because the ones I talked to seemed like slime balls, basically they wanted to "stick it to the company" but told me my case was not worth much $$$.... and at the time I had high hopes of returning to work for the company I was working for when the injury happened.
Yes I have thought about doin the OTR "no touch freight" or "drop and hook" and that was my second choice. I was goin all in for a local position, hourly+home every night+off on the weekends seemed like a real blessing. This was the first local job I had a shot at but I blew it, but i learned a valuable lesson.
What is PTL?

And missjhawk I am VERY glad to hear you are doing better with you injury and here to share your story with others in our shoes. THANK YOU SOOOoooooo MUCH!!!

 

The green one right? I got that card while I was enrolled in Class A training. They didnt have me do a lift test so that one was no sweat.

Oh trust me theres no rush whatsoever with these workmans comp docs the injury happened about 5 years ago and im just waiting and waiting with no end in sight. Honestly its pretty ridiculous.

 

Thanks for posting that is great advice. I hope all is goin well for you and your back.
I have been looking at something along the O/O lines. I am hoping to get some much needed experience, and a decent enough job where I can afford the payments, I definitely aint goin to get caught up leasing a truck for or from a otr shipping company.
I see O/O crystal clear in my future.