I need to ask a question this is a complex issue. I'm in work comp my doctor has been treating me for my true neuro TOS and RSD for a year. I had surgery for TOS rib removel and my symphatic nerve cut for RSD, along with this I have been taking pain meds for over a year now the wrok comp Ins. says my doctor can no longer treat me and they have a another doc, can they just stop my pain meds and leave me without them? I thought they could not do that? I have a appointment set up by my doc for a nerve block into my Pec muscle to see if it helps, if so I need a pec minor surgery to help relief pressure in my nerve bundle.
Help I need a answer on how to cope with this, is it right? I know with the meds it helps me function it brings my pain down to a 5-6 which I can handle to live and if cut off I would not be able to function, and if so I will deal with withdraws and my pain......this is so not right and it comes to leagle issues this sucks! if you can help answer this...Pray for me I will be ridden if this does happen and will not be able to function again thanks.

flip ,
I placed a copy of this on our work comp forum too - in case members with other conditions have had this happen with w/c.

w/c forum-
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...ad.php?t=28729

You said they have another doctor? Maybe that doctor will continue the meds you have been taking. I went through this in January when my doctor decided she wouldnt accept my insurance any more.


All the doctor was required to do was give me a 30 day notice of intentions, and a refill for 30 days after I was dropped. It was then my responsibility to find another treating doctor.

This is for california, so if your not in cali check the laws in your state. With work comp it might be different rules also, as you they would have to I would think give you a warning of being cut off your meds no matter what doctor you see.

I sure hope they treat you right in this situation.

if you do have to see your new doc I would say there isnt much you as an individual can do to change that (an attorney mat be able to grind the wheels to a halt, then I would go to the new one and then demand (your right at least in colorado) for a list of acceptable docs. take that list to your original doc and ask him if he knows if each of them is either an aggressive authority in RSD who helps with meds, or oe f those no meds for you dummies. your current doc should no about the bad ones because other patients have come to him. in colorado you are allowed to see any 2nd opinion you want as long as you dont make them pay for the visit. i did this and she wrote up a letter about what she thought i would require in order to continue to maintain my current quality of life or i would decline and my cost of care because i would spend much more time in the hospital.
i am not sure this will help it is just what happened in my case

Maybe this Dr. will be even better then the one you had. Let's hope so anyway.

Don't panic until you see this Dr. The stress only makes the pain get worse. If this Dr. isn't what you hoped for, ask for another one that knows more about RSD.

I wouldn't think they would take you off of your meds cold turkey. I believe they will let you keep them until she or he knows your history better.

I hope that nerve block works. I had 3 and they helped me immensly.

Relax and go with the flow.

Ada

Hi there,
Sorry that you are having a rough time with your WC treatment.
I am also WC and here in Australia we do have a right to seek another opinion and treatment if we do not believe we are being helped by the team we have.
I think that seeing a new doctor may in fact be a good thing as the one you have seems just a little quick to give up on you. It is so very wrong to just withdraw treatment from you just because they have reached a stumbling block.
Have you ever had a brachial plexus block? There are several blocks to the area you are to have surgery in that would make it as comfortable as possible for you so I would make some enquiries from the anaesthetic department before undergoing any type of surgery.
Wishing you heaps of luck
Tayla