[MsRriO]

Functional Assessment Evaluation or FAE, ordered by WCB.

Has anyone had one of these done?

Mine is a week away. It is a whole day in an office situated in a city thats 2.5 hours away. I will be seen by a chiropractor, a physical therapist, and occupational therapist and a general practioner (GP) or what many call a PCP.

The outcome of their individual assessments will determine my return to work and any therapies needed to get me there. None of these medical professionals will ever see me again. They will have no actual involvement in anything they recommend. (Just like the neuro psych back in Feb)

Even if after I say that, it STILL sounds like this FAE is perhaps in my best interests, please remember it's ordered through workers comp, so they get the result they ask for. It is highly unlikely to result in actual therapies and more likely to result (AT BEST) in recommendations to WCB about workplace accommodations.

Wondering if anyone has gone through one with Workers Comp. (I know it's different in the U.S.) What to expect and will it be useful? Should I expect to be drained like I was from the NP testing?

My symptoms coming up on month 5 of PCS are the same. Head and neck pain, fullness in the head, tightness in head and deep within ears, ears ringing, vision problems, speech problems, cognitive problems.

Thanks for any info out there.

[Mark in Idaho]

Sounds like you will be poked and prodded and asked to do range of motion and lift and grasp and other physical tasks. I hope they are thorough enough to see your physical limitations.

If they ask you to try something, don't say, I can't do that. Say something like "When I try to do that, I get a pain ..... or I feel dizzy when I bend over like that. " You don't want to be labeled as uncooperative. Take it slow and let them know what is happening as you do the task. You'll be fine.

My best to you.

[MsRriO]

Mark I posted about the NP report, I finally got my copy after leaving him the terse voicemail. It is an atrocious report. I wish you could see it.

[Brain patch]

Just wanted to wish you luck and tell you my thoughts are with you. I am pulling for you. These reports are going to work in the favor of the insurance company as much as possible. If your speech is bad enough, would they really want you back at work? Hope this is not too bad for you.
Brain

[Concussion]

I want to wish you luck , also.

I would ask first about your report from that NPA - did he include a complete rundown of all the testing and the scoring? - if so, pay for someone else to review it and give you another opinion, base on that, or have one done by them to compare......you obviously disagree and need to find answers.

I know you are very disappointed in your treatment by the WCB, and how everything has been handled, and how you have been treated, you have to take the bull by the horns and do something about this yourself - get a lawyer, deal with them.

Now, onto your upcoming Functional Assessment Evaluation:

- do not go alone;
- have an advocate with you at all times - even if they are upset by their presence, have one at your side;
- it is your right to have an advocate present to observe and hear what is said - face it, you are anxious, you are befuddled, you are upset; someone not troubled should be of a better state of mind to advocate for you during these tests ;
- if you are tired, take a break; ask for them and take them.

I haven't seen a Chiropractor doing FAE's ; a Physiatrist, a Physical Therapist, an Occupational Therapist, a Physical Medicine /Rehab.Medicine Specialist, a Certified I.M.E. would be choices, but I guess in Canada the WCB allows for Chiropractors to do FAE's, I just haven't seen that in my area.

As I have shown in my previous links, I just offer best hopes for your evaluations.........but wish you could get other supports as soon as possible and get more fight on against those people. You can do it.

Best wishes.

[cyclecrash]

Hi MsRRio,

I have not had one of these but have had a few assessments by doctors ordered by my long term insurance company in the past. Now that I think about it, I'm not sure what they were called so maybe it was the same thing. This was when I was off with Fibromyalgia about 15 years ago, not PCS, but it is very similar in that you look normal with it, there are no tests for it and doctors don't believe in it. I went to the appointment thinking, this is it I'm going to be cut off and I won't have any way to support myself. I was then a single mother. The anxiety and worry was terrible.

I had to get a ride to the appointment, about an hour away, and I was there the whole day. They did treadmill stuff, physical tests (squats,etc.) and asked a LOT of questions. The questions were probably similar to the ones you answered at your neuropsych testing... are you on drugs, are you lazy and looking for money, are you doing other work while on disability, etc. They don't come right out and ask you, they're trick questions!

They wanted to know what I did all day, what I did for a living, etc. It was a VERY long day and totally exhausting but they treated me well and I didn't feel put down or judged. I did the best I could with everything and answered all the questions. I agree that you have to try your absolute hardest because they are looking for people that aren't trying to get better or are faking it.

Make sure you mention that the testing is going to make you worse for days afterwards. I was given a phone number to call if I had any increase in symptoms afterwards and I made sure I called and told them.

I did not have anyone with me. I also agree with what Concussion (I think) said, you need to get your own doctors notes also. You can't just go on their doctors reports. Find a neuropsycologist with concussion experience and get their help. On top of getting help with your WC case you can also get help to get better.

Oh, I almost forgot the most important part of my writing,.... I was NOT cut off my long term disability. It was approved and I continued to try to get my life back. I eventually succeeded and got back to work. All you can do is be honest, show them how sick you are and hope they're humans and not just WCB slaves. You thought you were going to be denied before and you weren't so maybe the same thing will happen here.

Make sure you have plans in place (food prepared or frozen stuff) so that you can rest for a couple days afterwards. You'll need it.

Good luck to you! Let us know how it goes.

CC

[MsRriO]

Well my friends. I hesitated to even begin to tell you all what was said and what happened to me this past Monday. It's Wednesday and I'm still recovering from it, with increased headache, neck pain, confusion, brain fog.

I was asked to fill out a great deal of paperwork, forms, questionnaires, many of the same nature I filled out for the NP. (Eg: how much do you agree with statements such as "I'll never recover" and "I'm afraid this is permanent"... Lovely tricks to which I must state I disagreed)

After 45 minutes of trick questions I was already tired.

Then I saw the PT. She took my history. (Again) She examined my neck. (Painful) She "tested" me for vestibular issues to which I tested negative. I was asked to wear goggles (with cameras in them pointed at my eyes) while she leaned me downward abruptly. They watched my eyes for a reaction because apparently your eyes will wiggle back and forth really quickly if that motion causes dizziness. I tested negative. I asked why I feel sick to my stomach if I'm not dizzy. She said, that's motion sickness not dizziness. Ok.

She also said "you know the latest research indicates concussions are healed in one week" and I said, oh. She asked, what do you think of that? I said, well I'm not a professional, I just want to get well. (Thanks again for playing trick the patient!)

They asked me to lift heavy boxes and walk around the gym. Tested to see if I could do this once every 30 mins in a workday (no) and could I safely do it once a day (maybe, depends on symptoms). I had to wear a heart rate monitor and of course I did my best and got a big headache as a reward.

Not sure why a marketing and guest services manager would need to lift heavy boxes but ok. Keeping an open mind at this point.

Then I had to sit and type at a desk and was asked if I felt discomfort. I said I still feel sick to my stomach and have a headache. They asked why do you think that is? I answered I don't know for sure but I tend to get increased symptoms with activity. She wrote all that down. Something in my gut said, uh oh. I wasn't supposed to speculate.

Then I was taken to see the psychologist. Ladies and gents this is where it gets crazy. I took notes so that I could recall it.

He was a well dressed handsome guy with a constant smile. He took my history (again) and told me that WCB chose their private practice for these assessments based on rigorous criteria and that this was an accomplishment for the business. He explained the panel process how they send an initial report in two days then an advanced report in a week for my treatment plans.

He asked, "why do you think you have not recovered?" I said I don't know, I'm doing everything I should do.

He continued by asking what those things were. I listed rest, acupuncture, good nutrition etc.

Then after I answered his questions he said, "I've read the NP report and your brain is 100% fine. You had a concussion but a clear CT and MRI mean there is no physical evidence of injury. You are not injured. You are fine. Everything you feel is an accepted perception based on things you've researched or been told that are not true. There is no such thing as post concussion syndrome.

In fact, what has happened is that there is concussion hysteria in the media due to some high profile cases such as Sidney Crosby."

He smiled and waited for a response. I said, cautiously, "so there's no such thing as PCS? How come the NP said I have it?" And he said, "you've misunderstood his report, he says you are 100% fine. There is nothing wrong with you."

I said, "but he mentions executive functioning deficits and short term memory" and he interrupted "I've read it. You are fine. There is nothing wrong with you. You do not have permanent brain damage even though you think you do" as he smiled.

I said, "but I never said I had brain damage."

He said, "this concussion hysteria frustrates me. Patients who don't recover are sent to specialist after specialist and no one can determine why they don't recover. Then they are finally sent to psychologists like me. That's where we have to deprogram them to finally get them to accept they are recovered."

I asked, "so the neuro surgeon was wrong in diagnosing PCS?"

He said, "it's hysteria, it doesn't exist."

He smiled and smiled waiting for me to let it sink in.

So I asked, "why do I feel pain if I'm fine?"

He said, "because you have accepted you have pain. You have created an accepted norm and you have become focused and sensitive to anything that causes a symptom and automatically attribute it to the concussion. You have created hyper sensitivity to light and sound by being in a quiet dark environment."

I asked, "so this is all my fault?"

He said, "there isn't blame here. It's just that you accepted beliefs by doctors telling you that your recovery is taking a long time. The facts show you are fine. Now you just need to accept that instead of believing you have pain."

I said, "so since I'm fine, should I drive again?"

He said, "I won't be held responsible for that, you will have to ask your GP"

I said, "well I thought I'd ask you because you disagree with my GP AND a brain surgeon."

He said, "I can tell you're defensive and not receptive" and I said, "with all due respect to your opinion, I'm confused and I'm certainly no professional"

And he stood and shook my hand and said "you are recovered and you should return to work full time, and to your regular life. It's great news" as he smiled. He led me out of the room.

Still with me??

So remember WCB said I would see an OT? I didn't get to see one. I had a four hour break and was asked to return at 4pm to see the chiro and the GP.

The four hour break was good to vent to my husband who was not allowed to attend with me by the way. I was not allowed an advocate.

The chiro took my history (again) and looked at my spine, said my posture is the cause of my pain. She asked why I think I'm not recovered yet. I said I am too confused now to answer that since talking to the psychologist.

The GP then saw me. Took history. (Again). He asked the same questions and I answered the same as before. I was defeated.

So.... thoughts? I hope this hasn't upset anyone... As much as it upset me.

[Mokey]

Horrible. And borders on professional misconduct. I think I would complain to the governing body for psychologist in Saskatchewan. This is a regulated profession!
It is completely ignorant to boot!
Poor you. Hang in there!!!!!!

[Brain patch]

Wow Ms.Rrio. Wow. I wish I had been there with you so I could of told them to go **** themselves. Yeah, right we are just in hysteria huh? No such thing as PCS? I am sorry but there are tons of doctors, specialists, scientists that know this condition is real.
I just love how they kept telling you that you are 100 percent better and fine. Isn't that great news? I don't know what else you could of done in the situation. They railroaded you.
You need to get yourself a lawyer. Our pain and problems are not imagined or any sort of hysteria. Personally, I had never heard of this condition before the neurologist. How can you have hysteria about something you had never heard of? I beg to differ with him on all points but especially where he says that a concussion heals in a month. Maybe for some. Maybe for certain types of injury. But for us, we have all not healed within months. I am going on 8 years now. You know PCS does not show up on MRI. All neurologists know this.
Get a lawyer and get the records from all your private doctors. Did you have a private neuropsychological evaluation done? If not get one.
I am so sorry. I knew it would go this way for you with those crooks. I am just stunned. Let the professional lawyers take on these sleezebags. They know how to play the game. I would remain silent and let a lawyer handle it.
What a load of crap.
Brain

[MsRriO]

I guess I should get a lawyer. I was naive to think I'd get better before I required legal help. It's also pricey.

I doubt any local lawyers would be good. I may have to find one in a bigger city. Our city is very agricultural and tiny (16,000 ppl) so the heaviest case these lawyers have seen would be a bad divorce.

I hope we can find a way to afford one. Yikes.

Thanks for the emotional support Mokey and BP, I was astonished as well. Still amazed that this kind of trivializing a patient's pain is considered helpful. It felt abusive to me.