I can't imagine feeling like big brother is looking over you all the time. I think I would make a couple of points at the hearing-

RSD/CRPS is a disease that requires a "use it or lose it" mentality. My doctor said the most important thing is that I keep mobile. I have to push myself as part of keeping the disease from immobilizing me. One has to be careful to walk a fine line between doing too little or too much to avoid the spread of this disease. Does that mean I am "faking it" if I'm outside TRYING to do what I can to keep my life as normal as possible? No. It means that I haven't given into this terrible disease. Trying to paint my house falls under this category.

Additionally, just because you don't see my face grimacing with pain does not mean that I'm not in pain. Don't make assumptions.

Stress adds to the progression of the disease. The stress of worrying if your attempts at keeping mobile are going to be recorded by someone working for wc will only aid in the disease progressing in your body. Will wc take responsibility for that?

I would stress that the goal is to IMPROVE your health status. If wc recorded you painting your house and is trying to deny or decrease your benefits, I would point out that their actions are only working to DIMINISH your health status.

I would have a letter in hand from your medical doctor explaining that you need to do the activities that you can, when you can, for as long as you can to avoid further loss of function. With the letter, I would have your attorney point out that the letter came from a HIGHLY TRAINED, LICENSED medical specialist and not from a voyeur who recorded a brief moment of your attempt to keep from losing more of your mobility.

Can you tell by my caps that I am not happy with big brother?