Anger at Worker's Comp doctors
 

It is bad enough that a person is in so much pain that person can no longer fully function, but it is particularly egregious that a doctor, who may not be treating them would out and out lie.

For two years I was repeatedly told that some of my pain was caused by arthritis that was supposedly clearly visible on the X-rays. I thought it was weird, because no other doctor mentioned it, but anything was possible. This doctor even compared how much I had to his.

Today I reviewed all my old xrays today and there is not one report that mentions arthritis. The only time "arthritis" is written is in the 2015 xray request to determine if I had it.

I also noted something about a bunion I have on my worst foot. Did anyone else experience dramatic worsening of their bunion after CRPS?

Forgive me for the abruptness of this posting, I have been like Mt.Vesuvius lately.

Update, I have new xrays that show patchy demineralization (CRPS) is in both feet and ankles and it is progressing. Oh yes, no arthritis, none.

I hear you. The QME I saw outright admitted he was being pressured to put me P&S and said he wouldn't, and said he wanted to send me to a top specialist. The report came back P&S and I no longer have CRPS apparently after 15 years. The system is rigged.

I agree. My AME is clearly trying to protect the insurance company in his report.

:hug:OMG is it ever! You must have gone mad. I know I have. CRPS rarely goes away after it is chronic. How the F do they get away with this?

My IME basically stated that I am super duper fine, I can work full time with a few restrictions, restrictions which are absurd if I am so fine.

I also would not need any further treatment, because my CRPS was at an end and was stable. Which is it? At an end or stable? It cannot be both.

Everyone says open medical is a wonderful thing, but I am beginning to think it is not a great idea to essentially have an insurance company decide to not treat you. Who will fight for you? Doctors do not have the time. OMG I feel royally f'd over.

I think the IME doctors swear an oath to protect the insurance companies.

Ugh...I hear you and I am sorry you have to deal with it.

At my one IME...the doctor said he was seriously concerned about my health...thought I should be hospitalised...had me wait while he called the lawyers to tell them I needed to be in the hospital...then came back and said I could go home. Report cane back stating I was basically fine...no mention of the hospitalization he thought I needed or whatever but lots of misleading statements that implied I was exaggerating my pain without stating it outright.

Saw that same IME doctor about 3 or 4 years later and he repeatedly told me that he remembered me and that he had called the lawyers and did I ever get to the hospital? Ummm...????? Dude.. I read your report. I can't say if you did or didn't call any lawyers about the hospitalization you thought I needed...I know MY lawyer didn't get a call and I sure as heck know it wasn't in your report. You've sold your soul to the insurance companies that pay your bills and I sure as heck don't trust you. Not that I said any of that of course but...really??

So...know you are not alone...though I know that is little comfort.

If you have been approved for SSDI then Medicare must approve a set aside amount in order to close out the medical portion of your case. On the one hand this is ideal, but it sure seems like the best way to comply with all this requires is to use a service to manage the funds and all the requirements, so it's also complicated.

My lawyer said I am getting open medical, nothing else was offered. It could be, because I am not eligible for SS disability.

It took me years to get to pain management. Godsend.
PM doctor was the first person to take me seriously.
I recently got a private, cash doctor, close enough to home that I can ride my scooter over there. Was there yesterday in the middle of this flare. I'm now 28 hours into it. It literally knocks me down.
What was I trying to say?
I hired my own psych too. Cash. Found her while researching ketamine infusions and paid for a round of that. I can't afford her either. WC denied her. They denied ketamine too. I need her. Maybe today I can mooch a ride to her office. She usually keeps hours on Saturday.
I need to prepare a cost estimate for future medical bills. I can barely stand up.

Same here. I have had CRPS for years and had a work related accident couple years ago that exasperated the disease. First IME perfect. Nice guy performed the exam with the utmost professionalism. Second IME horrible. Report said I was faking it, could go back to work no restrictions, nothing but a muscle strain. I was actually traumatized, both physically and psychologically. He kept claiming no doctor patient relationship when I questioned him on all this behavior. Case manager really hyped him up. Wrote the book on crps, will really help you, bla, bla, bla...
This does not give them the excuse to abuse us. Never again! My MD insisted I report him. I have since read he got away with this for years.

WC law varies from state to state so this does not always hold true. In MA your WC carrier owns your medical care for life so there is no way around their corrupt system.

I once had an IME (requested/paid by the insurance company) with a very well respected hand surgeon. His report agreed with everything my pain doc and hand surgeon said. Once the insurance company saw the report they made him amend it. The main body of the report stayed the same except and addendum that stated he received new information that led him to the conclusion that it was all in my head! I don't know how he can note the color change, etc in my arm, but then state I'm crazy. Apparently I am a magician that can make my arm change color, swell, etc. on demand.

The bottom line is that the WC system in this country is rigged towards the insurance company.

At times like these I thank my booty for generalized health care here in Belgium. Gosh you guys have it so hard, especially under this administration.

It is not clear to me what has already changed with Obamacare.

How are you guys experiencing that?

"Obamacare" gets a bad rap from our right, but it has been invaluable helping many of our citizens, especially those that are disabled but not qualified for Medicare or insurance from a spouse, etc.

What we're discussing in this thread is medical coverage for injuries that occurred at work. The insurance companies are very aggressive denying coverage.

I suspect a diagnosis of CRPS results in what they term a "high value claim". Our crowd is expensive because it isn't easy or simple to get better.

From what my lawyer has hinted CRPS must be a very high value claim. Once you have it you don't just get better. It progresses. It often renders you unable to work. You certainly need medical (expensive medical) care.

My AME recommended I ask my doc for a prescription for a scooter. I'm quite sure that will be denied. W/C won't even approve exercise equipment for me, not even cheap equipment. He also said ask for a CAT scan to verify that one fracture didn't heal so that podiatrist can try again to get the device that's supposed to help with bone healing.

Oh and I DO have arthritis in my big toe joint, but podiatrist said its cause by the trauma from my fall. Multiple cysts in the joint. But he can't do any of the typical treatments due to the CRPS.

I can't believe a doc could just change their report. That sounds like medical malpractice to me!

I bought my own scooter back when I had money. It's a game changer.
You can get them used for about one third of new cost.
Of course, work comp denied that request. Their reasoning was hilarious: if a person can stand up using a cane they do not need a power chair or scooter.

You can get free medical equipment loans from local organizations sometimes. If you call your local Red Cross they might be able to direct you.

If you were fine, you would not be begging for help or paying for it out of pocket. It’s a red flag. You would think they would get this.

You said it! It is so bad doctors do not want to be involved in WC. In desperation I returned to a doctor I had seen a few times long before CRPS, he’s the one who sent me to the doctor, who diagnosed me with CRPS.

Since he knew me prior to and during,had all the records, old and new xrays, and both my feet/ ankles were flaring- red\ swollen and my rashes were scary he was able to see for himself that the IME was exactly the opposite of how I presented. He even spent time looking at my album of photos- hopefully all will be documented in his report. He refuted that I could walk on my toes and that I did not have an antalgic gait. When I told him that I was criticized by a WC doctor for switching hands when I used the cane, he said it was absurd. My hands are bothering me, too.

And he said we crpsers battle doctors who “don’t believe in CRPS, doctors who don’t think it spreads and doctors who think it goes away.”

He listed the differing temps of my feet. He said that I was too disabled to any kind of job and hugged me-I burst out crying.

But I am still incredibly angry, not just for me, but for everyone who gets treated so shabbily, when they really are in no position to self-advocate.

I just saw my report from the AME (who is much better than the ones you guys see). End result he says I am now permanent and stationary and that medically I can't work. 30% disabled? I know my foot was 3 degrees lower temp than other foot. And leg is 1.5 cm smaller around and that's AFTER all the PT and rehab work. He noted the gait issue for me as well, and noted that the back pain and hip pain are considered 100% part of the work injury.

Oh my goodness, you saw someone who actually measured differences. This doctor deserves a medal for his veracity. I am glad that you had a “genuine” exam with valid findings.