So...I just got home from my MRI of my neck. MRIs are so rough for me...those sounds...sends me into a flare every time. I really hope that this was worth it and that it confirms the diagnosis of Cervical Radiculopathy. Not that I WANT to have that...but at least it would explain everything and we could go on to treatment.

While I have been generally more optimistic since my last doctor's appointment...I am struggling a lot physically. The pain is awful but on top of that I feel like I have been constantly sick for the last month or two...ever since my daughter got pink eye and then I got it along with her cold. Now I think we are just trading colds back and forth and the current one is the worst. My daughter has an ear infection and is on antibiotics for that (had to keep her home from daycare Wednesday and that just about killed me physically with my shoulder)...but last night I started feeling absolutely awful with congestion and cough...I feel like I can hardly breathe.

I am just not cut out for all of these things to be going on at once. The new meds don't seem to be doing anything for the pain...which is a little frustrating. The Tizanidine is helping me sleep still but it doesn't seem to last as long now as it did before and I'm waking up earlier and earlier...but I'll take what I can get because it's still better than before.

At any rate...the forum has been quiet lately but I still visit every day. I hope everyone is doing well even if they don't feel up to posting much. I know lots of us have been having a hard time lately. Take care everyone.

Catra

Sorry you are going through so much right now. I hope you and your daughter feel better soon. Thanks for the update.

Take care
zinnia

I understand about the flares with the MRI the vibrations send pain through my body and the loud pounding goes straight to my heart so when I need one I have to have it under anesthesia and they also give me ketamine through the MRI and pain meds before I wake up.

samantha

Work comp doesn't exactly send me to the nicest place...usually they at least have music or something that helps me focus on something else. This place HAS music...sort of. The guy tells me that I won't be able to hear it but he'll turn it up real loud. Well...ummm...thanks? It was miserable and the flare up lasted a few days but I'm more or less back to "normal" now...at least I was until my arm started acting out today with more intense pain that normal. Started as an RSD flare but now I also have increased pain radiating from my neck to shoulder down arm and into two fingers on my left hand...also weakness in that arm that I felt as soon as I woke up today. Sigh...I am so done with this...I really really hope that the MRI confirms what the doctor thinks it is (which is what makes sense) because it is treatable and then maybe I can just go back to the horrors that are JUST the RSD (and maybe also Peripheral Neuropathy...but at least the shoulder and neck stuff from my fall off the ladder will be over).

Done venting now...

Hi all,

I usually visit the forum daily and it has been very quiet. I am also on WC so I understand. I had my second IME this morning and it went terribly. He also had me move my arms over my head which caused terrible pain. He actually was smirky, so I asked him why he was smirking at me, which he denied. He was talking so fast with a thick accent my husband cut in with request for him to slow down, as I was getting all confused and tongue tied. Terrible experience. I expect his report to stop all workers comp payments. He was supposed to be a CRPS specialist and had published books on the condition. I can hardly believe this.

I have a call into a lawyer, as I can not handle this on my own anymore. I received my work termination letter last week, as they say off for one year is automatically a termination. I worked there for 25 years. That was new news to me. Too many negative things happening also increases my pain. I have CRPS in both arms now, esophagus, bladder and both feet. One day at a time.

God bless,
Rain

Hugs...I am so sorry to hear this. It's a good move to get an attorney involved. I learned on my first go around with work comp that caused the RSD to get one early. It's for your protection more than anything because work comp can pull some crazy stuff. They will outright lie to you and try and manipulate you...and that's not against the law. The laws are also different in every state so getting an attorney helps you navigate it all. You also don't need the stress of all that stuff...we all know that stress increases our pain levels.

I hope that once you get the lawyer that things start to turn around. But in all seriousness...you need to focus on you and your health and let the lawyer deal with all the legal stuff and talking to work comp. Although it may seem like the IME went poorly...be aware that work comp commissioners are aware that the "independent" medical evaluations are often weighted towards work comp so as long as you have all your documentation from your doctor about your condition and what is going on then your attorney will probably be able to get your benefits back up IF work comp stops them. I know that doesn't make it easier in the mean time while you wait for it all to shake out...but try not to stress too much about things beyond your control and let the lawyer take that load off your back.

Hugs...hope you start getting some relief soon.

I hate WC. I got a lawyer very recently, felt like I was giving in or something that I couldn't handle it myself, but really, at this point the way the system is set up unless you have a very simple injury you really do need a lawyer.
Good luck!

Iam so sorry for all who have to deal with w/c have you tried to get ssi and medicare disability they say you can have both the w/c and SSI if you qualify unless you already have it, you just need a doctor to say your fully disabled and cant preform any work you have ever done for an employer and cant work a year or more. I am just so angry at all what I hear w/c puts people through who really need help as I have many friends with rsd and other issues and they just throw them under the bus and its not fare or right.

hope you feel better catra and that your pain subsides soon. i don't do well with mri's either. one time the music they played in the earphones was too loud and it was causing me so much pain. i tolerated it because i wanted to get the xray done quickly so i could get out of that suffocating tube. another time i got this deep burning pain in my hip bones after having an mri done on my hips and lower back. it lasted a few days after the mri. i think both were related to me having rsd. i hope that your mri shows that everything is okay. soft hugs my friend to you. soft hugs to all.

Thank you everyone. So far nothing seems to be helping with these new pains. I see the doctor June 8th so I assume that's when I will get the MRI results. I honestly hope it shows SOMETHING and confirms what the doctor thinks because I desperately need to get some relief and so far nothing has helped me. If this doctor is on the right track then that is reassuring and I feel confident that I WILL get relief and it's just a matter of time. Trying to take it easy while I wait for answers and stay optimistic. So many things I was to do with my daughter but I have to get better first.