INJURED on Job...

Well, I got a new job last month (passed the pre employment screen with QF) but I did not know how much lifting it involved. Last week, I was loading up a truck and I felt this sharp pain on the side of my upper tigh. I thought it was just a scrape or something but when I got home and looked at it, It turned out to be a large red bulge.

It was pretty nasty looking but It didn't hurt much so I didn't seek treatment or report it, just hoped it would get better. It didn't go away so I took a closer look at it and realized it is a hernia, and that little bump was my small intestine sticking out.

Last time I worked was Sat, 08/26, and the hernia occured around 08/21 or 08/22. Tommarow (Monday), i'm going to the doctor's office and i'll probably undergo a minor emergency surgery, hopefully without any complications from waiting so long.

At first I was going to let it ride for a week or so, so I could get clean and then claim that the injury had just happened; but after reading up about hernias, i realized that isn't a good idea.

Anyone have experience or suggestions about work-realated injuries and drug testing? I was planning on using QF if tested but I don't know if i'll have to take a physical with it too. I'm thinking about just telling my employer that it happened off-job so I can avoid all of the hassel. After all, hernia recovery time will probably be 1 month tops, so I am not very worried about a few weeks of lost wages, and a vacation would be nice. Any ideas or personal experience with this issue?

none, but never just ignore a hernia, take that to a doctor

..I hope you get paid good for this

It's probably best you did tell them it happened off-site (I.e. maybe intensive yard work or moving large appliances in the house). Because if any injury occurs on the jobsite, before you can start work again, they will probably send you to a company doctor (not yours) for a physical and drug test.

I had a co-worker who had a filing cabinet fall on her, she was rushed to the hospital. But before she could start work in the office again, she had to go to the company doctor and get a clearance from him.

Does a physical and drug test always take place after any injury? I had a hernia a few years back and recovery took about a month, but thats just recovering from surgery and not to go back to doing heavy lifting. Depending, you may not be able to do any heavy lifting for a few months.