Meet with the voc rehab "expert" for opposing side tomorrow morning at atty's office. Opposing atty wasn't happy MY atty insisted on being present - something smell a little off aboutthat to you?

Supposedly he's flying out here to discuss alternative job options with me, as my Drs have said I can't return to teaching. Actually, Dr Togut has said, "she remains totally disabled for any gainful employment." And that related just to my pain and disability in my upper extremities, the bilateral TOS, not taking into account my dx of RSD or major depression! The RSD is increasingly affecting my feet and legs, making me walk slowly, my feet burn, and my knee ache. Standing or walking on hard surfaces like asphalt or concrete increases the pain in my feet greatly later on. Finding shoes and socks my feet will tolerate is becoming an issue. If I walk or stand more than 20-30 minutes I will have greatly increased pain later.

So I am very limited in use of my arms, and I can't stand for long periods. I am on an anti-depressant, a narcotic, another nerve pain med, a muscle relaxant, and Valium to help with sleep. And I have a spinal cord stimulator.

And my sleep is totally messed up, which may be partly why I am always fatigued, but that is also part of chronic pain and RSD.

As you know, any time I overdo, the next day or two I spend in increased pain with a flare.

I'm sure employers would be lining up to hire me!!!

I am confused as heck as to this "interview". Do I tell it just like this? Or is he looking for me to say something, anything he can use to show I'm not willing to "try"? Just WHAT am I supposed to be doing tomorrow?

Need some tips on how to play the game.....

beth

I hope your atty will jump in if any tricks are tried.
Your atty didn't ask you to come in early or call with a heads up on what to expect? {if not, I'm not really surprised, but it would be nice if they did that}

I guess the basic suggestion is to keep answers brief and to the point.

If they ask just clearly explain your pain and how it affects all aspects of your life.

But I've never been thru a interview like that- so I hope if anyone has they can tell you about the experience.

Hello,
I have never been to that kind of Voc. Rehab. interview either, so i really can't give you any tips, sorry

I hope everything works out in your favor.

Judy

Thanks for replying. I just know this isn't for my benefit. And the IME, functional capacity exam and psych testing are all in my favor - they have found no way to contest those, they are all positives. So this is about the ONLY thing they have to somehow try and score points for their side - makes me leery!

I am supposed to meet with attorney early to go over what to expect Jo - that is, if he even really knows! Trouble is I'm REALLY not functioning all that well before 11:00 a.m. or noon - and am to meet with atty at 9:15, "expert" at 10:00 a.m. - afraid I'll mess up due to brain fog, you really have to be on your toes cause sometimes they are just hoping to make you give wrong answers!

Will just have to remember to breathe deep, take time to think, and if I get confused, say I don't remember. Thank God my atty will be present!

Wish me luck!
beth

Good Luck SistahBeth!

I'd be honest. Brutally honest. "I'd LOVE to be able to do ____, but if I did ____ would happen."

So how did it go?

I'm assuming I am too late to mention anything - besides, it's all been mentioned, and anyways, Beth, you are so knowledgeable of your own condition, and capable of expressing your symptoms in a clear and concise manner, that I don't think anyone here can add anything to what is "perfection."

And, you are HONEST, too.You always have been about your condition - and it is so strange / good in a weird way that it has been so close to mine - I totally relate to you. (YES, the walking is very hard sometimes now, due to fibro I think, but could be RSD...very painful.)

Sadly, you can't work in your condition. They will come to that conclusion I believe. And even if they don't fully "see" it our way, they can't deny the truth completely, so I joke, how disabled is 100%? I am 100% disabled, whether they believe this piece or that piece, who cares, if you add up all of the evidence that they WILL accept, I'm still 100%.

It sounds like you have a very good attorney who is not willing to let go of the details - I don't know of any here in CA who would be present for a VR meeting. And they usually send "lackeys" (less experienced attys) to stand in for them on their depositions. So I'm hoping this is a sign that you have really got a great attorney.

Please keep us posted. I care.

Most of what you describe is what I consider "the process." We all have the hoops that everyone has to go through - same hoops, whether we're trying to get work comp benefits, social security or ?, they all seem to have a similar set of required hearings, and/or applicant / defense opportunities for examination / evaluation. If anyone is going to get the $$$, they have to figure out the hoops, and thoughtfully go through each one. I know you have, and you do.

I TRY TRY TRY to take the personal out of it - but as Gibbrn has posted, there are times when I have just lost it and I get so frustrated by some aspect of the process that is either botched or just done to delay or harrass that I can't take it anymore...then I later get a hold of my feelings and go back to the drawing board to reconfigure my strategy to get my care back on track. But I know realistically that there is some evil adjuster wanting to destroy me - it just FEELS like that sometimes.

If nothing else, as you say, we have to do this for our kids' futures.