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Update on the WC situation from last visit with Pain Doctor

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Posted 1/30/2009 2:19 AM (GMT 0)
As you all know or most that have read my last post when I went to the doctor the Monday before I left to attend my dad's funeral, my doctor got a little upset with Wyoming Worker's Compensation over their demands to my doctors request to have me evaluated for the Neuro Stimulator. My doctor was furious and gave them an ultimatum saying that they either allow him to treat me like he sees fit to or he would dump me as a patient and WC could find me another doctor that would see things their way. He also stated that it was insane that I have been forced to live with this horrible pain for this amount of time when all along several doctors have seen it viable to place the Neuro Stimulator feeling that it would bring me much relief from my leg pain. As I have stated many many times to all my doctors and to you all if I could decrease the leg pain I could deal with the back pain that I suffer from for this is mild compared to the horrible suffering pain that radiates down my legs each and every day. After so many surgeries I know that I will always be in pain, that is a given, it comes with the territory of having multiple back surgeries and fusions to my lower back. But the leg pains in both legs are getting worse by the day and I am now getting some weakness in my left leg plus "dead" spots in both thighs and pins and needles feelings in my feet on the heels, arches and toes of my feet which I did not have before.

When I told this to my doctor on that Monday she was concerned that we were falling backwards into a really bad situation and wanted to get this ball rolling quickly. Well, after the letter was received by WC I was anxious, thinking that I was going to get a denial letter stating that I was to find a new doctor. But to my surprise this afternoon I received a phone call from a doctor whom my doctor referred me to for my Psych Evaluation for the purpose of determining whether I am a candidate for the Neuro Stimulator! I see him the 6th of March which gives me lots of time to get my mind straight after losing my dad and lets me focus on the task at hand getting through this next two months. I'm ready to move on with the next stage of this treatment and I am hoping for the best. Been through two Psych evaluations before and I think it has given me a good outlook into what to expect from this next one as well. So I figure if everything goes right.....crossing fingers....toes...and whatever else I can cross; I will be approved for the trial and be starting the trial before I head for Wyoming for my sister's wedding. That would be sooooooo sweet!!!

Of course......a little voice in the back of my mind tells me "Noooo stop getting your hopes up!" and I can't help but listen to this voice. I know I should be happy but its really hard to be. After 9 years of jumping through so many hoops and crossing so many drawbridges I can't let myself open that door quite yet. I'm afraid to.......scared to death it will be offered just enough for me to take that one crumb of hope...that one nibble of sweet pain relief and have it snatched away from me and told NO your not stable enough to have the stimulator or NO it doesn't work for people like you. Just can't allow myself to do that....its tooo much for me to take right now after all that I've been through. There seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel here and I'm afraid its going to be snuffed out by the big bad WC dragon that lurks around the corner waiting to take down my last glimmer of some normal life or what is left of it...that last utter piece of dignity that I have and just brush it away from me like I am some nobody on their blipping radar of sacrifices.

Just goes to show ya....we aren't people to the Ins and WC and Medicare people out there guys and gals......we are just blips on their radar waiting to be snuffed out like we don't matter. But we have something that makes us keep shining through their screen.........something that they can never take away.........Our voices! Raise them high my CPers....don't let them hold you down. Shout it out loud that you are not going to take one more second of their tyrant ways and keep fighting for your rights to be PAIN FREE!!!!!


Hugssssss

Here's Hoping and prayin...crossing fingers, toes, eyes, hairs and whatever else I can cross for each of my CPers to get some pain relief.

Scarred/Hoping soon to be Healed or somewhat there
Posted 1/30/2009 2:57 AM (GMT 0)
BRAVO, BRAVO, Scarred don't try to take a bow just yet. Woohoo, you can take it after you do the trial for the stim!!! I am so glad that your dr stepped up the mat and took those morons on. If only other drs would do this for many other people. I really doubted in the back of my mind that this dr would kick you to the curb. I felt like if this dr had one ounce of empathy you would remain her patient anad she would give it her best shot in helping you somehow. By her writing that letter I knew she had really taken an interest in you as a patient. So many will not do this, they think they are too busy, or they just don't want to deal with issues like WC ins companies. Here in Tx you can only see drs on an approved list and its getting harder & harder to get the good drs to joiin and be on that list. So, knowing that, you can imagine what kind of care these people are getting.

I am so excited for you!! We can't let that little glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel be snuffed out-you are a fighter. Most people could not have endured the surgeries that you have and kept their heads on, you are a tough little cookie to say the least. Thats what has kept you going. I will be crossing everything I can right there with ya.Hugs, Susie
Posted 1/30/2009 3:43 AM (GMT 0)
Scarred,
"Ditto" to Susie's post! I'm so glad you got a doctor with a backbone! At least you can relax about that doc kicking you to the curb, and know that she appears to be an advocate for you. Keep you eye on that glimmer of light - even if it is a spec - in the darkness.

PaLady
Posted 1/30/2009 3:49 AM (GMT 0)
Hang in there Scarred. I'm Proud of you. I'm proud of your doctor too. See, sometimes things DO work out for the best. Keep holding out hope

Gentle Hugs,

Lindaloo
Posted 1/30/2009 4:44 AM (GMT 0)
Congrats! That is great news! Maybe your luck is finally changing! So glad your doc stood up for your rights!

Skeye
Posted 1/30/2009 5:38 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone! I so wanna shout it to the mountain tops (if there were any to shout it to in Kansas LOL) but like I said I need to keep my feet grounded and focus on the task at hand. Getting through the Psych Evaluation. Its ten pm and I've only slept two hours; gawd this is getting sooo darn old!!! Woke up to my legs in so much pain I was bawling which woke up my husband and he came out into the living room looking rather worried. He asked me what was wrong and I explained to him that it hurt soooooooooo much and he helped me up and carried me into the bathroom. He helped me undress and helped me into the tub and then sat with me while I laid there trying to get the pain to ease up some. After he dried me off re-dressed me and took me back to bed...tucked me in and here I lay. Took another B/T percocet hoping it would calm the pain and now that its beginning too kick in...I think I can finally go to sleep.

ahhhhhhh they joys of being a CPer huh?

Hugssss
Scarred
Posted 1/30/2009 5:47 AM (GMT 0)
Scarred,
I'm so sorry for your pain, especially the worsening symptoms in your legs and feet. I know those all too well. But I have to say your hubby is a great guy! Tell him one of Big Ben's fans said so!

I wonder if you're going to need some med for nerve pain - even in the interim while you're waiting for the psych eval. Have you ever been on neurontin or lyrica? Just a thought.

PaLady
Posted 1/30/2009 10:36 AM (GMT 0)
PA that is the reason for the Topamax. Studies have shown that it has helped with nerve pain. But with where my nerves are compressed doctor has told me that not even my Kadian is helping with the pain control because the nerves are impinged close to the spinal canal and the medications do not help with that deep of pain. Or at least that is what I gathered from what he said. No pain medication or pill is going to help me at this point.
Posted 1/30/2009 12:50 PM (GMT 0)
Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!! I will never forget how I felt when I held copy of court order with the stipulations for money settlement and most importantly that WC will pay for my care the rest of my life.

It still does not seem real and even with each med refill I have that feeling ....maybe they won't pay......an uneasy feeling that is all too familiar.

I don't think I will ever feel secure after all that has been said and done. It takes its toll.

Best wishes, Andrea
Posted 1/30/2009 2:26 PM (GMT 0)
Exactly Andrea! Its been a hard road with WC nipping at my heels and I just don't know weather to feel relief or fear. Something inside tells me that since they have allowed the Psych Eval twice before and denied me both times that I need to keep my head down and my heart protected. It's just so hard to believe the many bull half truths that they have fed me over the years telling me that they are looking out for my best interests and that they are working on finding a solution to a solution that will help my health problems. A year and some months ago almost two years ago now my old doctor wanted a Psych Evaluation to place a pain pump in me thinking that since WC wouldn't go for the Stimulator that it would at least get me out of the medication fog. Well, the WC nurse overseeing my case called me and totally ripped my tail for wanting this to happen telling me that with DDD the pain pump was totally wrong for me and that it was a waste of time to even try. She wanted to send me down to Denver for two weeks to some pain clinic to be evaluated completely with a Psychologist, Neurosurgeon, Therapist, OT, the works to come up with a plan as far as medications....PT.......Occupational therapy......and everything. I of course agreed to this telling them that that would be fine if they could bring my pain down to a reasonable level which in my eyes would have to be at least (and I restated Least) a 3-4 on the pain scale. I figured this was a reasonable expectation for me to expect if they were going to expect so much from me wanting to decrease my medications by half before I even left for Denver and none by the time I began seeing the doctors so that they could start fresh and see what worked and what did not.

The nurse thought this to be a reasonable goal! I was shocked!!!!!!! Maybe in a perfect world one can expect a CP patient to be down that low on a daily basis but each one of us knows that we don't often see days like that right? Pain levels of 3-4s are unusual and we are usually grateful for those to say the least. I haven't seen a 3 or a 4 in.........hmmmmm how long has it been since I've seen that low of a pain scale..............2003? I guess it was clear back then. Wow such a long time to actually be in such a high pain scale. Last time I was at a 6 was one day 3 years ago when I was still doing pool therapy. It lasted about 4 hours and I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Anyway.....I've figured out that I take one moment at a time and I totally enjoy each moment that I get just a tiny bit of relief.

Hugsssssss

Scarred
Posted 1/30/2009 5:51 PM (GMT 0)
Scarred,
WOW!!! I'm so happy for you! I didn't get a chance to read your post till now. How exciting you finally knocked down the wall the has kept you out in painville soooo long! When you get your Neuro Stimmulator, we are going to have a BIG PARTY here in Healing Well CP World! Everyone will be dancing and singing and carrying on! There will be Vettes burning rubber and Fat guys eating cake! Then the Fat Lady will sing and your war will be over!!! God Bless America! Big Big Hugs!!
Your Buddy,
Pete
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