Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE). Can anyone give info on this procedure?

Everything is now coming down to the wire and its very difficult. In an earlier post I stated my wife will soon have the opportunity to present her case in front of a judge for her SSDI. To this day we are still trying to show this judge papers received from her work that she had received 6 months sick leave with dates, amounts etc. Even with that info the judge now wants a cover letter from her former employer and stated my wife's time is running out to prove her short term disability pay was just that, not worked performed. Now her doctor, after 3 years, wants to perform a FCE on her. She may refuse to do this test because of her pain, she just wants to be left alone.

I believe saw a guy doing a FCE test when I was at PT a couple of yrs ago-
his was for an electrician trade. He had to twist wires and nut's-bolts at all angles, use screw drivers, tolls of that trade.
he was having to stop and rest and the PT tester took notes and recorded the status of the testee.

here is a snip & link to the full PDF article about FCE - better than I can explain since I only saw the one in process.

[GUIDELINES: OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH PHYSICAL THERAPY: EVALUATING FUNCTIONAL
CAPACITY BOD G10-08-01-01 [Retitled: Occupational Health Guidelines: Evaluating Functional
Capacity, Amended BOD G11-01-07-11; BOD 03-01-16-54; BOD 03-00-25-60; BOD 11-97-16-53]
[Guideline]
1.0 Introduction
A Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) is a comprehensive battery of performance based tests that
is used commonly to determine ability for work, activities of daily living, or leisure activities.1
The need for functional evaluation was identified in the 1980s by workers’ compensation systems that
required specific information about worker functional capacities and limitations to expedite the return-
to-work process. Historically, return-to-work decisions were based upon diagnoses and prognoses of
physicians, but did not include objective measurements of worker functional abilities and job match
demands. Physical therapists, whose core competencies include functional evaluation, began to
develop functional capacity tests for comparison to the physical demands of jobs and occupations.
These functional tests initially examined and evaluated the ability of a worker to perform physical job
match conditions as described by the US Department of Labor in Selected Characteristics of
Occupations as Defined in the Revised Dictionary of Occupational Titles2 and The Revised
Handbook for Analyzing Jobs.3 Functional examination/evaluation, combined with diagnoses and
prognoses by physical therapists has emerged as a valid and effective tool to support safe return to
work, activities of daily living or leisure activities after an injury or illness]
http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=...rJZ-9DxXZUHjMQ

Thanks Jo*mar for the link. I pray this doesn't cause too much stress.

Well I broke the news and it isn't good. Has anyone with RSD ever taken this test? Thanks a bunch for any replies.

Jim,

I feel so bad a for your wife and you. I have never heard of it but I am in PT currently and I will ask my PT person and see if I can get any info. for you.

This is truly a nightmare my heart goes out to you guys. But keep plugging you'll get it. One question who ordered this type of test?

Gabbycakes.

I'll post to you later. I won't be home until about 1PM EST.

Gabbycakes

Thanks Gabbycakes. Out of the blue, her doctor. I am extremely freaked about this and my wife is ready to just pack it up and leave everything behind. However, I've explained to her just take this test, we are now pulling all her records from this doctor for the judge and let the chips fall. She's not in good shape, she's in her 50s, her right arm is crippled, legs are swollen etc. she's in constant pain. I truly believe she will win out.

If she shows up for the FCE and the person doing the testing has any brains- they should see & record what her condition is.

All she can to do is try what she can and report to the tester , plus the tester should record what they observe.

Maybe the dr is getting pressured to show some sort of proof that she can not work and this is an independent way of getting that proof????

Is the test being done by an independent provider??

I just filed for disability a couple days ago. Prior to that, I went back to some of my docs to get updates and see if there was anything more I could do.

Two of my docs - my pain doc and my foot specialist said that they would not write letters stating my condition for me to give to SS. They instead said that I should get a FC test. My pain doc said to do only what I can.

Jo*mar, I can't think of where the pressure would be coming from because it's not a WC case, no lawsuits, no moneys coming from anywhere. We lost our insurance so I pay out of pocket. As far as a contractor is concerned I've not thought of that. Her doctor is a board certified pain specialist. What the lawyer provided me seems to indicate my wife's doc will perform it, because the doc told the lawyer to tell my wife to make an appointment for the test at her office. I did read however that this test is used also for SSDI cases.

daylilyfan, This statement "to do only what I can" is pretty much what I told my wife. I told her you can only do what you can do and it aint much so try not to worry. I've explained we have 8 years of medical records indicating the progression of RSD, nothing, not some half hour form indicating whether you can put one foot in front of another would indicate that you'd be a high candidate for employment. I've worked for nearly 40 years and if I were to interview her for a job, she would be turned down, she is and looks to be in pain. Not a good sign to hire especially when attempting to add a very sick girl to one's health insurance rolls.

Just do only what you can.

Maybe the dr wants it for his own records, it sounds like her pain has not been gotten under control , maybe this has to do with that in some way..

I recall seeing posts about her pain control problems, but can't recall the details...