Opinion ID: 6353086
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Sheppard’s Initial Injury

Text: On April 4, 2011, Sheppard slipped and fell on Employer’s cafeteria floor, injuring her neck, low back, left arm, and left leg (the “Accident”).3 According to Sheppard, she has sought medical treatment with various providers since the Accident for continuing problems with her neck, back, left arm, and left leg.4 Following the Accident, Sheppard received total disability benefits.5 Sheppard was prescribed both opiate and non-opiate medications following the Accident. She stated that these medications helped with her symptoms, but because they were not long-acting, she “still need[ed] medication for break-through pain.”6 2 A few references are made to two other IAB decisions involving Sheppard’s Accident, including Sheppard’s Petition to Determine Additional Compensation Due and Employer’s 2016 Utilization Review. See Sheppard v. Allen Fam. Foods, No. 1373143 (Del. I.A.B. June 30, 2014) [hereinafter Sheppard Decision 2014]; Sheppard v. Allen Fam. Foods, No. 1373143 (Del. I.A.B. Aug. 1, 2017) [hereinafter Sheppard UR Appeal 2017]. Both decisions are included in Sheppard’s Amended Compendium of Unreported Cases to Appellant’s Amended Opening Brief on Appeal. 3 I.A.B. Decision at 12. The IAB noted the following complaints Sheppard had after her injury: “complaints of diffuse pain in [her] neck, low back, left shoulder, both hips, and left leg.” Id. at 3. 4 Sheppard initially sought medical treatment at Beebe Health Care with Dr. Green; however, Sheppard’s doctor has changed a few times since then. After Dr. Green, Sheppard treated with Dr. Eva Dickinson, and then with Dr. Gala at Alpha Care Medical in 2017. At some point, Sheppard stopped treating with a doctor and instead was treated by a nurse practitioner, Ms. Patricia M. Grady. Id. at 12. The full names of some of Sheppard’s treating doctors are not provided in the record. 5 A009 (I.A.B. Hr’g Tr. at 4). 6