Had follow up to initial nuero visit. Dr told me I could increase my activity level. As this was a WC injury I was specific about a couple things. I love to garden and wanted to mow my grass. I also wanted to go back to the gym.

I spent an hour mowing and then stopped even though I was not done. It was too much and I got a severe headache along with alot of mid and lower back pain.

I laid down to rest for an hour but felt worse so I called the Dr. I got a retun call next morning from his nurse and this is what she told me. I need to build up a tolerance to it. I need to gradually increase my activity level. I need to add stretching exercises to my daily routine.

I repeated back to her what I understood that she said. Essentially I think the Dr. believes I went hog wild physycally. What a laugh I am a shadow of my physical self.

I expressed to her I have gone to the gym for several years and know what muscle soreness is and this is not that. I only mowed for 1 hour with a self propelled mower. Essentially this is the same 1 hour walk I did most everyday anyways. I explained the pain was extreme and it took multiple doses of tramadol and oxycodone to cope.

Her reply was I need to see my GP for a referral. I told her the occupational nurse told me all refferals must come from the nuero. Very frustrated and in pain waiting for Dr. Does any one have any advice on how to deal with a difficult Dr?

Hey,

I'm not sure if I understood correctly but gonna try anyway.

What sort of activity level have you been up to since the accident? The reason why I'm asking this is because pre-brain injury muscle soreness and post-brain injury muscle soreness cannot be compared...

It's like sometimes before the accident, you know that pain, you even appreciate that pain because you know you've had a great workout. But post injury feels like you been beaten all over.. and then some. The kind of body pain associated with flu even. Not cool.

As for the doctor... Been to so many, lost patience.. Yet none have ever prescribed oxycodone for me.. Clearly you did something right...

Pre injury, very active 52 to 60 hour work weeks. Gardening, I am not talking about just garden beds. Cutting trees down, hard scapes such as building patios. Fishing, bicycling, playing with the grand kid...

After injury, 1 walk a day apprx 1.2 miles. Took me an hour when I first started. I can do it in 45 minutes now. Sometimes I pull weeds in the garden beds for about same. Rarely will I do both in 1 day.

I can not take the heat/humidity brings on a severe headache. Walking makes my back hurt but I am trying to not be to sedate. I limit TV time less than 1 hr a day. Try to limit screen time on computer but typing takes way longer.

The number of errors I have to correct and organizing my thoughts can still be difficult. I feel like a shut in as there is rarely anyone to talk to. Even if I do find myself in conversation I can't relate what I am going through. I get the duh look or rolling eyes.

Oxycodone came from ER when migraine had BP at 198/118. Nauseus and several other symptoms. DR said don"t wait until you are in that much pain take the pain med and avoid ER visit.

Ok, I see. You seem pretty organised especially regarding your activity level. If I may ask are you taking any other meds?

The oxycodone makes sense now...

I'm currently working similar hours, all day on my feet and it's no joke. At work I'm labelled as "the miserable, moody one". I'm surprised they haven't fired me yet.

Over the years I've learnt that people will never be able to understand, so I've kept it to myself.

It's like the people who don't understand just waste what they have without even a remote understanding that everything they thought they knew about themselves, about how they interpret the world, can be taken from them in a second.

rmschaver,

Can you get a referral to a Physiatrist. They are specialists in rehabbing an injury like yours. Find them under Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. They are different from Occupational Medicine.

You can do some research and ask for a referral to the best Physiatrist you can find.

My best to you.

Both myself and lawyer are working on a referral. I have resumed previous activity level with minor increase to distance walked and pace. I could not organize a row of ducks now if I had to.

My wife helps in that department and I adopt coping skills I have read about here. It is frustrating to feel so bogged down mentally but I realize it is still there. It is as though my brain is in extra slo-mo.

If I take my time to get there I get there. I can tell that in interacting with people they must think I am not dealing with a full deck. It is even worse with my vocabulary. I frequently substitute words and get so frustrated I give up.

My neighbor who is familar with myofacail therapy gave me a print out yesterday. It was quite literally a aha moment. I feel that this will not be a quick or easy path but that is ok. I am stubborn and will not be bullied by my employer.

At work I could be very brusque. Ignorance I could accept but stupidity I refused to. I considered it part of the job to train. Operators, Supervisors, Technicains and whomever.

A friend of mine used to like to bait others into emotional debates when I was present. He knew about the stupidity intolerance and liked to watch what happened when I jumped into the fray.

I always looked at it this way. You get the benefit of the doubt until you prove otherwise. Every issue is valid. I may not be able to address them when and how a person might want but that is different.

I once went toe to toe with the president of the Americas division over a mantenance documentation system. It was wrecking havoc with time and personnel management. He ended up looking stupid, I got labeled as a trouble maker. That was 8 years ago.