Now what?

[shugarcookie]

I saw my ortho for a follow up today. Six weeks ago he gave me yet another cortisone (I think) injection in my shoulder. (I had rotator cuff repair, bone spurs removed, distal clavicle resection, with tendonitis and bursitis. This was back in 7/06.) Within a week the effects wore off so I'd call it another failure. I still have constant pain at around a 3 and up to a 6 on their little happy face scale. I'm finding it more and more uncomfortable to sleep on that side or hold the shoulder in anything but a particular position for comfort.

Once again, he addressed nothing. He danced his dance around everything and said he could do no more and if I needed anything to make an appointment. In other words, he's done. I asked about referral to another Dr since he feels he's done all he can. He doesn't believe there's justification for that or that anyone else can do anything either. Then he repeated if I had any further problems he could give me another injection and round of PT. That hasn't worked in the past 19 months, I don't know what makes him think it will now so after refusing the referral (in VA you must be referred by your Dr, authorized by the IC which is refusing to do so or ordered by the commision to see another Dr and that hearing isn't until April) and writing an rx for pain med he breezed out. Obviously he has no intention of treating me but I'll have to keep contact of some sort to keep my case open. While I'm searching for an attorney and waiting for my hearing in April what should I be doing?

[Lilly]

Hi Shugar.....Just bumping this up for you!
Lilly

[jayne]

praying and maybe a trip to the ER if pain gets bad.....maybe your lawyer can get you a new doc......I hate it when they box us in with no way out...look up Gods watching

[shugarcookie]

My husband mentioned the occasional ER trip and although I hate to waste money in that way, which I think is part of the reason the ICs perceive us as grubbers, because we wind up having to over-utilize to get basic care I think you're right Jayne. They may be seeing me every couple of months until someone does something

[Lilly]

Shugar,
IMO sooner or later the IC is going to tire of paying for PT & MD appmnts and hopefully send you to a new doc themselves. This is what happened to me. Orig doc that did 2 of my 3 surgeries, was an idiot & screwed me up for life with the orig surgery. After 130 PT sessions it was clear that PT was not helping...so WC sent me to a different MD (whom I love) and he is the one who tried his best on the last surgery to correct the problem made by my other doc. I still go to him, and that's who I'll stay with. He has my pain level under control somewhat, which is more than the other guy who only gave me 15 pain killers ( every 4 hrs) after an open anterior stabilization surgery! He was a sadist!
By the way...I'm still sleeping on the sofa with a body pillow, 2 years after all my surgeries, as I cannot get comfortable in our bed. It just kills my shoulder!
Suck as it may....that's what i have to do in order to get some relief & sleep.
Lilly

[Truckster]

Lilly Wrote:Shugar,
IMO sooner or later the IC is going to tire of paying for PT & MD appmnts and hopefully send you to a new doc themselves. This is what happened to me. Orig doc that did 2 of my 3 surgeries, was an idiot & screwed me up for life with the orig surgery. After 130 PT sessions it was clear that PT was not helping...so WC sent me to a different MD (whom I love) and he is the one who tried his best on the last surgery to correct the problem made by my other doc. I still go to him, and that's who I'll stay with. He has my pain level under control somewhat, which is more than the other guy who only gave me 15 pain killers ( every 4 hrs) after an open anterior stabilization surgery! He was a sadist!
By the way...I'm still sleeping on the sofa with a body pillow, 2 years after all my surgeries, as I cannot get comfortable in our bed. It just kills my shoulder!
Suck as it may....that's what i have to do in order to get some relief & sleep.
Lilly

[Truckster]

HEY LILLY,I HAVE ALSO BEEN ON THE SOFA FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS,IT'S THE ONLY WAY I CAN GET SOME SLEEP...DOESN'T DO MUCH FOR THE MARITAL ASPECT OF THINGS THOUGH !!!!!

[Lilly]

It isn't right to have to resort to sleeping on the sofa....but I bet WC could care less! Nor would it be included on any of the tests during FCE etc.!
Lilly