Thanks Pete and Mike-

Pete - that particular test does not make my arms turn colors. Its was a very different strength test that the doctors used to determine my injury - it was pretty complicated and I can't really remember how I did it. And Getson does beleive that the ketamine will work for me, primary because lidocaine treated the RSD pain so well in my leg, and has reduced my symptoms in other areas. I am better after it than I was before it. All I can do is try. Thank you though for your input and for your friendship since I have joined the board. We are so similar with the head pain. Does loud noise hurt your head? And do bumpy car rides make you nuts?

Mike - Subrogation will go to my WC. After 2 surgeries, 8 SGB, 4 lidocaine infusions, and 3 years of meds I'm sure I'm up to $50,000. And I have 3 years from when I should have known. I think that's when I talked to Getson. My original ortho doc was the guy did my QME (or whatever they are called for WC purposes) and had guilt written all over his face. Talk about a painful meeting for me. My attorney, who is a very, very good one, wanted me to go this particular ortho surgeon because he is known as the best in RI and my WC insurance company uses him. All I could think of at during our meeting was that he could have said he was SORRY for wrecking my life. It would have gone a long way. His bedside manner is the pits and always has been - I've never met a patient who likes him. But I think my attorney hoped that his guilt would prod him into making a good decision on my behalf. He did determine that I have lost 7% of the use of my arm (3% due to pain). My RSD was recognized. In RI that is worth a whopping $1,965. Whoohoo! So to put it in perspective, the amount that RI law says is due to me because I have suffered an injury in my workplace and should be compensated for that loss is $1965. That approximates one quarter's property taxes on my home. RI law for WC victims is just awful.

WC court is next. Thanks for the advice on the malpractice. I sincerely appreciate it.

XOXOX Sandy

Oh Sandy.
I feel very badly for you.
Was the test painful? That's a generalization, but, it's your hands that would lose color, not your arms. (Not important now). I simply got so good at it, being hospitalized by Dr S., he trooped a dozen med students into my room twice a day, to show them. (Maybe they don't even use that test any more).

I'm sure glad that Dr Getson thinks the ketamine will work well for you! I simply thought it was more for rsd. I've had lidocaine, never had ketamine.

What's happened with my brachial plexus injury, is some muscles have atrophied, as Dr S told me they would, so some of the pain has reduced on it's own! Sudden loud noises, or sustained loud noises hurt my head, and yes, bumps do too! But, less so than 20 years ago.
It's another terrible kind of pain, and, in fact it's what caused my rsd as well.
The headaches are horrific! Using my arms overhead, or for any strength things, triggers headaches. I can carry heavy shopping bags, if I let them "hang", using only my fingers.

You're in my thoughts and prayers, Sandy!
I'm happy you've found some direction with Dr Getson!

Pete

Dear Sandy,

I hear share your anger and frustration and continue to try to deal with my issues over the treatment I received form my orthopedic surgeon too.

I'm a bit too tired tonight to go into the history of my failed bunion surgery and the legal mess that created but be assured Mike is right on many points.

Studies are showing that the bedside manner of a doctor does in fact make a difference between whether or not patients seek legal remedies following failed procedure. I recall reading in an article sometime last year in an AMA journal that a simple apology from the doctor would reduce the frequency of legal actions against a doctor. The discussion that took place in the article was whether or not one would be opening themselves up to liability if they were to do so. Clearly the laws of various States and Countries will affect the outcome of a doctors ability to make that admission or not.

Just reading that article brought terrible memories flooding back into my mind of my treatment from my orthopedic doctor. He actually said to me that I had "won the lotto" calling me a slow healer while telling the PT (in writing) that I had mild RSD without explaining what RSD was to me. Have you ever heard of mild RSD? Despite his knowledge that I had in his mind a case of "mild" RSD early on and not disclosing that to me he still insisted that I iced my foot and did not refer me to an appropriate pain management doctor until it was too late. When I think back on it I cringe with every thought of it and have to try to go to my happy place.

I learned a huge lesson from my situation. Malpractice attorneys urge patients to sue doctors - sometimes for legitimate reasons, sometimes for unavoidable bad outcomes. I should have been more careful in selecting my attorney. Just because he believed I had a case did not make him the right one to present it.

Ultimately had to drop my legal action, I lost my job and face each day with the knowledge that I am here on my own to fend for myself. No one wants to pay for the misfortune of a bad surgical outcome, regardless of the liability. They all wanted to wash thier hands clean and did not want to honor their commitment to me as an employee or to my payments made to a disability insurance plan that they funded through a 3rd party insurer.

Those of us with RSD are considered bad long term liabilities and companies that have to deal with us want us off their books. They will do everything within their power to remove us from the financial picture of their obligations and that includes WCB.

For the sake of my health I decided to simply try to move on and forward.

I wish it were that easy but it is not. There have been a couple of occasions that I have seen this surgeon in the Surgery Day Care where I have to go for my lidocaine infusions. Each time I've seen him my blood pressure rises very high. It's a good thing I'm not a violent person. When I see him I have to retreat to my happy place with lots of deep breaths and try to find major forgiveness in my heart. It is the forgiveness that is the hardest to find but I'm getting there.


MsL