ÿWPCS …# VUNa %¯ 0GµU:üw@6 4v Š ™ U:¡ 0¶Û 0D‘ BÕ  0J 0Ti 0^½ 0h 0rƒ 0|õ 0†q 0÷ 1u‡ 0düU>`U*žB)ÈDCñ B4 D3Q AM„èÑ 0@¹dùv~]vÓÛ AO®Æý 0Dà D/ B6˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLlÎ(ÖÃ9 Z ‹6Times New Roman RegularX('\$¡¡Ô€XåÙXXMXÔ,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular ¦ P§ D¨ D© Dª D« D¬ U­ D® Ó€º ÍD0"5 AØ'°3|xº `"Arial Regular(f(2go$¤¤Ý ƒ'\!ÝÔ€X}¨XXXÔÝ  ÝÔ€ôB‚ôXX}¨ÔÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóC:\WPWIN60\TEMPLATE\STANDARD.WPT2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman< Œ 9p`(Arial% Line 7 d''''7Border 1dd d))))'ÿÿdxd€-(Cþÿ << Gÿÿ ÞÝ ƒ!ÝÔ€%ÔÔ€&ÔÝ  ÝÔ€&ÔÓ  ÓÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€&XÔÌÌò òMay€20,€1997ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌÔ€&ôÔAppellate€Court€Clerkó ó("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò ZÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€%ÔÔ€&ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $ÝÔ€&ôÔÓ  Óà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝShelby€County€is€not€subject€to€the€Tennessee€Workers€Compensation€Act,€but€doesÏcompensate€employees€injured€on€the€job€pursuant€to€County€Policy.ÌPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'hStyl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  h HD: Geneva ÒÒ  h HD: Geneva Ò€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€%ÔÔ€&ÔÝ  ÝÑ\R AØ'\ÑÓ  ÓÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ7€ h XXdðdÈ7Ñ›Þ ÞÌà@ àò òIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEÌà@ àWESTERN€SECTION€AT€JACKSONÌÌÌDEBORAH€TUGGLE,à àà àà à)€€Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àó óPlaintiff/Appellee,à àà àò ò)€€Shelby€Circuit€No.€62811€T.D.Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)ÌVS.à àà àà àà àà àà à)€€Appeal€No.€02A01„9606„CV„00147̜ـ€ÙßR€+,(A1-j|Øù ` Å `€€@ÿRß›à àà àà àà àà àà à)ÌSHELBY€COUNTY€GOVERNMENT,à à)Ìand€JAMES€BROWN,€In€His€Officialà à)ÌCapacity€as€Executive€Director€ofà à)ÌOAKVILLE€HEALTH€CARE€CENTERà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àó óDefendants/Appellants.à àò ò)ó óÌÌÌà@ àAPPEAL€FROM€THE€CIRCUIT€COURT€OF€SHELBY€COUNTYÌà@ àAT€MEMPHIS,€TENNESSEEÌà@ àTHE€HONORABLE€GEORGE€H.€œBROWN,€›JR.,€JUDGEÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌò òCARROLL€C.€JOHNSONÌó óMemphis,€TennesseeÌAttorney€for€Defendants/AppellantsÌÌÌò òJOEDAE€L.€JENKINSÌó óMemphis,€TennesseeÌAttorney€for€Plaintiff/AppelleeÌÌÌÌÌÌÌò òAFFIRMEDÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌó óà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àò òALAN€E.€HIGHERS,€J.ÌÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌDAVID€R.€FARMER,€J.ÌÌHOLLY€KIRBY€LILLARD,€J.ÌÓÓó óà àIn€this€workers€compensation€case,€Deborah€Tuggle€(ð ðPlaintiffðð)€seeks€benefitsÏfor€Ñ7€ h XXdð XXdð7Ñinjuries€sustained€while€weighing€a€patient€at€the€Oakville€Health€Care€Center,€anÏagency€of€Shelby€County€Government€(ð ðDefendantðð).× ƒ. ××  ×€€The€trial€court€awarded€theÏPlaintiff€$41,463.80€based€upon€a€forty„five€percent€permanent€partial€disability€ratingÏto€the€body€as€a€whole;€$4,895.29€based€upon€a€temporary€total€disability€of€21.2Ïweeks;€$1,329.00€for€past€medical€expenses;€œand€all›€future€medical€expensesÏreasonably€incurred€by€Plaintiff€for€treatment€of€her€cervical€and€lumbar€strain€andÏbilateral€carpal€tunnel€œsyndrome.›€œThe›€Defendants€appeal€the€judgment€of€the€trialÏcourt€arguing€that€the€Plaintiff€did€not€sustain€any€permanent€disability€which€arose€outÏof€and€in€the€course€of€her€employment;€and,€alternatively,€if€the€Plaintiff€did€sustainÏany€permanent€disability€arising€out€of€and€in€the€course€of€her€employment,€then€theÏtrial€courtððs€award€of€damages€was€excessive.€€For€the€reasons€stated€hereafter,€weÏaffirm€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.€€ÌÌà@ àò òFACTSÌÌà àó óOn€January€15,€1985,€Plaintiff€began€working€at€the€Oakville€Health€CareÏCenter€as€a€certified€nursing€assistant.€€As€a€nursing€assistant,€Plaintiff€dealt€withÏcomatose€and€handicapped€patients€as€well€as€with€patients€who€had€suffered€heartÏattacks€and€strokes.€Plaintiffððs€job€entailed€feeding,€bathing,€turning,€weighing€andÏtransporting€the€patients.€€ÌÌà àWhile€weighing€a€patient€on€July€31,€1993,€the€Plaintiff€injured€her€shoulder,Ïarm,€neck€and€back€when€attempting€to€keep€the€patient€from€falling.€PlaintiffÏimmediately€reported€the€incident€to€the€nursing€supervisor€and€complained€of€pain€inÏher€back,€neck€and€shoulders.€€Plaintiff€was€then€sent€by€her€employer€to€theÏemergency€room€at€Eastwood€Hospital€.€€ÌÌà àAfter€examining€the€Plaintiff,€a€doctor€at€Eastwood€Hospital€gave€her€medicationÏand€told€her€to€call€the€Memphis€Orthopedic€Group€for€further€treatment€if€her€conditionÏhad€not€improved€by€the€following€Monday.€€Not€feeling€any€better€by€Monday,€AugustÏ5,€1993,€Plaintiff€called€the€Memphis€Orthopedic€Group€and€scheduled€an€appointmentÏwith€Dr.€Ragsdale.€€Complaining€of€numbness€in€her€shoulder,€arm€and€throughout€theÏright€and€left€sides€of€her€body,€Dr.€Ragsdale€examined€the€Plaintiff,€prescribed€muscleÏrelaxers€and€sent€her€to€therapy.€€€ÌÌà àIn€August€1993,€Plaintiff€began€visiting€physicians€at€HealthSouth€SportsÏMedicine€and€Rehabilitation€Center€(ð ðHealthSouthðð).€€Plaintiffððs€HealthSouth€medicalÏrecords€reveal€as€follows:€€Plaintiff€complained€of€constant€pain€in€her€right€shoulderÏand€radiating€pain€and€numbness€in€her€right€hand€and€third€digit€on€August€6,€1993.ÏOn€August€12,€1993,€Plaintiff€stated€that€her€shoulder€pain€was€ð ðnot€as€intense€asÏbefore€and€is€coming€and€going€now€instead€of€constant.ðð€€On€August€17,€1993,ÏPlaintiff€stated€that€ð ðshe€feels€pain€in€shoulder€joint€today€and€arm€feels€heavy.ðð€€OnÏAugust€23,€24,€30€and€31€1993,€Plaintiff€complained€of€pain.€€On€September€9,€1993,ÏPlaintiff€complained€of€numbness€and€pain€in€her€right€shoulder€and€arm.€€Likewise,ÏPlaintiff€complained€of€numbness€in€her€right€shoulder€and€arm€and€pain€in€her€rightÏshoulder€on€September€14,€1993.€ÌÌà àPlaintiff€received€a€letter€from€her€employer€dated€September€8,€1993€informingÏher€that€an€appointment€had€been€scheduled€for€her€on€September€14,€1993€with€Dr.ÏMark€Harriman,€an€orthopedic€surgeon.€€After€performing€a€physical€examination€of€theÏPlaintiff€on€September€14,€1993,€Dr.€Harriman€found€nothing€wrong€with€her€andÏrecommended€that€she€return€to€work.€€Plaintiff€returned€to€Dr.€Harriman€on€SeptemberÏ21€and€24,€1993;€and€Dr.€Harriman€again€advised€her€to€return€to€work.ÌÌà àFollowing€Dr.€Harrimanððs€advice,€the€Plaintiff€returned€to€work€on€September€27,Ï1993.€€While€turning€a€patient€on€her€first€day€back€to€work,€Plaintiff€felt€pain€in€herÏarms,€back€and€neck€and€reported€the€pain€to€the€nursing€supervisor.€€Unable€to€work,ÏPlaintiff€went€to€Eastwood€Hospital€for€treatment€and€was€told€that€the€hospital€couldÍnot€treat€her€at€that€time€due€to€her€employerððs€refusal€to€pay.€ÌÌà àWithout€first€talking€to€her€employer€about€alternative€treatment€for€her€injuries,Ïthe€Plaintiff€went€to€the€Regional€Medical€Center€at€Memphis€(ð ðthe€Medðð)€for€treatmentÏon€September€28,€1993,€complaining€of€pain€in€her€back,€neck€and€right€hand€andÏnumbness€in€her€arms€and€shoulders.€€€After€undergoing€an€electromyogram€test,Ïdoctors€at€the€Med€diagnosed€Plaintiff€as€having€bilateral€carpal€tunnel€syndrome.€ÌÌà àOn€October€25,€1993,€Plaintiff€returned€to€the€Med€for€neurology€treatment€andÏwas€seen€by€Dr.€Iqbal.€€After€an€examination,€Dr.€Iqbal€gave€the€Plaintiff€a€writtenÏstatement€authorizing€her€to€return€to€work€but€limiting€her€work€to€non„strenuousÏlabor.€ÌÌà àPlaintiff€was€thereafter€treated€at€the€Med€on€November€1€and€November€15,Ï1993,€and€diagnostic€tests€were€performed€on€the€Plaintiff€on€November€23€andÏDecember€6,€1993.€€Plaintiff€also€underwent€physical€therapy€at€the€Med€and€wasÏinstructed€to€do€certain€exercises€for€her€hands.€€On€December€7,€13,€and€29,€1993,ÏPlaintiff€received€follow„up€care.€€Plaintiffððs€last€visit€to€the€Med€was€in€April€1994.€ÌÌà àIn€January€1994,€Plaintiff€returned€to€Dr.€Harriman€for€an€updated€evaluation€ofÏher€condition.€€Because€Plaintiff€had€been€previously€diagnosed€with€bilateral€carpalÏtunnel€syndrome€at€the€Med,€Dr.€Harriman€did€not€examine€the€Plaintiff€for€carpalÏtunnel€difficulties.€€Rather,€Dr.€Harrimanððs€examination€was€limited€to€Plaintiffððs€neckÍand€shoulder€problems.€After€taking€x„rays€of€the€Plaintiffððs€shoulder,€Dr.€HarrimanÏfound€no€physical€problems€and€recommended€that€she€return€to€work.€ÌÌà àAfter€receiving€Dr.€Harrimanððs€written€statement€recommending€that€PlaintiffÏreturn€to€ð ðlight€dutyðð€work,€Plaintiff€returned€to€work€as€a€health€aid€on€March€14,€1994.€ÏNovember€18,€1994,€the€Defendant€told€Plaintiff€that€she€had€been€placed€on€aÏmedical€leave€of€absence€without€pay.€€In€July€1995,€Plaintiff€received€a€letter€from€theÏDefendant€stating€that€her€position€at€Oakville€Health€Care€Center€had€beenÏterminated€because€of€job€abandonment.€ÌÌà àOn€June€6,€1994,€Plaintiff€sought€the€assistance€of€Dr.€Rommel€Childress,€anÏœorthopedic›€surgeon.€€Plaintiff€came€to€Dr.€Childress€complaining€of€pain€in€the€neck,Ïback,€bilateral€wrist€and€hand.€€Dr.€Childressðð€evaluation€of€the€Plaintiff€revealed€thatÏshe€had€a€ð ðhistory€of€acute€cervical€and€lumbar€spine€strain€and€carpal€tunnelÏsyndrome€with€some€aggravation€with€work€activities.ðð€Upon€prescribing€medicationsÏfor€the€Plaintiff€and€advising€her€to€return€to€him€in€three€weeks€for€follow„up€care,€Dr.ÏChildress€advised€the€Plaintiff€to€return€to€light€duty€work€activities.€€€€€ÌÌà àComplaining€of€pain€in€the€neck,€back,€wrist,€hand€and€right€arm€and€numbnessÏand€tingling€in€both€hands,€Plaintiff€returned€to€Dr.€Childress€for€follow„up€care€on€JuneÏ23,€1994;€August€8,€1994;€August€29,€1994;€September€29,€1994;€and€on€November€4,Ï1994.€€On€November€4,€1994,€Dr.€Childress€gave€Plaintiff€a€note€recommending€thatÏshe€return€to€work€but€limiting€her€work€to€light„duty€tasks.€ÌÌà àDr.€Childress€diagnosed€the€Plaintiff€as€having€acute€and€chronic€cervical€andÏlumbar€spine€strain€as€well€as€carpal€tunnel€syndrome.€€€Based€upon€PlaintiffððsÏabsence€of€pain€in€the€back,€neck,€arm,€hand€and€wrist€before€the€July€31,€1993€workÏaccident,€Dr.€Childress€opined€that€it€was€the€July€31,€1993€occurrence€whichÏprecipitated€the€Plaintiffððs€neck,€back€and€carpal€tunnel€problems.€Dr.€Childress€furtherÏopined€that€Plaintiffððs€neck€and€back€difficulties€along€with€her€carpal€tunnel€syndromeÏwere€aggravated€by€her€return€to€work.€ÌÌà àRelying€upon€the€American€Medical€Association€(ð ðAMAðð)€guidelines,€Dr.ÏChildress€assigned€a€sixteen€percent€medical€impairment€rating€to€Plaintiffððs€body€as€aÏwhole€due€to€her€injuries.€€In€addition,€because€of€Plaintiffððs€carpal€tunnel€condition,€Dr.ÏChildress€testified€that€the€Plaintiff€would€require€future€medical€care€and€treatment.€ÌÌà àOn€February€10,€1995,€Plaintiff€returned€to€Dr.€Harriman€at€the€request€of€theÏDefendant.€€Upon€examining€the€Plaintiff€for€carpal€tunnel€syndrome,€Dr.€HarrimanððsÏtests€revealed€no€signs€of€carpal€tunnel€difficulties.€€However,€assuming€that€theÏPlaintiff€did€have€carpal€tunnel€syndrome€as€the€Med€had€previously€diagnosed,€€Dr.ÏHarriman€opined€that€Plaintiffððs€carpal€tunnel€condition€could€not€have€developed€as€aÏresult€of€her€July€31,€1993€accident€at€work.€Dr.€Harriman€found€no€permanentÏimpairment€upon€his€examination€of€the€Plaintiff€and€again€recommended€that€sheÏreturn€to€work.€ÌÌà àAt€the€request€of€the€Defendant,€Dr.€Joseph€Boals,€an€œorthopedic›€surgeon,Ïevaluated€the€Plaintiff€on€November€28,€1995.€€After€evaluating€her€history,€performingÏa€physical€examination,€and€taking€x„rays,€Dr.€Boals€determined€that€Plaintiff€wasÏsuffering€from€bilateral€carpal€tunnel€syndrome.€Based€upon€the€AMA€guidelines,€Dr.ÏBoals€attributed€a€twelve€percent€medical€impairment€rating€to€Plaintiffððs€body€as€aÏwhole€due€to€her€carpal€tunnel€condition.€€€Dr.€Boals€recommended€surgery€forÏPlaintiffððs€carpal€tunnel€condition€but€stated€that€Plaintiffððs€medical€impairment€ratingÏwould€probably€not€improve€after€the€surgery.€ÌÌà àDr.€Boals€further€testified€that€if€Plaintiffððs€July€31,€1993€accident€causedÏPlaintiffððs€bilateral€carpal€tunnel€problems,€Plaintiff€should€have€complained€aboutÏnumbness,€tingling€and/or€pain€in€her€hands€within€three€to€six€weeks€of€the€July€31,Ï1993€occurrence.€ÌÌ€à àAlthough€Plaintiff€complained€of€acute€cervical€and€lumbar€strain€and€shoulderÏcontusion,€Dr.€Boals€found€no€objective€findings€that€could€support€Plaintiffððs€subjectiveÏcomplaints.€€€Dr.€Boals€found€no€impairment€to€Plaintiffððs€back€or€shoulder.€€ÌÌà àFollowing€the€advice€of€her€attorney,€Plaintiff€visited€Dr.€Greg€Cates,€a€licensedÏhealth€and€rehabilitation€counselor,€on€January€25,€1996.€€Based€upon€a€review€of€theÏdepositions€of€Dr.€Harriman,€Dr.€Childress€and€Dr.€Boals€and€upon€his€ownÏassessment€of€the€Plaintiff,€Dr.€Cates€opined€that€Plaintiff€will€lose€approximately€thirty„five€percent€of€her€vocational€potential€if€she€continues€to€be€limited€to€light„duty€workÍdue€to€her€injuries.€€ÌÌà àAfter€hearing€the€proof€which€consisted€of€the€foregoing€facts,€the€trial€courtÏmade€the€following€findings€of€fact.€€The€Plaintiff€suffered€a€work„related€injury€on€orÏabout€July€1993€and€reported€that€injury€to€her€employer.€€Based€upon€the€depositionÏtestimony€of€Dr.€Childress,€the€Plaintiffððs€July€1993€accident€triggered€Plaintiffððs€carpalÏtunnel€syndrome.€€As€a€result€of€her€accident,€Plaintiff€is€no€longer€able€to€return€to€herÏformer€position€as€a€nursing€assistant€which€requires€the€lifting€and€turning€of€patients.€ÌÌà@ àò òLAWó óÌÌà àThe€two€issues€before€this€Court€are:Ìà à1)€Whether€the€Plaintiff€sustained€any€permanent€disability€or€impairment€whichÏarose€out€of€and€in€the€course€of€her€employment€with€the€Defendant;€andÌà à2)€Whether€the€trial€courtððs€award€to€the€Plaintiff€was€excessive.Ìà àÌà àOur€standard€of€review€in€workersðð€compensation€cases€is€òòde€novoóó€upon€theÏrecord€of€the€trial€court,€accompanied€by€a€presumption€of€the€correctness€of€theÏfactual€findings,€unless€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€is€otherwise.€€T.C.A.€ðð€50„6„225(e)(2)€(Supp.€1996);€òòSpencer€v.€Towson€Moving€and€Storage,€Inc.óó,€922€S.W.2dÏ508,€509€(Tenn.€1996);€òòFink€v.€Caudleóó,€856€S.W.2d€952,€958€(Tenn.€1993).€€ThisÏstandard€of€review€requires€an€in€depth€examination€into€the€trial€courtððs€factualÏfindings€and€conclusions.€€òòGalloway€v.€Memphis€Drum€Serv.óó,€822€S.W.2d€584,€586Í(Tenn.€1991);€òòOrman€v.€Williams€Sonoma,€Inc.óó,€803€S.W.2d€672,€675€(Tenn.€1991).€ÏWe,€therefore,€are€not€bound€by€the€trial€courtððs€factual€findings;€instead,€we€conductÏan€independent€examination€to€determine€where€the€preponderance€of€the€evidenceÏlies.€€òòGalloway€óó,€822€S.W.2d€at€586;€òòCorcoran€v.€Foster€Auto€GMC,€Inc.óó,€746€S.W.2dÏ452,€456€(Tenn.€1988).€€€€ÌÌà àDefendant€argues€that€the€Plaintiff€did€not€sustain€any€permanent€disability€orÏimpairment€which€arose€out€of€and€in€the€course€of€her€employment€with€theÏDefendant.€However,€Dr.€Childress€assigned€a€sixteen€percent€medical€impairmentÏrating€to€Plaintiffððs€body€as€a€whole€due€to€Plaintiffððs€neck,€back,€shoulder€and€carpalÏtunnel€problems.€€Dr.€Boals€attributed€a€twelve€percent€medical€impairment€rating€toÏPlaintiffððs€body€as€a€whole€due€to€her€carpal€tunnel€condition€but€found€no€permanentÏimpairment€to€Plaintiffððs€back€or€shoulder.€€Dr.€Harriman€found€no€permanent€injuriesÏor€impairments€upon€his€examination€of€the€Plaintiff.€ÌÌà àIn€accordance€with€Dr.€Boals€testimony€that€Plaintiff€should€have€complainedÏabout€numbness,€tingling€or€pain€in€her€hands€within€three€to€six€weeks€of€the€July€31,Ï1993€accident€if€the€accident€was€the€cause€of€Plaintiffððs€carpal€tunnel€condition,ÏPlaintiff€began€complaining€of€radiating€pain€and€numbness€in€her€right€hand€and€thirdÏdigit€on€August€6,€1993,€one€week€after€the€July€31,€1993€accident€at€work.€€Moreover,Ïmedical€records€indicate€that€Plaintiff€continually€sought€the€care€and€treatment€ofÏmedical€doctors€after€the€July€31,€1993€occurrence€for€pain€in€her€neck,€back,Ïshoulders,€arms€and€hands.€€Thus,€there€is€substantial€evidence€in€the€recordÍindicating€that€Plaintiff€sustained€permanent€disability€or€impairment€which€arose€out€ofÏand€in€the€course€of€her€employment€with€the€Defendant.€€We,€therefore,€agree€with€theÏtrial€courtððs€finding€that€Plaintiff€sustained€permanent€disabilities€due€to€the€July€31,Ï1993€accident€at€work.ÌÌà àThe€Defendant€alternatively€argues€that€the€trial€courtððs€award€to€the€PlaintiffÏwas€excessive.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„241(b)€provides€that€a€permanent€partialÏdisability€award€in€a€workers€compensation€case€shall€be€the€product€of€a€medicalÏimpairment€rating€and€a€statutory€multiplier.€€In€cases€where€a€pre„injury€employerÏdoes€not€return€an€employee€to€employment€at€a€wage€equal€to€or€greater€than€theÏwage€the€employee€was€receiving€at€the€time€of€injury,€the€employee€may€receive€aÏmaximum€permanent€partial€disability€award€of€six€times€the€medical€impairmentÏrating.€€T.C.A.€ðð€50„6„241(b)€(Supp.€1996).€€Based€upon€Dr.€Boals€twelve€percentÏmedical€impairment€rating€and€upon€Dr.€Childressðð€sixteen€percent€medicalÏimpairment€rating,€the€trial€courtððs€determination€that€Plaintiff€sustained€a€forty„fiveÏpercent€permanent€partial€disability€to€the€body€as€a€whole€was€well€within€the€trialÏcourtððs€discretion€and€was€supported€by€the€evidence€at€trial.€€We,€therefore,€concludeÏthat€the€trial€court€did€not€err€in€its€award€of€permanent€partial€disability€to€the€Plaintiff.ÌÌà àPlaintiff€returned€to€work€on€September€27,€1993€upon€the€advice€of€theÏDefendantððs€physician,€Dr.€Harriman.€€Again€experiencing€pain€in€her€arms,€back€andÏneck€while€turning€a€patient€on€September€27,€1993,€the€Plaintiff€left€work,€soughtÏmedical€treatment€and€did€not€return€to€work€until€March€14,€1994.€€We,€therefore,Íagree€with€the€trial€courtððs€ruling€that€the€Plaintiff€is€entitled€to€temporary€total€disabilityÏfrom€September€27,€1993€through€March€14,€1994.€€ÌÌà àMoreover,€based€upon€Dr.€Childressðð€diagnosis€of€the€Plaintiffððs€acute€andÏchronic€cervical€and€lumbar€spine€strain€and€upon€Dr.€Childressðð€testimony€that€theÏPlaintiff€will€incur€future€medical€expenses€due€to€her€carpal€tunnel€condition,€the€trialÏcourt€did€not€err€in€its€decision€to€award€the€Plaintiff€all€future€medical€expensesÏreasonably€incurred€by€her€for€treatment€of€her€cervical€and€lumbar€strain€and€bilateralÏcarpal€tunnel€syndrome.ÌÌœà àThe€application€of€Plaintiff€to€declare€this€a€frivolous€appeal€is€respectfullyÏdenied.›Ìœ›à àœ›Ìà àThe€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€hereby€affirmed.€€Costs€on€appeal€are€taxed€toÏAppellant€for€which€execution€may€issue€if€œnecessary.Ì›œ›Ìœ›ÓÓà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ïà àóóà àà àà àà àà àà àà àHIGHERS,€J.ÌÌœCONCUR:›ÌÌœ›Ìòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÌóóFARMER,€J.ÌÌœ›Ìòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€óóÌLILLARD,€J.ÌÌÌÌ