Workers compensation in Illinois

[angel1954]

Hi
Glad the forum is up and running again. What I am wondering is in Illinois if workers comp sends you to an IME do they have to provide you with transportation or do they only have to provide you with a check for mileage. I am being sent to Missouri and I do not like to drive there nor do I have anyone to take me. I am just curious. I am supposed to talk to my attorney tomorrow but his secretary said she thinks they only have to provide you with a mileage check.Thanks for any help.Angel

[Tbackpain1]

It may be that the IC is only required to give you milege/toll reimbursement, but I was able to have my attorney negotiate with the IC to cover a car service for me. I was scheduled for an IME in Manhattan during a heavy traffic time of the day after just being placed on a narcotic pain reliever. There was no way it was safe for me to drive myself (nice big warning on the script label said No Driving), and I was not in a position to have family drive me. After explaining the situation to the insurance company's case manager, they arranged for a local car service to give me door to door service.

See if there's some way for you to get a car service or some other transportation via a shuttle (if you're going to a big city), or via some other public transportation, especially if you're physically not able to drive yourself. There have been a couple of times where I had to go to appointments when I was in really bad shape with my back (loss of leg control) and was definitely unable to drive myself. I've always been able to get 100% reimbursement for any taxi, or even for friends providing transportation (even got a lunch reimbursed, since the appointment was pushed back by 3 hrs cause the doc got held up).

Alot of these decisions are situation based, so don't be afraid to speak up. The worst thing they're gonna say is "No". Best of luck to you with your appointment at the IME...make sure to bring someone with you if you can, so that you can have a witness to the IME.

Theresa

[backless]

Angel,how long have you been driving yourself?I ask because if its been a while you might have a problem.BUT,if I were you I would not be driving.What are your medical problems.I had w/c drive me everywhere. And that was a big expense.Think about this,you might break down,may need to walk long distances.I have a bad back and knees. I was on heavy narcotics,if you are taking anything DO NOT DRIVE. Tell them to figue it out or send you to a DR. in town.I'm not to good in Geography,but seems like you need to go out of state.Will your w/c case be a long one?if so You need to have a lawyer.Also,anyone that has a case nurse or case work manager.Dont allow them into the exam room with you. They are experts at minipulating busy Dr's and can have the Dr decide on an issue that is not favorable to you.Tell them you want to see Dr in private and they can see Dr.after you.When they discuss your case with the Dr. stay.For same reason. Its your rights.Are you known as angel sage from org.site?

[angel1954]

Hi
No,im not angel sage from another site. And thanks for the advice. My attorney called yesterday for a phone consultation and all he has wanted to do the past 6 months is settle. He is not doing one single thing for me. I did get a referral to a dr easier to drive to and I had to do all this myself,my lawyer wouldnt help me and when I went to the dr i didnt get to see the one that i had the appt with and the dr i did see told me to go back to my dr in mo.I was in total shock.this dr was rude and he was mean and told lies in the medical report he wrote up on me. I talked to the administrator but got no where. I drive myself but dont like to drive in mo. the traffic is horrible and i have no one to drive me there and nobody else likes to drive there either.i am absolutely miserable these days. the lawyer is my second.my gut feeling is to fire him.he wont let me talk to workers comp myself although im tempted to call them. i made the mistake before i had an attorney to let the workers comp nurse in the examining room with me when id see the dr.i dont lie,i dont fake nothing and i didnt have nothing to hide.one day i could hear her and the dr talking outside the door and when he came in he said that my rsd had resolved itself,my corporal tunnel had went away and he took me off all restrictions.thats when i got a lawyer .i almost lost my job as i could not lift with my left wrist.now im on permanent restrictions .i didnt go back to that dr .i had to fire the first attorney.it took about 5 months to get into a dr cause they wouldnt see me till they had my medical records.i was trying to work also and so my life was a nightmare at that time. its still a nightmare.im miserable in pain. i think this lawyer thinks im lieing and faking stuff and i wouldnt do that.the last dr i seen only talked about my hand,not the wrist. he screamed and yelled at me and said he never seen a hand atrophy so much in only 2 years from rsd yet in his report he said there was no difference from my left and right hand. thats crazy. i am just in one big mess and this isnt getting better,if i settle my lawyer will get paid for doing nothing. i drive but its hard to drive with my wrist in so much pain.i dont drive a lot or very far. i was on lyrica but ran out. thats why i wanted a dr thats easy to drive to but when i seen him a month ago he refused to treat me. isnt this a mess.different states have different rules .i guess i could call the industrial commission.angel

[rabidcoyote]

i feel for you angel1954 as i too, am going through the workman's comp. system here in Missouri and have had such bad experiences so far with it it almost makes you cry!!!:( i guess from what i have read on these forums abought others and their lawyers, i must have a pretty good one. (knocking on wood)....it has taken a lot of yelling and cussing over the phone and in the court room to get ANYTHING done so far at this point but i'm finally getting the much needed surgery for my problem next month, although the timing sucks really bad. i heat with wood and have a 5 month old daughter at home to take care of while the wifes at work.:eek: to bad the system in any state is so against the worker it's not even funny to think abought.all i have is bi-lateral cts and cUts and feel so sorry for those that have much worse problems. this forum has given me a lot of good info and inspiration and will continue to use it as a font of knowledge......and for the question you asked all i have been able to get was milage reimbersment so far and i will be asking abought what backless has said too. good luck in your case
:eek: :eek: :eek:

[angel1954]

Hi
I asked my lawyer if workers comp could take me as I dont like driving to Mo. Thats why I got a referral to a closer dr. but then this dr. just told me to go back to Mo. Besides,I didnt get to see the dr the appt was made with,just an assistant. The lawyer said Id probably either have to drive myself or have someone take me. Nobody I know likes driving in Mo.I have been through so much.Its a shame I cant get a referral to a nice understanding dr. who is willing to treat me that is not so far away .I cant see the lawyer is doing one single thing for me. And to the person who responded to my post via private message ,I dont do the yahoo thing and I dont know how to reply to the private post. But the hosp I think you are talking about is also in Mo. and I dont like driving there. I appreciate your help though. I dont type but as long as I can on the computer.My wrist and hand starts hurting so badly.I dont do chat lines at all.This just all makes me so tired and with the pain being so bad I am just drained. Angel

[wildone2mo]

Angel1954 i can see your pain I have RSD (CRPS) and TOS, I can give you some info, when the IC sends you to AME,IME, they are working for the IC you really need to be proactive in your health and case, make copies of all your medical reports did you have any test done for your RSD I can say this when you go to AME, or IME's and they say something like may have RSD, WC looks at it as a medical opinion after all they are paid for they're opinion I thought the same but as my new lawyer said it is just a opinion, not backed up with any evidance you must show something to back it up. I wish you luck Angel 1954 I can see your point I can key with just one hand, I had surgery for my TOS last month and my symphatic nerve cut at the same time for my RSD (CRPS) I feel RSD has spread to my hand too, and my chest also my neck. This weather is kicking my but as you could understand.
I wish you luck do not settle to early RSD is life long and to settle for nothing will not help you, you must prove RSD to the IC having a opinion without anything to back it up hurts your case with proof you can than fight for transportation with a hearing, I do not drive either I have PT come to my home, again it is your health and if you feel there are docs over there to help please find one, you may haft to pay for it after your case settles but you need your own doc and test run not payed by IC.

[sirmark]

First off are you from Illinois or Missouri?


Or are you in Illinois close to Missouri?

I am in IL. and have been in the system for 6 years maybe I can help.


First do not retain an attorney that does not believe you.
Second you have a right to pick your own treating Doctor.

until I know the answers to the above I do not want to give anymore advice.


Please reply

Mark

[angel1954]

Hi Mark
I am in Illinois and about an hour and a half from mo.I was just emailing a friend and told her I dont think my lawyer believes rsd exists,its just something people make up in their head. I wish thats all it was and I could make it just go away by forgetting it. The one person on here posted I need a test for rsd.Id gladly get the test. My wrist was supposedly set wrong or it slipped out of place when it was broken. The dr. said I wasnt to move it and I was to take it easy because it could slip out of place. But he sent me back to work my 3rd week with a broken wrist,in horrible pain only because my workplace wanted me back.said they had jobs i could do with one hand.I guess they didnt care how serious it was .So thats when the real pain began,when I had to go back to work. This is such a mess. I am so miserable.The only thing that is comforting me now is the scripture that goes like this,If God is for me no man can come against me or something like that. I just keep thinking about that scripture. I am a very decent,very good person and would never lie just to try to get money from a settlement. I want what Im entitled to but as far as faking stuff or lieing I wouldnt do that. I just need someone to help me so badly and believe me when I say I hurt so bad. When I show them how the underside of my wrist is so purple and swells up when I use my wrist that say thats normal. Funny thing,my other wrist dont do that. I did have on dr say the blood vessels in my wrist are constricting from rsd.Im so miserable. Someone has got to help me soon.Thanks.Angel

[sirmark]

I still don’t have enough information. Like was your arm first hurt at work or just get hurt worse when you had to go back to work?

Who was the first doctor you say for the work related injury? ER, family doctor , Work doctor?

In Illinois your have the right to see 2 of the doctors of your choice , and as many referrals as those 2 or their referrals refer. (no limit)

If you didn’t use any or used just 1 of your doctor choices , I suggest you see your family doctor and tell him you want him to refer you to a specialist. If the specialist thinks you need a different specialist in a different field he can refer you to them (it’s still your right).

You do need a good attorney that specializes in work comp cases. It is worth the money and they don't charge you anything till the case is settled. They usually can get you more so it offsets their fees.

I am short on time right now.
I am there for you feel free to ask more.

Mark

[wildone2mo]

Hello again Angel1954 and sirmark, Angel I hope I am not confusing you, I'm on your side I do not believe you are lying I want to help you, this is just advise I am giving you it is up to you though if you want to take it. Angel I know WC is confusing it is for me, I had a lawyer also who said RSD is a junk diagnosis he did not believe in it, he got MAD! he also never heard of TOS either or my DOC! one of a handful in the country this jerk of a lawyer had the nerve to yell at me about finding my own doctor for treatment! and then complaining that the cost for getting testomony from him would be alot that was the final straw I said your fired I'm sending someone to your office to pick up my file, along with a letter releasing you, and hung up on him, he calls me back "lawyer" saying I got approval for depo cost and we can handle your case Sorry sucker you had your chance did you not understand you are FIRED! I hung up again. Angel that is not the end of the story I got my file from old lawyer and half my medical files where gone how could this be? when I got all medical files and sent it to him and always called to make sure he got them and yes he did, so this shyster I feel was out to sabotge my case! I cannot prove it of course but his actions speak load and clear like, RSD is JUNK! never once saying to me we need to get test done for proof,or not knowing TOS, or my Nuero who is well known, also trying to make me feel guilty for not taking first offer IC gave me! also he always would say lets not rock the boat yet,and never telling me I could get reimburst for travel to docs so on.
Angel sorry if I ramble but you need a test run for proof of RSD again I believe you! but having a doc say you have it is not proof, I know it seems like since IC paid for it, it should hold weight well it does not it is only what they call a "OPINION" and as you have seen they shop for "OPINIONS" for the one they want to hear. I know you are in alot of pain so was I and still am Angel you need certain test run, have you had any NERVE BLOCKS, a pain managment doc can do this, there are diffrent nerve blocks they can do for diffrent body parts, your lawyer should have docs he uses for WC, if he does not have any than find a WC lawyer one that only does WC cases and nothing else! angel with RSD it is a life long monster you will need meds for life and other things, besides the fact it may spread, to settle now is wrong and if your lawyer was like my old one I'd say KISS MY GRITS well I'd use some harsher words and find a LAWYER THAT DOES ONLY WC CASES!
Angel really good lawyers would know of docs they can send you to, see if you need medical or need PROOF a good firm would send you to one of these docs, now these docs would be paid by your settlement, or if your lucky WC can make IC pay also, again I'm not offering legal advise just my thoughts...Angel you haft to fight for your rights I know you hurt I have been there but mine was my shoulder,arm,neck, and hand my upper right side I would be in so much pain I had no pain meds Angel the IC docs did the same say there is nothing wrong even when they would see my arm turn blue in front of them after they where done yanking and jerking my arm I had to find my help, I would not let IC tell me there was nothing wrong, or make me look crazy! NO I did drive either I got rides because I cannot drive to this day I cannot drive! if your friends care and family care they will drive you to get help, thier are other people who go to that hospital that travel further to get the right help, some people come in from Kansas City MO. I've met others like you 1-2 hours away even met someone from Michigan, Angel you have to be proactive in your well being, there is help for you- again I believe in you, I feel your pain, do not let the IC push you around anymore.... -flippnout-

[angel1954]

Hi Mark

I do realize the er dr. didnt count. I did not follow up with him.Instead I seen a dr. who I was seeing for corporal tunnel in my right wrist. He didnt take care of fractures so he referred me to someone else. So that was one dr.I seen someone for the broken wrist till it was healed and then went back to the first dr. for the now nerve damage in my wrist.The referral dr. is the one who decided I had rsd.I seen this dr for quite awhile.went through torturous physical therapy and then one day i went to see this dr and all of a sudden up out of the blue,and I was still in pain mind you,he decided on his own I was all better.no longer needed restrictions.my rsd was gone and so was the corporal tunnel i developed in the left wrist after my fall.i didnt have it in the left wrist before the fall. he sent me back to work to lift although i told him i couldnt. in the meantime i got a lawyer who sent me to a dr in mo. this dr immediately put me back on restrictions once he seen me.I was not better. Right before the first dr decided all of a sudden i was better he and the workers comp nurse were having some kind of conversation outside of my door .i could hear them talking. this is not the lawyer i have now though. but it turned out the new lawyer and the first lawyer used to work in the same law firm.i didnt know that when i hired him.im on my second lawyer. i did get a referral from a dr to see a dr closer to me that was supposed to be really good. but when i went to his pain management clinic i didnt get to see him,only an assistant and let me tell you,i wouldnt take my dog to this so called dr.he was rude,he was mean ,he told lies in his medical report he wrote up on me and also not only did he tell lies he made mistakes in it. i just called his office and they told me its up to him if he wants to correct all the mistakes and lies .my lawyer could care less. he tells me workers comp wont let me have any more referrals.that they only allow a couple.i told him i know thats not true ,that in the state of illinois you can have all the referrals you want. he said that workers comp has to approve the referrals first. now the appt with the ime was cancelled ,i called the lawyer to find out why and he doesnt return the call. like usual. so i have no idea why its cancelled.i have the mileage reimbursment check that i didnt cash. waiting to here from my lawyer .that was mon when i called. i cant talk to workers comp.when i get upset i just hurt so much more.stress just really kills me. this whole ordeal has been so stressful.i did get hurt at work.i fell only a few minutes after work started. i broke my wrist very badly. i had trouble all along with pain and swelling .i was diagnosed with rsd a couple months after i broke it. ive been miserable ever since that night i broke it.the pain never ends.and im sure the rsd is spreading.angel

[angel1954]

Hi Flipnout
I just got done typing a post and I guess you was typing one too.So I just read yours. The lawyer did send me to dr. that he wanted me to see.But the dr. really dont seem all that concerned. I have had this for 2 yrs. now and I see its getting worse. I have never had nerve blocks. I tried to work and tough it all out cause my workplace said i couldnt go off work.they had jobs I can do one handed. It was a nightmare for me.I found out last year around thanksgiving we would be closing so i continued to tough it out so i wouldnt lose my job. Gosh I have totally lost my train of thought now. I remember now what happened. I told part of the story in other post. I seen a dr. in May and he referred me to another dr. For a whole summer my first attorney was supposed to get medical records to this dr. I called and called and called and this dr would not make appt till he had records. so id call the lawyers office and theyd say they sent the records and id call the dr and theyd say he didnt.i finally got so fed up i fired the first lawyer and hired this one.but i didnt know this one and the first one were good friends and worked together at one time till i hired him.he said they were friends but i didnt know they used to work together.it seems this one just dont want to do anything. i was told its now too late for nerve blocks and this lawyer wanted to know why i waited so long to get to dr. well,i couldnt see dr till they got medical records so maybe he should have been asking first lawyer why he didnt send them. and at the time i didnt know rsd was so serious. i had no idea i would be like this. i have no family.my oldest boy wont drive in mo. i dont know many people who do like driving there. i imagine my lawyer is now in the process of settling.i know this is a big mistake. he wont do a thing for me to help me though.he wont even tell me how much i may get although ive asked several times .i just feel like i need to call him and tell him he is fired and i am through but i dont have another lawyer lined up .but i am positive settling is the wrong thing to do.the dr i was seeing in mo didnt even examine my wrist,nothing just talked to me and he didnt run any tests or nothing. said its too late for nerve blocks and prescribed medication. he really didnt seem that interested in doing anything for me. thank you for believing me when i say i hurt.i think my lawyer thinks im nuts or something. i do hurt and i hurt so bad and the pain is moving up my arm into my shoulder and to the left side of my face and not only that i feel its affecting my upper back and torso area . i am getting so miserable.i have no insurance. can i go to a dr that i want to see if i get a medical card. i have done used up both my drs. i dont even know wht to do and all my lawyer says is we might as well settle. he offers no advice,nothing.thanks for caring .angel

[wildone2mo]

Hello Angel i hope you feel better today. Let try to exsplain better sorry I do tend to ramble as you can imagine. First with nerve blocks they can be used to test for RSD (CRPS) A series can be given to help support your case,I was told the same thing it was to late but the test where run to help support I did have RSD (CRPS). Again you must have proof not just a doc saying it, some thing to back it up, as for medical records Angel you should be getting copies from your docs also all your records and MRI's X-rays so on and make copies of them, so when you go see docs you have all your records with you, as for your lawyer it is a small world and all WC lawyers know each other.
Angel do you have State aid medical ? if so tell your lawyer you want to use it to help your claim for RSD (CRPS) you must go and get proof of RSD,a series of nerve blocks can help you to see if you get some relief, and how long you get relief from them, one nerve block will not be enough for testing it is a series of them. Tell you Lawyer RSD is not a junk diagnosis it has been around for a long time,and tell your lawyer he works for you sure lawyers are busy and have alot of clients but you are not ready to settle! Understand Angel your first lawyer and this lawyer will split your settlement you may not be able to find a third who will take your case- also when you have a lawyer you will not be able to contact the IC if you have questions they should go through lawyer,and as for as a nurse case manager you should be present in any conversation regarding your treatment between NCM and Doctor. Nurse Case Managers are not your friend they are looking out for the IC they are trying to cut cost for IC that is what they do.
Also if you settle and apply for SSDI, SSI, you may haft to set aside monies to the goverment for your treatment for RSD (CRPS) they will take that monies to use for your treatments. All this has to be exsplained to you by your lawyer ask him these questions I know we have bad memories so write them down, go to his office just show up one morning and sit there and wait to be seen by hin/her tell him/her I have question regarding my case and go over your list as for them telling you how much a case is worth they wont say all cases are diffrent and it would be wrong to put a $ amount yet.
Again Angel I will stress you have to be pro active in your health, find someone anyone who can help you get where you need to go,you must go see your own Docs paid by you or worked out to be paid with your settlement or get state aid insurance get your proof let lawyer know WE want to get PROOF ! Angel if you let this go and do not get proof this is what my happen you will go to hearing and have a report that says RSD yet that same doc you said you dont have it, to make things worse you may have carporal tunnel you say again another opinion did you get a nerve conduction test for carporal tunnel? all this without proof what do you think will happen the IC now have docs saying you are fine nothing wrong and the ALJ will believe them because you need proof PLEASE Angel get the proof you need find a way talk to your lawyer just show up in the morning and wait till you see him,ask your questions tell him you are not ready to settle you want to get the proof and RSD is not a junk diagnosis ! it is real !

[coupe]

hopefully? you can find something here? hope so!.....
http://www.workerscompensation.com/regulations/statedepartment.php?ID=304&state=illinois&Parent=304&step1=done
may god bless us all

Larry/coupe

[angel1954]

HI Larry
Thanks for that web site. It has a lot of information on it.I briefly looked at it but will read it more thoroughly later. I for the life of me dont understand why all of a sudden workers comp is not making me go to their dr. I am like flipnout,they will want proof of my rsd. I can only show them the purple discoloration on the underside of my wrist which really deepens in color when I use that wrist for any movement. It almost looks like the blood stops flowing and backs up in my wrist and it will swell up on that underside which is so tender and hurts so bad it makes me sick. ALso my hand is shriveling up badly although Im using it all the time like the dr says.Im losing more use of my arm.It gets worse all the time it seems. I am doing just what the dr tells me to do. I am getting really worried. I am going to call the public aid office to see if I can get a medical card to go to a dr. Ive got to see someone.I think Im losing my hand and all my lawyer wants to do is hurry up and settle.he isnt returning my calls. And I cant talk to workers comp.I do have proof my wrist was set wrong,but not proof of the rsd as far as I know.I think the most that was done was xrays.No mri like one dr wanted to do. Its really sad how an injured worker gets treated isnt it.Just doesnt seem fair at all. I am trying to find some kind of job I can do one armed but there isnt much out there. And besides that, who wants to hire someone who would have to wear a glove all the time .My hand feels frostbitten now that its cold out. And all this isnt all in my head either. Im sure anyone with rsd would know that. My lawyer probably thinks Im nuts and my ex workplace probably thinks Im faking this. Yeh,right.Gotta go. Wrist,arm,hand is hurting from typing. Thanks again.Have a good day. Angel

[wildone2mo]

Angel1954 hello again, you have gotten alot of info from others and myself they are just ideas here is a good web site also http://www.rsdrx.com/index.html alot of info on rsd.
You ask in your reply to Larry why the IC is not making me go to there Doctor, it is because they said you do not have it. I know you said they said you had it befor but now you do not have it, see that is what happens with opinions you can always change it, I must stress to you again Angel you must get test done not by workers comp(IC) because they will not do it but you must either have to talk to your lawyer or get state medical card to do it but get a series of nerve blocks to see if you have it,or other test done, a MRI will not show RSD, and a EMG tests the wrong nerves along with EMG are as good as the person giving it to you. Angel again go to your lawyers office and sit there untile he sees you, and you cannot talk to IC or workers comp when you have a lawyer,talking to workers comp will not help you they are not your friend to think with a case where there is a possibility of RSD they will help you is wrong look what they have done for you already, as you said Angel they had a doc say you had it then he changed his mind right! see you have to find the your own doctors you pay for it or state aid card you need PROOF of your condition..it seems like you are not willing to help yourself out I do not understand, you keep saying you wish for help, you wish IC will let me see there docs,and so on Angel if you go to work hurting as bad as you say the IC workers comp will say your condition is not that bad and use it against you to show you can work and you do not have rsd.
Here let me tell you what happend to me once I went in for a IME and this jerk of a doc grabbed my arm and yanked it up above my head, the whole time I'm yelling and falling back into a chair telling him to stop he is hurting me, he stops goes sits down and starts writing his report, he says mr wildone you have had the million dollor workup nothing wrong with you no restrictions, I said really I said JERK doc look at this showing him my arm as it was blue and swollen I said is this normal look at it ! he turns his back says I do not like this, and says your MMI I say to him how my arm is blue,I hurt so on, do you think he cared nope he said take advil for pain go to your PCP and bye.Angel I then had no more meds, no more money, no more anything from IC and I was like you thiking to myself I have a report from they're doc saying I may have RSD and another from a doc my first lawyer sent me too so I should have treatment again wrong I found out I had to get PROOF not just a opinion but actual data in black and white tests run to show RSD then everything started up again...Angel work with your lawyer it may be hard to find a third lawyer to handle your claim,since they share the money, do you have all copies of your medical files? from all docs? you should along with X-rays and MRI's so on you must be proactive in your case what else can I say to you..

[angel1954]

Hi Wildone
my lawyer isnt returning my calls. ive called 3 times now to ask what is going on and i think what he has done is started settlement process. i guess i will just have to call and tell the main receptionist to tell the secretary and lawyer i am not going to settle till i prove i have rsd even if i have to get a medical card and go to drs on my own.The lawyer is about a 45 minute drive from here so I may be wasting gas going over there.I still have too much money to get a medical card but its dwindling away fast with no income and bills to pay. I start a pension from work in Dec. I can make it till then,but have no insurance of any kind. What a horrible experience you had with their dr. I guess he would be like that last dr I seen that was at a pain management clinic who although screamed and yelled about my hand shriveling up wrote in the report he seen nothing wrong with it. what a joke. maybe he works for workers comp on the side as an ime ,who knows.I know someone who may drive me to st louis to drs appts ,i happened to think of him the other hight.he loves driving all over everywhere even in crazy traffic. i realize i gotta do something but i keep waiting on the lawyer to call.might as well forget that.do you know much about scs. Or if anyone else reads this that does let me know. this girl who only has had rsd for a year had one put in and is having problems with it. so now she has a drs appt and they are telling her it may have moved and if so they will have to do the surgery all over again.workers comp is not paying for this yet.the surgery was 83,000.she does have insurance but my gosh,id hate to think id have to fork out that much money again. Thats downright scary.She said its stopped most of the pain except her fingers hurt really bad. Hers is in her left wrist,like mine and her wrist is frozen in place in a curled position cause she quit moving it and wouldnt go to therapy. so workers comp cut her off.she has a lawyer i told her i sure hope workers comp picks up the bill. workers comp did a bone scan and it showed she did have rsd. i had xrays and they said mine showed up in xrays.also i had the nerve conduction test and it showed after the break i had moderate corporal tunnel. a nerve conduction test in april before the fall in july i had no corporal tunnel.what a big mess. yes, i imagine workers comp did say i dont have nothing wrong with me. i guess tomorrow i will call about a medical card,tell them the situation. i seen in the belleville paper sunday in their magazine that comes with the paper about this dr somewhere who was into sports medicine. she was young. i wondered if she knew about rsd. thought about calling. i saved the paper. thanks for replies and advice. Angel

[wildone2mo]

Hey Angel, remember they cannot settle without your signature on a document, so make sure read everything from lawyer. Great to hear you may have some one driving you to get treatments a bone scan can show RSD but not early stages of it, with a EMG it is subjective to the person doing the test as you have seen one said yes you have it the other says no you do not. As for the person with the surgery her private IC will seek reimbursment from WC IC for the operation if it was a WC case. I have heard people are getting relief from the scs I do not know much I do not have it or did any research on the device go to the RSD side of this and ask I'm sure more people know of it. Angel I do hope you can get the state aid you need, and have someone to drive you there or have some where they understand RSD and how to treat it, as for you attorny he cannot settle without your permission and if he is trying you do not need to sign any document that says you are, just read everything again it may be hard to find another lawyer since this is your second but it may be that you need one it is up to you, be sure to interview and know your next lawyer. Angel whenever the IC WC pays for a IME, AME they work for the IC WC not you they are not your friend the same when you pay for one they work for you not WC,IC wne the IC,WC sends you to one they pay for it is to prove you are ok sure you may run into a few good docs out there but the majority of IME,AME paid by IC,WC are not good they will make up things and prove your case wrong. Good Luck

[sirmark]

Sorry I did not get to read everything posted since the last time I was here. (I find it very difficult to read long posts with close text and no breaks. Or just reading allot.)


From the stuff I did spot.


DO NOT SETTLE right now.
Go through the phonebook or on the Internet and find an attorney that only does work comp cases. He does not even have to be near you, everything can be done over the phone and or through the mail.




A good site for Illinois Work Comp.
http://www.state.il.us/agency/iic/

[angel1954]

hi mark
I do know how to make paragraphs etc.i just get in a hurry as i hurt so bad.i do know i shoudlnt settle and i do know i need a new lawyer.im very miserable.its cold.cant hardly use my wrist at all todya.sorry about the mistakes.cant hardly type.thanks for reply.angel

[sirmark]

Hi
I did not mean to criticize you I just find it hard to focus on large amounts of text. I cant even read books anymore.
I feel your pain and hope things turn out better for you.

[angel1954]

Hi Mark

I know you wasnt criticizing me.You was merely stating a fact. I need to use paragraphs instead of just typing everything all together.
I am sorry about your eyesight. Is the rsd causing your eyes to get worse. I noticed when I was taking lyrica my eyesight was really blurry even with contacts. I ran out and it seems my mind is much clearer now but the pain is much worse without the lyrica.I really dont like the lyrica at all. At least being in so much pain I dont have an appetite at all so I dont have to worry about gaining weight.
This rsd really sucks. Somedays I can barely use my arm and hand. Today isnt so bad. Its not as cold out so that helps.We are supposed to have upper 60s this week.I like warm on my arm and hand.

Take care
Angel 1954

[Karebear]

In Illiniois you need to be very careful about attorneys. The problem is they all share in the final fee. So once your case gets messed up a good attorney is hesitant to take it because they do all the work and have to share the fee. Plus the case is more work because of the damage that was done by the previous attorneys. Then you have to not only find a good attorney but an experienced dedicated one. I had four before I found my present attorney. They were all horrible. I had to look up the law and tell them what I would and wouldn't do and they'd tell me things that weren't right. I got my present attorney only because I posted on lawyers.com and kinda made friends. I figured I was better off with no attorney rather than the ones I had, so finally I motioned the court to dismiss my attorney. My prayers go out to you. I know what you are going through. Have you checked out lawyers.com

[Valarie]

Hi Mark
I am in Illinois and about an hour and a half from mo.I was just emailing a friend and told her I dont think my lawyer believes rsd exists,its just something people make up in their head. I wish thats all it was and I could make it just go away by forgetting it. The one person on here posted I need a test for rsd.Id gladly get the test. My wrist was supposedly set wrong or it slipped out of place when it was broken. The dr. said I wasnt to move it and I was to take it easy because it could slip out of place. But he sent me back to work my 3rd week with a broken wrist,in horrible pain only because my workplace wanted me back.said they had jobs i could do with one hand.I guess they didnt care how serious it was .So thats when the real pain began,when I had to go back to work. This is such a mess. I am so miserable.The only thing that is comforting me now is the scripture that goes like this,If God is for me no man can come against me or something like that. I just keep thinking about that scripture. I am a very decent,very good person and would never lie just to try to get money from a settlement. I want what Im entitled to but as far as faking stuff or lieing I wouldnt do that. I just need someone to help me so badly and believe me when I say I hurt so bad. When I show them how the underside of my wrist is so purple and swells up when I use my wrist that say thats normal. Funny thing,my other wrist dont do that. I did have on dr say the blood vessels in my wrist are constricting from rsd.Im so miserable. Someone has got to help me soon.Thanks.Angel Hi I'm Valarie I know this message was from 2006, but just wanted to let you know I'm waiting now to see if I have RSD, after 8 months of excurating pain and not knowing from a right ankle sprain, and after my nurse case manager took me to a hospital to see a foot and ankle specialists, which would have made him my third doctor because no one knew why I was in so much pain and this doctor says I believe you have RSD, I did not know what it was had never heard of it, went home looked it up and if everything that was under symptoms I had, and the part about people will start to think you are crazy for the little injury you substained and you are in that much pain, I owe this doctor because now I am waiting to go to pain management, and workers comp has scheduled me for an IME exam and my advice to you as far as lawyers is to find one whom deals with RSD because they will know how to work you case because RSD is life long and it can not be cured, and it is something that will get worse, if we think we hurt now, I guess we have not seen anything yet.

[Valarie]

Hi
No,im not angel sage from another site. And thanks for the advice. My attorney called yesterday for a phone consultation and all he has wanted to do the past 6 months is settle. He is not doing one single thing for me. I did get a referral to a dr easier to drive to and I had to do all this myself,my lawyer wouldnt help me and when I went to the dr i didnt get to see the one that i had the appt with and the dr i did see told me to go back to my dr in mo.I was in total shock.this dr was rude and he was mean and told lies in the medical report he wrote up on me. I talked to the administrator but got no where. I drive myself but dont like to drive in mo. the traffic is horrible and i have no one to drive me there and nobody else likes to drive there either.i am absolutely miserable these days. the lawyer is my second.my gut feeling is to fire him.he wont let me talk to workers comp myself although im tempted to call them. i made the mistake before i had an attorney to let the workers comp nurse in the examining room with me when id see the dr.i dont lie,i dont fake nothing and i didnt have nothing to hide.one day i could hear her and the dr talking outside the door and when he came in he said that my rsd had resolved itself,my corporal tunnel had went away and he took me off all restrictions.thats when i got a lawyer .i almost lost my job as i could not lift with my left wrist.now im on permanent restrictions .i didnt go back to that dr .i had to fire the first attorney.it took about 5 months to get into a dr cause they wouldnt see me till they had my medical records.i was trying to work also and so my life was a nightmare at that time. its still a nightmare.im miserable in pain. i think this lawyer thinks im lieing and faking stuff and i wouldnt do that.the last dr i seen only talked about my hand,not the wrist. he screamed and yelled at me and said he never seen a hand atrophy so much in only 2 years from rsd yet in his report he said there was no difference from my left and right hand. thats crazy. i am just in one big mess and this isnt getting better,if i settle my lawyer will get paid for doing nothing. i drive but its hard to drive with my wrist in so much pain.i dont drive a lot or very far. i was on lyrica but ran out. thats why i wanted a dr thats easy to drive to but when i seen him a month ago he refused to treat me. isnt this a mess.different states have different rules .i guess i could call the industrial commission.angel I'm sure you have probably settled your case by now and if not make sure you have an attorney whom deals with RSD cases.