IME for Worker's Comp tomorrow...
 

Yikes I'm nervous and I don't know what to expect. It isn't like the diagnosis is up in the air. There's no doubt about that. Three different doctors have all agreed independently that its CRPS (and did the taking temps of both legs, measuring the legs, seeing different hair growth etc.).

So, I still have no idea, but the paper from him said expect it to take 2 - 4 HOURS. Good grief!

Between W/C and SSDI I'm losing my mind.

The thing with WC is not what you have/ your diagnosis, it's
"was it caused by work or clearly by the work related injury"

That is how "they" think, how the system works... that is what needs to be proved..
"X injury due to work brought on this dx of crps/rsd..."

The IME rarely will do much at all to help your case.
The WC ins pays for IME, it is mainly just for them to 'see" how you are doing and sniff out if any faking/malingering is happening..
I suggest you ask for a copy of the dr report, there is often errors and misinformation in those reports..
those errors need to be reported to your dr & atty so they can bring attention to the wrong info, which looks better for your case when there is many lies oops-- misinformation..:(
your drs & your atty can show up the mistakes with good records & information.

I don't know if you have explored our WC forum, or did a web search on IME information....

IME drs office or staff may have a video or camera on you as soon as you get there..so just be aware of what you do the whole time..
If a high dollar claim they will fight even harder..

They may even grab your injured area to see how you react. If you have said you can't do X , they will try to trick you .
Hate to say it but many IME are paid off to make your report read like you are totally fine & malingering..
I did have 1 IME that was actually very good and he warned me that I should change jobs, but I didn't listen to him after I recovered from RSI that first time..
I should have listened, now I do have chronic issues from long term RSI/soft tissue injuries.. The 2nd & 3rd IME was the icky paid off kind.

IF IME does anything or has you do anything that increases your pain, go to your doc & have it documented right away... paper trail...or computer trail nowadays if dr office is tech updated..

Thinking of you and praying everything goes well with the IME.

Shay

IME was excellent. He's actually one of the doc's I might have seen except he's at too much of a distance for me.
He was appalled at the treatment I have had so far. He said "WOW young lady, this has been quite a journey for you hasn't it?" And asked why I hadn't had certain treatments, and I told him insurance denied them. And he said "Well, I'll fix that." LOL! I liked him. Seemed like he was more on my side than theirs in the end. He really couldn't believe the bad treatment I have had.

You lucked out and got a good one..I hope he can do some good for you..

Happy to hear that things went well. Thanks for the update.

Shay

Yes, thanks for updating us. Glad it went well. Do you still get some paperwork after this? Because I'd not trust anything until I'd get those papers in my hands with a good outcome.

I've had my share of doctors who were nice to me, and then the paperwork after that didn't reflect that at all. I've had quite a journey myself (which I am not going to get into, plus it is country-specific).

I hope that this works out for you. Still request make sure you get a copy of the report and read it...and pass all the info on to your attorney (if you have one). I came home from an IME where the doctor said I needed immediate medical attention and should be in a hospital. He said he called my employer's attorney and said I needed immediate medical attention and that it needed to be passed on to my attorney and doctor. NONE of that was in his report and his report, while not terribly damaging, was worded in a way that called my condition into question (which was not at ALL how he was with me). Saw the same guy for my most recent IME and he was the same way...and then wrote a report that said that while I have CRPS he sees no reason why my accident would have made things worse and that as a result of that accident I am not more disabled than before and should be able to return to work. Yeah...because there's no way a fall off the top of a 10ft ladder could make CRPS worse, right? These guys are still paid by work comp...and it's awful to think that they will do a complete 180 based on where their pay check comes from...but there it is. Hopefully this doesn't happen to you...but just make sure you get a copy of that report so you can address any issues with it if there are any.

My very first IME went incredibly well for me btw...but that was one where the doctor they wanted me to see apparently didn't want to read my whole file so he passed it on to the other main doctor at the practice...who confirmed my diagnosis and said that the treatment I needed was necessary...he was great. But also wasn't the one I was SUPPOSED to see. No way of knowing if that made a difference or not but after my later experiences I am inclined to think so.

Exactly what I'm saying. You won't know anything until you get the paperwork.

Good luck!