"Examined" today by Doctor for Social Security Disability.
I'm upset on so many levels! I'll try to put it in a nutshell as much as possible.
He was probably approx. 65-70 years old, very proper brittish man (imagine the butler in the original "Arthur" movie). He had his own format and made it understood right up front that basically I would only speak when spoken to and asked a direct question.
Anyway, his opinion is that my wrist surgery was badly botched (duh)and failed , the mobility of my wrist and hand could be restored if I had a corrective surgery.
My problems were due to the failed surgery and maybe I had just a "touch" of
RSD.
1. My RSD/CRPS displayed ALL of the classic symptoms, 3 doctors confirmed it. My P.M. Dr. HAS it. The skin symptoms have dramatically improved with nerve blocks.
2. How do you have a "touch" of RSD? Is that like being a little pregnant?
3. My original surgeon refuses to touch me with another surgery due to the RSD.
4. I tried to get a second opinion from another Dr. and he would not give a 2nd opinion post surgery. Why would I have thought to NOT trust the original surgeon before surgery? He was an orthopedic hand surgeon and referred within my insurance network.
I tried to explain this but he would not listen and clearly thought he had the final word.
Words can not say how frustated I am especially as I have to type this with one hand and one finger on the other hand. If I could straighten that one finger I would have another use for it!!!

Try not to worry too much, yet. I had a workers comp doc that I had to see, when my husband was out of town. Though it was humiliating to even ask, I asked my mother in law to go with me. They tried to keep her from coming in, they were so rude about it that i was shocked. But my going in alone was not going to happen. I wanted a witness for everything. This Dr read my MIL the riot act about her place and told me I was also not allowed to speak unless he directly asked me a question. Just because this guy said you should have surgery doesn't mean you will. You already know you shouldn't, just don't let yourself even feel pressured because they can't make you do anything. You might want to ask your orthopedist for advice, he may have had something like this happen to another patient before and might be willing to give you some advice or give you a referral to another doctor so that you will have his and another specialists diagnosis. I don't know if that would convince SS to allow you to see another SS Doc or not, OR if that is even necessary. I found that dealing with workers mop and social security, that persistence was the key. I was denied SS twice, moved from MI to AZ while the process was going on and had to appeal in both states and then went before the SS court in Tucson. I was terrified that moving would muddy up everything. It may have but I appealed and appealed and was even denied a judicial hearing and appealed that. Don't give up, you have to be persistent, and keeping trying. I did it without an attorney too, i read everything i could about the process and i documented everything i could and i gave them every gory detail about my life. It's such a joke that the process is so messed up. But don't think because this doctor gives you a half diagnosis that you won't get SS Disability. just hang in there and see this as the first hurdle, out of the way, and know there will be more and you will get through them. Soft hugs, Sylvia

If it wasn't so horrific this statement would be funny. YES! It's just like being a little pregnant. OMG, I know you must just be mad as hell. I have no idea how you could ever have a touch of RSD, but I'm sure with his fancy medical degree and years of experience, he could break that down for us.

I saw this once and I think it applies here: my disease is more real than your imaginary medical expertise!

I feel for you hon and I am so sorry you're having to fight for benefits. It is absolutely absurd!

I can only echo what the others have said, but AzDi I think you can allow yourself to be hopping mad at such an idiot - sadly these assessors seem to come from a camp of out of work or out of touch practitioners, we have the same kind of assessments here in the uk, and people say very similar things to you. The system - as always - sucks. Just hang on to what you know is right, don't let his asinine remarks get into your head, and keep pushing for your claim. In the uk, over half of claimants rejected by the assessors have their claims upheld by the appeals process. Sometimes I think they just want to see how many folk they can put off by being so vile....

Hope you have a better day!

Bram.

AZ-Di, some due, it seems, have a touch of RSD, what ever that can be, but through the years I've chatted with a couple of folks who had RSD but it was limited to a generally small area and never spread over a span of years. However, as bad as those you see in wheel chairs with RSD, those with RSD in their arms and hands are kind of worse off career wise than those where their lower extremities are effected. Can not do much when your hands are crippled. AZ-Di, this examiner will submit a report, has he done it yet? If not do not be surprised if you get a positive report from him.

Many thanks guys!! And I do apologize because I know many of you suffer with the pain more than I do. I'm sorry that many of you have it more widespread too. I should count my blessings there. Before I started having my nerve blocks I remember how unbearable the pain is. Now it's a tolerable level and the bad stuff is just intermittent.

This was just a rant on my part. I just hate being made to feel like I'm trying to play the system to get welfare. This is something I've paid into for many years!

Thanks for the support!

AZ-Di, that is just awful. As far as I'm concerned, any doctor who isn't prepared to listen to what the patient has to say about his/her own experience simply is not doing their job properly.

I'm sorry you had to go through this but don't let it deter you. Hang in there!

My wife who has RSD went to one of these doctors just before she was approved for SSDI (3 year ordeal). If memory serves me correctly these examiners are a bit different in that they follow some sort of procedure in order to come to a quick conclusion. Its not treatment, its more like the government is laying its eyes on you before approving your SSDI, if that makes sense. My wife was in the office with this guy for 15 minutes and that was it, very simple stuff. Her RSD started in her broken right wrist and spread over time.

Yeah on drs being idiots I have way too much experience. Don't let them get you down or irritate you too much. And yes having a "touch" of RSDS is like being a"touch" pregnant lol. Where do they find idiots? I think there are some villages wanting their idiots back or they through them out for being idiots. I don't show all the classic signs myself. I dont have the skin discoloration or nail problems. Still doesn't mean I dont have it. I am about to start the process to get more VA disability and the first time around was bad. So here we go for round 2. Just thinking about this has me cringing, and thinking of taking rope to hang any idiots up by their ankles with a sign lol.

And this is why we all need to get AWARENESS of this disease out there!