I am so unfamiliar with Worker's Comp, but am gaining a real distaste for them. Reed's checks are so little to begin with, and they can never seem to send them on time. They refuse to approve needed medical treatment and meds, then we go through a hassle just to get approval.
Now that we have an attorney, things will get easier, I hope. But I am really concerned about this whole "settlement" thing. Has anyone settled with WC for RSD?
We have no idea what to expect, and honestly, we're both dreading finding out what they are going to come up with. If anyone has experience with them, or has any advice, please let me know. Reed does NOT need more stress right now, and I'm trying to deal with them as much as possible to save him the headache.
Thanks in advance..you guys are great!

Hi Rita. Sorry you're having to deal with wc, they really do suck!

I was injured at work in 2003 which led to my rsd and my experience with the whole thing was a nightmare. Most of the time it's really bad, especially if you end up disabled for whatever reason. RSD seems to be the worst thing to be dx with on wc.

Anyway, I settled a year and a half after it all started. I went through the same thing you are going through with the checks and all the rest. Having an attorney doesn't make things easier per se, it just takes a lot off of you.

Since you now have an attorney, you are NOT to talk to anyone from wc for any reason. If they contact you, refer them to your attorney. I had a deposition, most wc cases do. All that is, is a meeting with the patient, his/her lawyer, a lawyer from wc and a stenographer. WC asks lots of stupid questions and always wait a beat before answering in case your lawyer objects. If you don't understand a question, then say so. Just a tidbit to file away for later use.

There will most likely be one or more IME's. That stands for Independent Medical Exam. Both sides agree on a doc to do it then you go on the appointed day and time. It's really a big joke because the ime doc is being paid by wc and they'll write whatever wc wants them to write. That also goes for the docs. There are some cases of good ime docs and docs you get sent to while on wc, but they're the exception not the rule. Never let you hubby go in to see any doctor alone. Always be with him and if you can't be there then make sure someone else is. It's just a precaution really cause it's always good to have a "witness" there, especially at the ime's.

Whether to settle or not is a very individual thing. I settled because here in florida there is no lifetime medical so no reason to keep dragging it out. Most times the lawyer will throw out a very big number and it goes down from there. Find out in your state if there is lifetime medical or not and how wc settlements work. If you don't know where to look for that let me know what state you live in and I'll get the info for you. I'm really good at that. LOL

I can't think of anything else right now. If you have any specific questions, ask away and I'll do my best to answer. There are lots of people around who are on wc or used to be like me that will probably stop in and say something as well.

Hugs,

Karen

hi Rita , did you find our work comp forum too?
Might be some general claim help there-
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum30.html
check the sticky threads up at the top of the forum too.

I'm a WC case as well. WC is actually working with me because of the nurse they hired and she knew the bone specialist I was referred to is NOT a good doctor. So they are doing everything to get me to a hand specialist and go from there. Unfortunatly I keep emailing the nurse to find out if she has gotten an appointment set up yet and getting no response from her. I have been waiting for almost 2 months for an appointment. Well I had to get some paper work filled out for WC to get it so I could go to the hand specialist. But that has been done for over a month. Its getting harder and harder to deal with the pain w/o something there to help try and relieve it even if its just a little bit. But because WC has actually been working with me to get things going I really don't have any advice for what to do in your situation.

Well, WC just called Reed, and after he told the nurse the reaction he's had to the nerve block, she told him she thinks its working! I am continually amazed at these people! His right arm is now numb, and still extremely weak, and he is in more pain today, than he was before the block..and she says it's working? What exactly was it supposed to do then? I am so frustrated!!

The Workers' Comp nightmare continues for me as well. They have yet to pay for any of my medical treatment or medications. I have RSD as well from a work injury. This is the worst to deal, a second close is health insurance getting them to cover medication the way a doctor ordered it.

Sorry I just had to add my experience as I am so close to a meltdown from all of this.

I am also a wc person. I got injured at work back in 2002 and went through a whole lot of crap and still am to this day. I settled out of court the day before the hearing because unlike some of you guys which I am very sorry to hear in my state, Iowa, they do have a law for lifetime coverage. I was afraid after going through a bunch of crap for four years I would lose the chance at keeping the lifetime coverage so I settled. Even though I did that I am still living a nightmare as far as Iknow they are paying my pain doc, but not for any of my meds yet or not my psych doc. I am paying out of pocket over $800 a month and not getting reimbursed for any of it yet. My attorney decided to open for review again and so I am going through another lawsuit with them and don't know how it will turn out. He also said this time we should be able to go for punitive damages this time around because of what it is doing to my family. It has put us in a situation that we are getting behind on some of our bills and we almost lost our home. I keep calling my attorney but get the same answer we are waiting for the state to set a date for the hearing. I hope this time we can really nail them to the wall because they haven't really abided by what they signed and agreed to. It was all lagit because the state commisioner signed and notorized the agreement along with my side and the other side. All I can say is hang on for a ride of your life. WC will drag you through the mud if they can so just becareful and listen and do anything your attorney tells you to do. If you have any questions feel free to ask. You can also pm me if you like. I will do what it takes to help you because I have been put through the ringer and will continue to go through for a while the way it sounds. Good luck with everything!

Sincerely,
Screwballpookie

I'm sorry to hear what all of you have and continue to go through with WC. Reed's doc says we will unfortunately be dealing with them for quite some time. I think once they get a request to pay for an SCS they are probably going to go from being annoying to being downright mean. lol Kentucky also has lifetime medical, so Reed's attorney says he will absolutely not settle without it. I guess we'll see what happens next..it's like a suspense film!

I just wanted to wish you luck on your wc case. Hopefully they won't fight as hard as mine is. I just get tired of it, but I know if I don't keep going I will be the one continuing to pay for everything and I definitely can't afford it. Sometimes life is a bummer. Keep after them and never give up.

Sincerely,
Screwballpookie

Rita,
I was injured at work in March 2003, and have had several nerve blocks, chemical sympatectomy, and after no relief and severe swelling and being wheel chair bound for 8 months had an ANS Spinal Cord Stimulator implanted in March 2005, it has helped but my doctor told me that I have permanent damage to my leg muscles and since it had spread to from just my left leg into my right leg that I will never be able to hold down a full-time job again. I have finally reached the end of the road and the insurance carrier for my employer wants to settle. I have been looking to find what similar cases have settled for. I live in Illinois and they have lifetime medical but I was told they will want to close the claim and offer money in place of lifetime medical. It has been a very slow and frustrating process... hope and wish your family well. I lost my wife, my home and it has cost me so much time with my children that it seemed at times I had lost everything and things would never get better. My faith in God and good friends helped me keep my sanity. Anyway, I'm not sure how things work in your state but for me the research I have done tells me they will take my average weekly wage and multiply it 52 times and then multiply it out over my life expectancy. It will never be enough but I just pray that I will be able to provide a home and comfortable life for me and my children. Hope this helps God Bless, hutch