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Update on Dew's IME for % of disability on WC claim
I went to IME doc for my atty.,to get a % of disability for WC injury. I left the bldg. in tears.The outlook for me getting any better is bleak.I have an incurable disease that has stolen my active life away.
My life is less valuable than a pro football player because of the way WC law is written. I would not be referred to top RSD/CRPS doctor for review. My heart is bruised from this ordeal. No further treatment will be granted other than PM and psychological. Tears began to fall, and the doc looked at me point blank and said, "You don't need to cry." I told him that I couldn't help it, just like I couldn't help not wanting my legs to dangle off the table(more painful), at his insistence! Doc kept pulling on my legs, and I was pushing him away telling him "NO!" He was speaking in recorder and stated CRPS with secondary Major Depression and Anxiety..both lower extremities, swollen and touch is not acceptable to patient;further,full body CRPS is future prognosis, due to patient not wanting me to touch her,anywhere as she reports pain is throughout her person. Also, I was to see current PM doc, who is well known in PM field, 4-6 times per year,and continue with psychological counseling.Finally, he told me that my atty. was very good at court and I would not have any problems. The entire office was wearing blue mask to avoid the flu! However, no gloves to touch the patient. THAT'S IT! To top it all off, this was MY atty.'s IME doc. I cannot imagine w3hat WC atty. will do to me. I am so sad.:( |
I am so sorry, he was a jerk. I wish I could help you. My thoughts and prayers are with you, Your life is very valuable, don't ever think that it isn't.
:hug: Sandy Quote:
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I am so sorry Dew....
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Dr.s are people who many times not only lack sensitivity but also knowledge about our RSD and it's pain.. one never knows by description.. you have to live with it.. and it's repircussions... :grouphug: |
Dear Dew,
I am so sorry for your ordeal. What a big fat bummer. Can you consult with another lawyer and get his opinion on what happened? Sounds kind of crappy to me, and not what I would really want either. Hang in there. We are all routing for you. XOXOX Sandy |
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I am sorry the appt turned out badly. Talk to your attny and see what he suggests and try to stay calm. You don't want to cause more pain from the stress. I know that is hard but thats what the attny is for. Hugs. |
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I am so sad for you. Those are such harsh words to hear, and I can understand your heart hurting. My heart hurts for you too. It brought me back to when a new neurologist told me I had generalized or full body RSD. That is when I needed a psychiatrist. He suggested two names, whom I didn't like and found my own. Most Drs. and people in general have not a clue what we go thru and the losses we experience. It's huge, our active, pain free life is taken away. It really takes time to process, and please know I believe you to be very strong and you WILL find meaning in your life. Maybe not what you thought your life would be like, but you can and will have a meaningful life, full of love for your family and love for others whom you will be of great encouragement. It's good you are taking time for yourself to process this as you go thru the legal harang. Please know my thoughts and prayers are with you. Remember, take time for yourself. Journaling will help you work thru the losses you are facing. I'm finally over the flu. My immune system is so weak, it took 2-3 months to get over. My RSD Dr. wants me to have the flu shot and swine shot? I'm so scared to. I have never had the flu shot. I'm still sleeping 10 hrs a night and pain level is down as a result. We sold part of our business and kept part. It's cooling down here. ----high 90's I think 98 this weekend, but doesn't feel that hot. Laura took me shopping for a dress Friday and attended a wedding Sat. It was nice-on one of the golf courses and nice weather. I'm feeling much better, flu was really rough and long. Last night I tripped over my laptop cord and went clear across the room to keeping from falling, but fell into another chair. Rug burned hand and purple knee. Nothing broken, just a sore low back, knee and hand. I'm so grateful nothing was broken. Please know I'm thinking of you every day. Your friend, loretta soft hugs:grouphug: |
hi Dewi'm sorry for what you are dealing with but i would like to help. I have been living with the DRAGON know for 31 years and the best advice I can give you is like a Doctor told me is that this RSD will not kill you unless you let it you need to find some you love to do or what to do for me i love to snowmobile and i'm working to buy a corvette, when I'm down i go out and look at my sled and reimber how much I injoy this and Thank god for giving me this i go riding even when i have a10 day the doctor told me I can not make it worst my buddys watch out for me and after my pain will go down because i'm doing something. the worst things with RSD is thinking all the time & stress and the feeling of hopeless you have to fight that all the time or the DRAGON WINS you lose. and have any kind of legal battles makes this worst I have been better a little bit for me since i Won my SSDI it feel like i have a big truck off my back but do not worry about what happen at the IME it is just part of the Game and you know what you what and that is to WIN so keep faith and i will pray for you and i hope i cheered you up a little bit , I'm starting nerve block on Monday 6 -8 total for my shoulders and ams, I also have to have to total shoulder replacements but the doctor are scared because of the RSD , GOD BLESS DEW love you keep faith
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Ohh Dew I am so sory you are hurting..
Aww hugs Dew.. he sounds like he has no bedside manner at all..
Some of my doctors too have been scocialy inept.. but their reports can pack a wallop even so. see In that report the fact that you wouldnt let him touch you is actualy a RSD symptom, alodonya (sory bad spelling?). It can be made much worse by stress and anxiety, and I think personaly that he is wrong about the spread reasons. The alodonia can be helped with tactile stimulation... self stimulation, we'll start a thread on it soon, it realy does help.. I know, hmm I think Ali did a thread on it recently.. I know it hurts but from what I know of % of disabilitys that doctor just wrote a report that will realy help your case.. I know it probibly dosn't sound like it to you, but I have delt with alot of dr's reports and WCB till I wanna puke (sory for the grafics). Quote:
My doctor attributed my depression to my being disabled, not secondary to the RSD as it should have been.. You see? it's all a matter of how it is worded, yours is obviously a doctor that knows how to word things for unquestionably and for impact, probibly had alot more practice, my first doctor had never heard of RSD and referred to the WCB doc for my first 3 months but he wrote a great CPP disability report (lots of experience, and knew what it takes to get it accepted when it is deserved). Because Your atorney and his IME live breathe's and sleep's this blunt termanology they forget that their clients/people have feelings.. and most likely haven't adjusted to their situation at all yeat. :hug: Quote:
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Also he told you your atourney was good and that you would not have any problems. I am not trying to be insensitive my friend I am just trying to help you see the other side of it, this is a very good report for your court case. :hug: let me know if you wanna chat. Sandra |
Thank You All
I appreciate your words of encouragement, and each of you have helped me. I still can't stop the tears from flowing. Yes, I am over sensitive;however, to think that THIS is the BEST anyone can do for me is unacceptable. I was dx 15 months out from initial injury. Too late for blocks, or anything!
The IME's nurse said that I should be glad it happened now, not 7 years ago, when RSD/CRPS was not really considered a proper dx. I replied, the outcome is the same,isn't it? I have no active life, I am homebound, and I still deal with doctors that just aren't informed. This didn't have to BE this way... :grouphug: love you, Dew |
Hang in there Dew, things will calm down in time, you'll see. Your family will look after you and you'll be up and about. You're going through that stage where its dark and unknown but you'll soon see yourself take control not it controlling you.
jim |
Linda,
I strongly agree with Sandra. These reports are very difficult to hear, or read, but I too think that doctor was really on your side! I remember reading Dr. Schwartzman's testimony for me (transcript of his videotaped deposition). I too, was in tears. (It was "otherworldly", I couldn't believe I was reading about myself!) But, without it, I wouldn't have been awarded what I was. And, I'm fairly certain, that I, Dr S. and my Attorney, were a "team" that really upset the insurance industry, and put RSD on their "Radar". (I don't know if you recall the story of me actually meeting, the adjuster who had to write my check, at a tiki bar in the Keys), he told me that the entire industry is freaked out by this disease, and my award! As well they should be. They know they can't win, but still, they use dirty tactics. This doctor really covered you. Let God do the rest. I wish you the best, and pray for your comfort.. Pete |
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You and I are so similar - we are close in age (I am 48), we were injured around the same time (I was hurt on 11/1/06) and I had 2 surgeries trying to get better (4/07 and 5/08) with horrific PT after each. The differeince is that I hurt my shoulder and you hurt your knee. I likely had RSD after my 1st surgery and my surgeon suspected it because of the continual anesthesia he left in me after the 2nd surgery. Anyway - I've had lots of trigger point injections, blocks and 3 lidocaine infusions and I don't know that they changed anything for me on a long term basis. My RSD did spread after the trigger points to my neck and my head and I have truly suffered a LOT with severe head pain. Plus I can't lie down or rest on the back of my head. Ever. Not in bed, not in a car, not in a lounge chair to watch TV. It really stinks. I've also had spread lately to my left hip (making sleep almost impossible) and my face, which spasms in the cold windy air when I walk a lot ouside with my dog. The best treatment so far for me has been meds. When my head hurts horribly I take my meds and try to relax until they kick in. I have fought a lot to get treatments for myself because I still see myself returning to work early next year. That is why I am currently pursuing ketamine. I don't have approval from WC for it yet. I am not ready to file for SSDI, nor can I afford it. I still have two children to educate and the RI tax burden for families is outrageous - my property taxes alone would likely use up half my check. The crying spells I so understand, been there, done that. I'm really sorry for your pain - both physical and emotional. When I started to cry a lot last summer I finally found a therapist to talk to and I think it has helped. I think it is great that you have one forever. How about a PT, though? Wouldn't that help also? Please take care. XOXOX Sandy |
When I got my social security determination I just couldn't believe how depressing it was. Here this was what I'd been saying pretty much for years but seeing it in print and knowing it's probably never going to change are two different things.
There should be a great deal more transparency with the insurance companies in what they do cover and what they don't regarding this condition. There should be more transparency with possible courses of action and treatment. There should be more transparency with prognoses right from the get go. People shouldn't be denied treatment because they don't know the situation. They shouldn't be denied treatment bacause workers compensation is set up the way it is. RSD might frighten the insurance industry but what the hell do they think it's doing to us and our lives. Maybe if this weren't usiually brushed under the carpet there would be a far better protocol that would result in more good outcomes rather than what we have now. Imagine if most people got treatment in the first few hours of onset!! I have to believe this disease will be licked only when it's accepted as a possible consequence of nearly any traumatic injury. |
Hello Dew,
I'm sorry the doctor had to flair your pain. I know when facing a doctor or dealing with WC your emotions are raw. When we see a doctor there is this part of us that wants them to say I have something that will help or you have been miss diagnoised and you have something we can treat and cure. Our minds can shut down and hear everything as hopeless and negative. However, I agree with Pete and Sandy. I think you were in pain and a lot of different emotions were working. Fear, frustration, anxiety and stress this helped to confuse what you were hearing. His comments about sensative to touch and future full body make me think he is telling WC how bad the condition is and can get. Telling you your lawyer is good at his job was his way of saying you have a chance with WC without coming out and committing himself to something he doesn't have the final say in. Dealing with RSD is a nightmare at times add WC to an already complex condition and the results are stressful and stress makes us feel much worse. Take a deep breath through your nose filling your lungs as full as you can. Then exhale through your mouth and as you do tell yourself in your head relax and visualize something that is calming and relaxing for you. Repeat this several times. Sit in your favorite chair put your feet up and read a fovorite book or watch something funny on TV. Give yourself a break you deserve it. You are a special person with a lot to offer. Take care, Sherrie |
oh....linda.....
so sorry ur heart hurts so badly. :( how well i'm learning how little people know about RSD! even some of the quacks that W.C. sends me to - do they ever read current medical info? i don't have full body, so i really send u good thoughts & i have u in my prayers. this has been a cryin' day 4 me. take care of urself...... thinkin' of ya. :hug:
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I am so sorry that it didn't go well at all and that more can't be done for you as far as treatment goes. Please hang in there and don't give up despite this terrible ordeal.
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Dear Dew -
The one thing I have to focus on is when you said: I was dx 15 months out from initial injury. Too late for blocks, or anything!I'm pleased to report that there are still good treatment options available. Check out for one, Schwartzman RJ, Alexander GM, Grothusen JR, Paylor T, Reichenberger E, Perreault M, Outpatient intravenous ketamine for the treatment of complex regional pain syndrome: A double-blind placebo controlled study, Pain 2009, in press, free full text at http://www.rsds.org/2/library/articl...n_Pain2009.pdf : a b s t r a c tAnd while, in the study's conclusion, the authors note that among its limitations were the "nonstratification of patients either by length of time with the illness or by the temperature of the affected area," it bears noting that not only was the sole inclusion criteria, for any patient with a confirmed a diagnosis of CRPS "whose condition was intractable for a minimum of 6 months and had failed at least three of the following therapies; nerve blocks, opioid analgesics, non-opioid analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-seizure medications, antidepressants, muscle relaxants or physical therapy[,']" but, in conjuntion with another point, they make the following observation: There were no significant differences between those patients with a shorter duration of CRPS (11 patients with an average length of illness of 2.6 years and a range of 0.8–4.2 years) and longstanding patients (8 patients with an average length of illness of 12.2 years and a range of 6.8–20 years). [Para. 4.2]In other words, not only did they make no effort whatsoever to cherry-pick their subjects based upon duration of disease, but looking at the spread of patients, someone with only 15 months of the disease looks like a newbie! And as noted in the earlier thread on this piece, Ketamine, the article http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread104838.html, it's just this kind of double blind placebo controlled study (or perhaps a larger one with NIH funding behind it, now that this one has crossed the threshold) that is going to make the WC insurance companies of the world finally pay for this treatment! And even without ketamine, have you considered Methadone or Zometa? Methadone is surely covered by WC and has the unique advantage (in addition to being a powerful analgesic) of being an NDMA-receptor antagonist: which is to say that it goes to the heart of the beast. Just be sure to get something prescribed by your doctor to keep your GI system moving while you're on it. And there are yet more things out there, for now considered experimental, including the very interesting work Michael Stanton-Hicks, MD is doing with "high dose" Prialt, to say nothing of my old favorite, before I found out that California law restricts its use only to certain defined psychiatric diagnoses: right unilateral electroconvulsive therapy. Finally, just in terms of learning how to drop your resistance to the pain and accept it as just another sensation for the time being, I cannot begin to tell you what a life altering experience I had - about a year into my diagnosis - when a really good pain psychologist suggested that I take an MBSR class. (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction.) The program has been run out of the Univ. of Mass. Med School for over 30 years (started by one Jon Kabot-Zin, PhD. - an interesting Google search). I've heard Jon speak at UCLA (a packed-hall) and it's clear that one of the origional and continuing central thrusts of the program has been assisting people in chronic pain. And it works! It's built around a 2 and 1/2 hour class that meet one day a week for eight weeks, with a strong emphasis on a daily practice of meditation and yoga (wonderful for proprioceptive skills) concluding with a day long retreat/program. For those of us who don't live near its Worcester MA base of operations, where teachers are trained and classes are freely provided to students, the cost is roughly $500, depending on the area. Here's the homepage, along with a search engine that let's anyone find one of its trained teachers in their area. (Full disclosure: my MBSR teacher 7 years ago is one of my best friends today.) http://www.umassmed.edu/Content.aspx...d&itemid=41254 So hang in there and be of good cheer, Mike |
Dew--
I should have said this in my earlier message - Don't ever ever ever give up!! Mike is awesome, he always includes the very best info in his replies. Check out the options that Mike has listed! (BTW -There is a list of doctors that provide ketamine on FB on the Ketamine Klub page.) I contacted ketamine doctors from this list on my own for an appointment. I don't know whether WC is going to approve the treatments, my attorney is working on that right now; or whether ketamine will even work for me. But at least in the long run I will know that I tried it. And I shouldn't have asked you earlier about PT - after a whole year of twice weekly appts I never advanced much with that modality. It is always recommended, and I feel guilty about NOT doing it, but it truly didn't get me very far. I did find a public pool that is only 10 minutes from my house that has a warm water therapy pool that is awesome - it is maintained by our City and I love it! I wish I had found it a long time ago! Check around to see if there is one available near you - you may find one at a local YMCA or city pool like I just did. It feels great on my legs and my (new) bad hip. XOXOXO Sandy |
((((DEW)))
It's like "wow, how can drs. be so uncaring?" You know almost all of us have been through so much that it takes everything we have to get by, but if we all read each other's story's we are strong somewhere inside. I just don't know what else to say, but we are all here for you.....gentle, gentle hugs and prayers from me:grouphug: Cindi |
I'm sorry this is such a tough spell for you right now Dew.
Please do what you can to stay on top of your pain levels. I know when mine is soaring, I'm not able to deal with stress, get very weepy, and take a pessimistic view. Times like right now, when it is controlled, I can see what I do have to liuve for and look forward to. |
Dew,
Time is of the essence when treating RSD, that's true, 3 months to be able to maybe still beat it without it becoming for ever disabling or chronic, but that doesn't mean there aren't ANY treatment options at all for patients who have been diagnosed too late. That doesn't mean you don't deserve care! I was diagnosed and treated for the first time when I had RSD for 2 years and 7 months, or 31 months! The doctors tried EVERYTHING. They didn't just say, it's too late anyway: buhbye and now go rot in hell. I don't get the reluctance to treat you or to keep looking for good treatment options at all! It's as if they have written you off and that's a COMPLETE DISGRACE!!! You have to keep trying, doctors can't give up. I mean who here is happy or content being an RSD patient? No one! We are ALL on the lookout for better options! |
Thanks :)
It has to do with WC law in the state of OK. I have been going through PT, land and water for over 1 1/2 year, and I wasn't getting better. WC only has to keep doing "improvement" therapy as long as I am showing improvement. The water therapy was the best therapy;however, I wasn't being healed. I was just maintaining the muscles I have in my legs. Important, but not written into WC law. See how it works?
It is not right, and I have been written off. I will be going to court soon. I just want it all over. Each of you have been great, and I appreciate you all.:grouphug: love, Dew |
Hey Dew,
Sandel is right, that medical report is going to help your legal case. The other side's doc probably won't even touch you at all because he will be trying NOT to find things. Still, please don't come away from this thinking you are a person of no value. That's not true - and I don't even think the doctor thought that. Your lawyer picked him because they both know, that short of a brutally frank assessment, WC will declare you fit for the Olympics. There's no humanity in this system, but it's the one you're stuck with. This nonsense won't last forever.:hug: |
Dew,I am so sorry to hear the way that you were treated! Tear's are just a part of the human experience if there were no limitations to overcome. I felt the same way that you did when I was just in the hospital for the last 3 weeks. Every time I woud start to cry there was this nurse that would come into my room. Instead of being understanding she would just look at me and say(You know the more you cry the more your pain is going to go up) Then she would just walk out and not look back! This world is filled with people that just don't understand what we are dealing with! At times they sure can be quite cold hearted.We are all here for you! I also know that you have a loving husband that is there fighting for you also! I know that this dx is not fair! Please hang in there,we are all here for you! Take Care My Friend! :hug: Breezy :Heart:
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