All the ones I have ever dealt with as far as WC goes are just crazy and love to twist words or to frazzle us. I had the one ask if I was pregnent because my symptoms fit pregnancy? Another went to great lengths to tell me in the parking lot that she couldn't come in because I had an attorney and she hadn't gotten permission yet but...oops...she gave her card to the doc already so could I explain to him why she wasn't there. So I did that...and the doc's work notes read like I mentioned my attorney on purpose and made a big deal out of it. That was first lesson learned. Just kept my mouth shut after that and let the doctor talk to that woman. You just can't act like a normal person around these people and it's sad.

steve6561, When i had my stellate blocks my Dr. told me they do help block the RSD cycle early on but if your RSD has become SIM(sympathetic independent pain) it wont help. That is why it is important to have blocks done early on. I know I had relief but not completely and by my last block i didnt get much relief at all. So just because a block doesnt work doesnt mean you dont have RSD.
You have the right to ask/tell the nurse to wait outside while you see the Dr. and then she can read the chart. A lot of Drs dont want the w/c nurse in there when they are talking to you. They can make the Dr. feel uncomfortable talking with you. If you get an attorney they will tell you dont let them in they can read the chart.

So, I finally told the case mgr. that she wasn't allowed in the doc's office with me. She said I had the right to do that and it was fine. So, I'm waiting in the office for the doc to come in, and hear the case mgr. talking with him, saying that she feels like I am taking too much pain medication. I hear him say to her, "So what are you wanting?" My heart dropped, as my suspicions of that case mgr. working with the ins. co. were finally proved. Now this is what I am taking, Neurontin 300mg 3xday, Vicodin ES- 1 to 2 every 4-6 hrs. as needed, and otc ibuprofen. The funny thing is that every time i get a new script, i have some leftover! I can understand that some people over do these meds and get addicted, but she straight-up called me an addict! So to make a long story short, I was taken off the vicodin, and told to take tylenol or aleve, and when I asked what if this wouldn't help, the doc's nurse simply replied, "well, then you will just have to be in pain"! Anyway halfway through the visit the case mgr. walks right in. I told her that I wanted privacy and she replied "you are finished here anyway" and the doctor sat and did nothing!
Then she asked yet again if this rsd could've flared up from 2 yrs ago when i broke my wrist, and the doc said there is no way to tell, but judging from my medical reports from the prev. injury, and evaluation by a pain mgt. doc whom said there was absolutely no way any chronic pain synd. was present, which i agreed. The only problem i had is they put a small pin in and from the incision, my skin was numb for a long time, and hurt now and again. The surgeon said this was normal due to the pin and the fact that i was on pain meds for 8 months consecutively, so i had "desensitized". Anyway back to the story at hand, the doc i saw told the case mgr. that if the prev. docs said i didn't have it then, then that was that. She kept repeating like a broken record, "but its possible right, but its possible right?" The doc said in these words, "anything is possible, but as for you and the ins. co. are concerned in a court of law if you cant prove one way or the other, but now the person has a condition from the latest injury, with a diagnosing doc's testimony, the decision will be in the injured person's favor most likely!" She seemed very upset and unconvinced. So, anyway thats whats happening now. If anyone has a good suggestion for me let me know! Thanks

My suggestion is to get an attorney (if you don't have one) and let them deal with this harassing woman. You do have a right to privacy with your doctor. She can read the notes after. If you feel she is dictating treatment to your doctor try to set up an appointment with the doctor to discuss how this is affecting you. As far as your pain and medication goes, she should not be able to tell your doctor what you should or should not have. Your attorney may have to start making calls or sending letters about her taking control of your appointments, medications etc. I would nip it now and do not be afraid of her. You control yourself and appointments and make that clear to her.

WC is EVIL! I find it unbelievable that a system that was set up to protect workers now does the most harm to them. I wish that I had back all of time I spent waiting for approvals, hearings and WC doctor appts. I am pretty sure that I would only be 46 instead of 50. Lisa

i so agree. Before i hired my attorney, i got into it on the phone with my adjuster (IC) and i asked her if it was her or her family member in this situation would she accept this kind of treatment? of course no response. I then told her that if it wasn't for people like us (unfortunately) she wouldn't have a damn job, i hung up on her!!! never spoke to her again thank god.

You might feel better after telling them off , but your still stuck with them til the claim is closed..
Just thinking - antagonizing them might make for more problems down the road.. the system is tough enough without making an enemy.

But I do think once you have an atty they should stop contacting you , unless it is something the atty OK'd an the atty should send a letter telling you what's happening. more or less.
I usually would receive copies of correspondence between my atty & the wc ins.

Definitely don't chit chat w/ the case manager, or your HR person at work, or anyone at work if you still go there or visit, as any of them might be loose lipped or even misspeak, and word will get repeated even if only by accident.

I just think it's better to keep mum on the wc case/claim, as well as any other activities at work or to anyone that might talk to coworkers.


TOS is not well known either and many symptoms do overlap with RSD - and many have both conditions, so if your pain & symptoms are mostly located in hands, arms and shoulders, neck it might be a good idea to read about it on our forum.
here is the link to the useful sticky thread , it has the main TOS medical websites & info sites listed in post # 1 - and much more info in the other posts too.
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Our Useful Links - Websites, Articles & Polls
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread84.html

Just in case you find it fits, or, if you might have both TOS & RSD then you need to have it added onto your claim as well as get proper treatment for it.

So very sorry that you have to deal with this all. I know that what you are saying brings back a lot of memories. It's just there game. Keep at it, vent to family and your lawyer and here, but just keep it professional with the case manager. I can tell you that nothing aggravates them more than you staying profession...the crazies don't know how to react to normal behavior.

Keep fighting for treatments to relieve your pain. You have the right to have your pain taken seriously. Don't read too much into your doctor asking what the case manager wants...that's a trick we even use in retail to get the crazies to shut up. Doctors don't like to deal with work comp any more than we do. That's why you need to fight for your treatments. Pain goes up, you go back to the doctor and tell them. They need to help you.

I know narcotics never helped with my pain so maybe the doc had other reasons for taking you off besides the work comp lady. There are other medications and it is all about finding the right "cocktail" so to speak. My first doc got it right on the first try...second doc switched everything and the pain went over the top (neurontin was absolutely useless for me). So maybe try asking the doctor for a different set of meds if the ones you are on don't help. That way it sounds less like "drug seeking" and more like you just need the relief and are willing to try anything. Read up on different things and bring in a list of things to go over with the doctor so that you can discuss if any of them are right for you or worth trying. This shows that you are really committed to getting relief from your pain and the case manager can't fault you for doing that.

Good luck with everything. All I can say is just keep at it...don't settle...and you will survive. I know it doesn't help with all the added stress...but you just need to keep at it and try not to think about them and focus on your treatment. Again...so sorry that you have to deal with any of this. I wouldn't wish it on the people I hate most in this world.

Sonny, I just try to remember that these people are just doing their job, like you and I did when we could work. I was in your angry place once, and once I thought it through it relieved a lot of stress. Like my grandma always told me, you can catch more flies with honey... Lisa

I agree. It was a mistake on my part back in 2006 (the beginning) to spout off at her. When I had to talk to her initially I was very calm and professional. I had all my ducks in a row. She asked me why I took so long to file the WC claim and that was a red flag to her. (3 months into the initial treatment with doctors and PT) It wasn't like I fell off a ladder and didn't report it, it was a repetitive motion syndrome that came on gradually. I simply said to her "Per the WC code in NY, I have 2 years to file." (Can't remember if it was 2 yrs. or 1 yr. but you get the point.) THAT right there set her tone with me. So I was nice, I tried to learn about WC and thought she was there to help me~ HA! I had never been in anything like this b4. So it was the next call I had to make to her and that is when I said what I said. Hung up and hired an attorney. I must say, now having my attorney, she doesn't skip a beat. Paid on time. authorizations go through in a day etc. BUT, this is my 2nd attorney. for the 1st attorney....it was useless! We all make mistakes, but regardless, I don't think they should take it personally and be rude to people, that was never in any of my job descriptions, even as a security guard, catching people stealing. I always treated them with respect...We never know somebodies story and should not judge on its face!