[Dew58]

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Hello All,

I am still in shock over the diagnosis of RSD/CRPS, on 6/11/08. Ambivalent feelings..I am relieved to know WHAT is the problem;however, I am apprehensive to what the diagnosis means, to my LIFE.

My name is Linda, my friends call me,Dew. I am 49 yrs. old, and reside in Oklahoma. I am married for 26 yrs, and we have a son, who is almost 21 yrs. old.My son recently moved out on his own, and hubby and I have been enjoying the "couple" aspect of our relationship, once again.

This is my story:

I am a mgr. of a major retail Vitamin Store (CORP), for the past 5 1/2 yrs. I drove 90 miles round trip to work,5 days per week. I took the store from the pits to the top in the region. On 3/24/07, I was squatting in front of the safe to retrieve the money bag. I pitched forward, right knee twisted and popped out. I fell backwards. I managed to pop the knee back into place, and felt a searing burn and immense pain. I iced the injury immediately, and worked a full 8 hr. day. There is only one person on the sales floor at a time;however, I do have 2 part-time employees. The knee swelled and the pain increased. I reported the injury to my supervisor,immediately.(This happened on a Saturday).
I went through a rough weekend, and saw a doc for another issue on the Monday,after the knee injury. The doc was more interested in my knee, then my appt. for another issue. Doc told me that the knee must be attended too,prescribed Loritabs, and told me that the knee is a WC issue. Of course, with WC, everything must be approved BEFORE any treatment can be executed. The doc told me that I had a medial meniscus tear.This doc is an orthopedic surgeon.
WC decided that the doc was not to be my treating physician, and made an appointment for me with another doc. It took 2 weeks to see the WC doctor. I worked full-time during that 2 weeks, in severe pain. The WC doc told me that he agreed that I had a right knee torn medial meniscus, and wanted to have an MRI. WC put this off, for weeks, ignoring requests for the procedure. I was put in land PT,2 steroid injections, and anti-inflammatories and pain meds.
2nd doc was getting frustrated as WC would not approve the MRI, as doc wanted to do an arthroscopic procedure to ease my pain and suffering. I continued to work full-time, until 5/22/07, when I finally had the first knee scope. The scope indicated that I had fragments floating about in my knee, making the knee catch/lock, and swell.Also, the doc stated that I have a pre-existing condition of arthritis, that was aggrivated by the injury. My burning pain did not go away, and doc decided that I did not need pain meds,anymore.
After 8 weeks of land PT, doc released me with permanent work restriction of walking/standing only 6 hrs. per day. This meant my employment was placed into jeopardy, as well as the fact that my knee is still swollen, searing pain, and no pain meds or anti-inflammatories to ease the discomfort. Doc told me that I would just have to deal with the pain.I was released in the late part of 6/07.
I requested a second opinion, and WC approved the request. My 2nd opinion came from the 1st doc that diagnosed the meniscus tear in the first place. The doc that WC denied to treat my injury,on 3/26/07. The new doc stated that after looking at the records, and viewing the photos of the scope, the doc that had performed the surgery was rather aggressive with the scope. Further, I DO NOT have arthritis... Also, I was placed on Loritabs and anti-inflammatories. I was also given 5 consecutive weeks of Rooster Comb injections(directly into the knee joint,very painful). I continued to work with restrictions, during these procedures. The burning pain continued;however, I was able to walk but not squat,bend,twist,etc. This doc released me to full recovery on 10/29/07. My employer was pressuring me to get back to an 8 hr. day, as the store's numbers reflected my not being there as I had been on a 6 hr. restricted workday(on the floor, and 2 hr, sitting in the backroom office). The Corp. does not like paying for an additional person on the floor, as it is not cost effective and hurts Corp. bottom line $$$.
My employer told me that I should take it easy, and if I had swelling or discomfort, I could take off after 6 hr. days. I started out at 8 hr. days, with no work restrictions. The pain continued, and there were a few days that I could not hang in there for 8 hrs. After 2 weeks of less then a 40 hr. workweek(like 35-37), I was informed by my employer, that I had a full release and if i did not work the 40 hr. workweek, I would be demoted or lose my benefits.
On 12/11/07, Oklahoma had icy storms, and once the ice began to melt, there was a roof leak over the cash register/computer system at the store. I reported the leak immediately to POS,and Corp. demand that I move the heavy, expensive, equipment,immediately. I told my supervisor and POS that I was not able to move the mechanism alone, that I was concerned about the possibility of being re-injured. I was told that if i didn't move the reg/computer, I would be terminated, as the equipment is very expensive and I am on work relase from the first injury. I attempted to call in my part-timers;however, to no avail.
I did move the heavy equipment, forced to get on my knees, pushing and pulling, twisting, etc.. and the burning pain and swelling reared its ugly head to a new dimension of pain experience. I was also waiting on customers and writing hand written receipts as the store could not lose any $$$( I worked a 12 hr. day).
The next day, I contacted my supervisior, and she was not pleased that I was hurt,again. It took 2 weeks to see the doc that administered the Rooster Comb injections(2nd doc), 12/26/07. Doc had me go through 2 MRI procedures; one w/o dye, and one with dye injected into my right knee. The MRI results came back on 12/31/07. The MRI showed I had a lateral meniscus tear that went across to the initial medial meniscus tear. A second surgery was performed on 1/16/08. I continued to work with a brace, pain meds, and anti-inflammatories (last day worked 1/13/08)..
The WC nurse wanted to know when I would be back to work on 1/15/08..mind you the 2nd surgery took place on 1/16/08!! WC rarely returns phone calls or answers email.
I had the 2nd scope, and everything cleaned and scraped..land PT..then switched to water PT, as the knee became worse..not better. WC/Corp. having a hissy cause this injury should have been healed within 8 weeks. The doc tried every anti-inflammatory under the sun, pain meds; creams; steroids(needles and pills)..then switched to Darvacet and Ultram so that I would not become addicted to Loritab(says the doc).
The new meds do not work.
I developed and was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder, and Panic Disorder...by a Psychologists in 4/08. I had started having panic attacks during land PT, in 3/08, and in crowded environments.
I see my therapist every 2 weeks. I have insomnia..sleep maybe 4-5 hrs. per night, because of the pain.burning, stabbing, aching..miserable. I have had a 5 week bout of unexplained laryngitis(inflammatory). I wear a knee brace and cannot walk without a cane. WC and Doc had me complete an OBJECTIVE Functional Capacity Evaluation test..tells what employment limitations I have because of the sedentary work restrictions I have been on since 1/16/08. The FCE results stated that I have permanent disabilities of sedentary work restrictions...yet, OBJECTIVELY, I am healed??
I have lost my job, as I was told that "My pain is MY PROBLEM", and that "This Corp. is NOT WALMART, no greeting positions,available"...this only added insult to injury.Perfectly legal,though.
I have an attorney, and he has been involved since 1/08.
Doc told me that I am OBJECTIVELY healed;however, my chronic pain and inflammation is reality. I ask doc what happened..and he became defensive and stated that he nor the 1st surgeon, did anything wrong to cause my condition.
Doc told me that my pain receptors have changed. I ask him to explain, and said that there is a condition known as RSD/CRPS, that he feels, is the diagnosis. I requested to see a pain specialist as the pain meds he was prescribing was not working. Doc told me that I needed to understand that more people then not, that see a pain specialist, are non-functional after treatment. I told the doc, "I am NOT functional, NOW!"
I have been approved for a TENS Unit from WC, and they agreed to send me to a pain specialist, of THEIR choosing. I received the TENS UNIT, and no PM appointment. In fact, 6/30/08, my atty called to inform me that WC sent a 13 Form. It is the "STOP" TTD weekly checks,immediately, form.
The WAR with WC..Continues.
I went to my family doc( of 5 years) and she diagnosed me with RSD. I was scripted Neurotin 300 mg., a script to stop GERD ( it wasn't laryngitis that took my voice away for over a month). and Loritab for the burning pain. I take Cymbalta, Xanex, Ambien, Flector Patches, and Arthrodern cream, and TENS Unit, currently.
My Current Symptoms of RSD; immune deficiency rash:small light brown spots, all over my body;nails are shiney/off white peach color and have white streaks;losing hair,sensitivity to touch/sound;swelling;discoloration..PAIN.
I was an able- bodied woman, that loved to take walks with my hubby, dance, fish, and be active. Since the injury in 3/07, I have not been able to be free of physical and pain limitations unless I am in the water PT.
WC cut that off,too.. as they thought it was NOT being productive.
My son purchased an above the ground pool (30" x 8'), and I do my water PT at home,now. It was an early Mother's Day present. I love that pool..and son loves to see me in it..as I am able to move about, and a smile is flashed from me. Hubby joins me in the pool,too.

So, I am diagnosed with RSD/CRPS...and the legal battle has yet to really begin. I am so tired.

I will keep my spirits up, meditate, and remind myself, I am a good person/employee, and this is NOT my fault. A POSITIVE Attitude and the love of my family/friends, will get me through this difficult time.

I am so pleased to have found this site.

Thanks for listening/reading

Dew