It's not uncommon for professionals who are not knowledgeable about rsd to suggest that "it's all in one's head".

I am assuming that "L&I" means lawyers & insurance. If that's the case, I gently suggest that it's not in their best interest for you to have rsd but rather a somatoform disorder. (and much cheaper.)

I think an independent specialist familiar with rsd should clarify things. Additionally, if your case involves workman's comp or any type of legal proceedings, I'd suggest you have your own representation.

L&I stands for Labor and Industries...inother words, Workman's Comp.

Somatoform disorder is not quite the same as Hypochondria although at first glance it may seem to be.


[Somatoform pain disorder is pain that is severe enough to disrupt a person's everyday life.

The pain is like that of a physical disorder, but no physical cause is found. The pain is thought to be due to psychological problems.

The pain that people with this disorder feel is real. It is not created or faked on purpose (malingering).]
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/e...cle/000922.htm


[Hypochondria is a belief that physical symptoms are signs of a serious illness, even when there is no medical evidence to support the presence of an illness.

People with hypochondria are overly focused on their physical health. They have an unrealistic fear of having a serious disease.]
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/e...cle/001236.htm

L&I (work comp) always tries to find some way to pass the cause of the injury off or to minimize the injury. More so when it becomes a chronic or long term thing...
Hope you have a good wc atty & very good drs on your side.

Have you explored our Layoffs, Unemployment and Worker's Compensation forum?
For discussion of any topic related to one's employment and unemployment, worker's compensation, and job.
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum30.html
searching the posts there should be helpful as well as the sticky threads.

Thanks for trying to point out the differences between the two, Jo Mar.

Just wanted to add the term "psychsomatic illness" going with somatoform disorder as that is a term more familiar to many.

Nala,

I doubt that you will find many on this forum who haven't been told or had it be implied that their issues are "all in their head".....you're in good company !

I got sick enough of hearing that, I added a psychiatrist and a therapist to my healthcare team. Truthfully, they are great add ons ! Most people whodeal with chronic pain will have to deal with issues like depression along the way. Psycho-social issues can also make pain worse, so getting help from the experts on trying to minimize stress and find adaptive coping mechanisms can be very helpful.

I also found it helpful to be able to ask the BIG question....."If I am so psychologically impaired that my psyche would feel bad enough to cause me this severe pain, make me unable to work, devastate my financial security, severely impact my family functioning and relationships, and make me miss so many events that I would have been happy to go to.....Why aren't you hospitalizing me for psychological issues ?" The answer was...."Um....because you're not crazy." Sorry for the 'nonprofessional' lingo there, but that WAS his answer.

I'd tell them that you are open to seeing ANY kind of doctor they think will help, but that you expect them ALL to work together to help you feel better.

It's odd that NONE of the docs who gave me the "it's all in your head" chat followed up on my offer to sign any releases they wanted me to, so that they could chat with my psychiatrist who was adamant that my physical complaints/symptoms were NOT psychosomatic.

If you don't have an attorney, you probably need to start exploring that option as Jomar suggested.

WC's goal is often to make the process so stressful, that injured worker's will take ANY settlement to end the nightmare. Having the support of a psych doc would help.

Don't allow yourself to be bullied.

MINE started denying every possible treatment then offered me a 40,000 dllr settlement.... they spent 250,000 last year alone ..yeah thats ummm an equal trade off... I have even really arrived at anything that looks like a real treatment yet....
FINZ======= you made me laugh.. even though that you wrote a true story... it is just funny to see the how the egomaniacs think in all their ignorance... and Jo mar.. thanks for the further insight into somator.. but the line is soooo thin.. when it comes down to the dr,s who aren't well versed in either one of these DX,s

I am afraid I am up to going through the same thing. I received a letter from my attorney for yet another IME. This time with a new dr. a physiatrist. This guy says he specializes in physical medicine & rehabilation and pain.

I see no education qualifications for pain medications and see that he does accupuncture. In the meantime, I have not seen my dr. in 6 months. (wc says they are waiting for quality review to approve) I have been seeing my pm dr. for 2 years and now it is a problem.

If you have other dr.'s that have documented your rsd then don't worry about it. That is their dr. and they will do what they want to discredit you.