Workers Comp Question
 

Hi
Have Rsd upper extremities. have been on comp for a long time..they sent me to ime and he said i have rsd.. their referee md just sent me a letter want to do a symppathectomy..can they force me to do this..i live in florida.. thanks in advance

Hi,
In a case like this I hope you have a very good wc atty as well as your own wc doctors of your choice. If not a good wc atty should have a list of good drs.

I wouldn't let them push or rush you into anything, especially a surgery.

Have you read on our RSD forum ?
There are threads on sympathectomies {spelling?}there - you can use the search tool to find them.

You might also read on our TOS forum also , in case your RSI's have evolved into TOS. many with severe TOS get RSD also.

Check thru the useful sticky threads on both forums too.
TOS sticky-
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread84.html
RSD sticky-
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread247.html

nO THEY CAN NOT FORCE YOU AND DO YOU HAVE AN ATTORNEY? if YOU HAVE AN ATTORNEY HAVE HIM/HER SEND YOU TO THEIR MD FOR ANOTHER OPINION.
DONNA

Question
 

Thank you all for quick responses..it is actually OWCP MD who hasn't examined me only looked at my paper work. i really don't want to go for surgery. Why can't they accept their md? I have to go for another 2nd opinion..just had one in Nov. he said 100%. My md said 100% all their mds say no work..
Thank you again.

surgery
 

Look i have had RSD 31 years i was also told i had TOS they did the 1st Rib removed, I did not have TOS the doctor at mayo told me i should of never had that surgery to remove the Ribs but TOS and RSD have same systoms but are not the same also with RSD you will get changes in the bones that's what i'm going through right know i need to have shoulder replacements , the Doctors also told me if we cut the nervs for rsd and they miss one you will have a bigger problems also you will never be able to get nerv blocks because they will not work JUST MAKE SHURE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND KNOW ALL THE WHATS IF YOU GO A HEAD WITH THE NERV CUT SURGERY. what i know know i would not went with the TOS surgery and they will never cut my nerv on less they can give me 100 % shure my pain will stop this just my opinion

Have they tried doing a nerve block first ?

I have RSD from a work related injury. They sent me to Pain Specialist who is trying sympathetic nerve blocks first before even looking at sympathetomy. Your case may be different and more severe but at least look into the blocks to see if it is an option.
Good luck!

jus say no!
 

from my understanding no one can make u have any surgery,just say no.
I'm no attorny but it may be wise to get one before making any decions,
Good luck with your RSD., and w/c

If the request is a reasonable one, the state will back the work comp carrier, if the test is invasive then they could back you.
I'd suggest you be more specific with both your symptoms and the test. I do not know what rsd or a symppathectomy is so I cannot be more specific in answering, sorry.

nope
 

U can legally refuse any treatment if you have very good reasons why you dont want to do them.. Atleast here in iowa you can. im sure you need to look in your state as well. but i would contact an attorney asap to be sure. you may suffer needlessly if you dont.. and they might make you have that surgery.. dont let wc push you into anything. thats why i called an attorney. i wasnt doing anything like that.

good luck

Fl wc
 

I have RSD and neuro TOS.

They are not the same at all.

RSD is when my skin gets all red and hurts like the worst sunburn and sometimes blisters will come out.

TOS - well, there's a load of symptoms there and I have had my rib out and I don't know a single patient who's been cured, but having the rib out gives the nerves some room when they swell. The main symptoms of TOS are pain, hand pain, loss of use of hand, (see RSD can affect ANY damaged area of body, while TOS is HAND focused), pain at elbow, pain at shoulder, pain behind shoulder blade, pain in neck and painful headaches and fatigue.

So you tell me, did you really NOT have TOS? Do you really JUST have RSD? The docs don't know because they can FEEL what we feel.

If you're work comp you MUST have an attorney. (I was / am one.)

You cannot be forced to have any treatment you feel would be detrimental. It is in the labor code I believe. It's LAW. Don't worry on that one.

The big thing is checking out the TOS board and the RSD boards and deciding what you have or multiple things you have.

God bless.

I underwent a radiofrequency neurotomy (a variation of what you'd be under going) shortly after I was diagnosed with RSD, which caused me untold complications and a MAJOR increase in pain.

Please read the following, I found it years to late:

http://rsdrx.com/crps_and_sympathectomy.htm