Maximum Medical Improvement

Ruben is on workmen's compensation.

He was managing a restuarant, he was washing dishes because no dishwasher was scheduled to be in until afternoon and he was helping out. Because that's what a good manager does. He slipped on some water and twisted his knee. That was in January of 2005. One week after we got engaged. He has been on workmen's compensation the entire time we've been married.

Yesterday he went to a workmen's compensation ordered second opinion. A doctor that his doctor (assigned by the insurance company) did not want him to see. This new doctor is saying that my husband has reached Maximum Medical Improvement. This is not to say that his knee is anywhere close to fixed or pain free or anything. It just means that he doesn't think that it will ever (as long as he lives) get any better. His knee that he injuried is almost twice the size of his other knee. He is in pain and takes pain pills throughout the day to deal with it. His knee is not stable and he has to wear a brace or walk with crutches.

But that's it. That's the best it's going to be.

His first doctor does not agree. Ruben does not agree. Hopefully, since the original doctor on the case disagrees and the second opinion didn't have all of Ruben's medical information for his knee, the insurance company will not decide this is as good as it will get.