Claimant: Claimant is fifty-four years old, and has worked for Employer since 1995 in various assembly positions. During 1999, Claimant began to experience heel discomfort, and began to wear custom made orthotics. Claimant's use of orthotics relieved her discomfort, and she required no further medical care for her feet.
During January 2001, Claimant's job changed and she began installing half-shafts for steering wheels. Installing half-shafts required Claimant to obtain the shaft from a stock table, install the shaft, and tighten it into place. Claimant estimated she installed fifty-sixty half-shafts per hour, and worked on a platform approximately six inches off the concrete floor. The stock table she used was positioned ten-twelve inches from her platform, requiring her to step off the platform to retrieve a shaft. With every step off, Claimant's feet would constantly hit the concrete floor, and she would strike her left heel. For the next nine months Claimant routinely notified her supervisor of the need to move her stock table.
During March 2001, Claimant noticed her left heel felt bruised, and her small toe began hurting. She kept working. Claimant next began to notice her left ankle was swollen at the end of the day, and she had increased pain in her left heel that was different from the pain she experienced in 1999.
Claimant sought medical care and was referred to an orthopedist, Dr. Weltmer, during July 2001. Dr. Weltmer diagnosed left plantar fasciitis, and he placed Claimant in a cast for the next three weeks. Claimant's pain decreased while her foot was casted, but upon cast removal and a return to work, Claimant's pain returned. During August 2001, Claimant reported her left foot problem to Employer's plant medical, and she was authorized to see another orthopedist, Dr. Aubuchon, for further evaluation. Dr. Aubuchon recommended use of a heel night splint, and indicated he would recommend physical therapy if improvement was not noted. Claimant did not improve, and she didn't receive physical therapy because Employer's plant medical physician determined Claimant's condition was not work related.
Claimant returned to treatment with Dr. Weltmer, and he recommended surgery. On September 7, 2001, Employer repositioned Claimant's stock table. Claimant continued to work until September 9, 2001. On September 10, 2001, Dr. Weltmer performed a left plantar fasciotomy, and Claimant was off work until November 16, 2001. Following surgery Claimant experienced improvement in her left heel pain. For approximately one year following surgery, Claimant continued to wear a night splint on her left heel. Upon her return to work, Claimant no longer struck her heel because her stock table had been repositioned. On July 5, 2002, Claimant returned to Dr. Weltmer due to continued symptoms. Dr. Weltmer suggested she wear New Balance tennis shoes because of its wide heel, and she resume wearing her custom orthotics. Dr. Weltmer noted: "needless to say, the type of work she does exacerbates her heel pain."
Currently, Claimant continues to experience aching in her left heel at the end of the day, or if she has been standing or walking for prolonged periods. She notices swelling in her left foot approximately two times per week. She is unable to walk barefoot, unable to walk on uneven terrain, and can only wear wide width tennis shoes. Claimant no longer dances or gardens, and only on rare occasion will she mow the lawn. She takes Aleve twice daily, and occasionally at night for pain relief. Claimant continues to wear her orthotics, and will continue to wear orthotics in the future.
Upon cross-examination, Claimant confirmed she has undergone surgery on her right foot in 2005. Claimant acknowledged she worked eight-hour days upon her return to work during November 2001, and worked without restrictions. Claimant also confirmed she was provided sick and accident benefits in the amount of $\ 381.00 per week while she was recovering from her September 2001 surgery.