I'm a city worker and I fell down a ladder at work and hurt my back. Now I can't see a doctor till I get a case number which I'm told will take 48 hrs. So I'm to go to work in pain and work like nothing happened?

You can go see a comp doctor into your case number come to you. You have to be out 7 days or longer into worker comp can send you case number. Go to a doc that takes workers comp.

Go to hospital first or private doctor within three to four days of accident.Get doctor's papers. Take them to work ( keep copies) , then go home

That's not true. You should have already seen a doctor. Your job should have sent you to the emergency room.