Question about IME exam

[lfoster21]

I just have to ask, who is your w/c advocate? Is that the same as a nurse case manager or a case manager...who is the person that mediates between you and the I/C? I ask because I learned the hard way that even though they are very nice and do things to help you...they are still pain by the I/C. I will not mention hiring a lawyer, but wanted to ask if you know that you can have a free consultation with as many lawyers as you want? You could ask the lawyers if what your advocate is correct. If you haven't come to a settle ment yet, I don't understand why it is too late and I'd think that would be the best time to hire one.

Anyway, I agree with you and your husband, you need to try and put most of it behind you. Please don't go to the IME with high expectations or having the Dr. take your notes from your Dr. If they do take it and listen to you...way to go, but don't get your hopes up and then have to fall into a depression, so to say.

My prayers are with you.

[1171]

unfortunately i'm not that familiar with litigation under Hew Hampshire comp laws and they don't make much information available.
I was offering a general insight to a common situation. There maybe a legitimate problem to how the original rating was done or they may want a conservative doctor to come up with other factors that will lower the rating.
you can't tell at this point until you discuss it with the adjuster (and maybe not even then.)

http://www.labor.state.nh.us/workers_com...asp?ptype=

In any event you should find out how to select your own second medical opinion and be prepared to use it if you believe the IME report will be used to unfairly lower your rating.
Wait to see what the IME says before deciding you have problem.
Get a copy of the report and take it to your doctor and discuss it. then decide whether to get to get a third opinion.
I suggested you contact the adjuster for information on the process so they know ahead of time that they took the first step in the upcoming "dueling" doctor marathon.
that still leaves time for other solutions

[sparkey]

I speak with my adjuster all the time. He called me to answer my question of why i am going now for a IME. He said because my rating was high, that they want to send me to their lawyers doctor to see if he thinks that it is an existing cause from my surgery i had in 1998. I told him i was fine since my surgery and never had any trouble with my arm/hand and was able to work all those years till my injury in 2007. I even went through a motorcycle course and bought a new harley and was able to ride up till my injury. Since my injury i have not been able to ride it, and it only has 300 miles on it. If i do not get helped or healed i will end up having to sell it , as my shoulder/hand is not able to use the throttle to drive anymore. It is to dangerous for me to even think of using on meds, and with no control of my hand at this point.

I am back to work full time now, with a new career that i use my hand alot less than what i was doing before. I am unable to hold anything with fear of dropping it, and cannot open packages without sissors.

To answer the question of my workers comp. advocate, i was appointed a woman for my side when this injury happened. She is there for me whenever i need help getting test done, payment , medication etc. She is a wonderful person and has helped me alot through this whole ordeal. She is the person that explains to me what i can and cannot do pertaining to wc. She asked me to call my adjuster to see exactly why he wants a IME done so i can get my feelers out to exactly what the IME is looking for. So i did. Now i know it is just they are disputing if it is from my origional injury 10 yrs ago. I did not say my injury 10 yrs ago was work related, and never collected a penny or filed wc for it when it happened.

I am returning home today for the weekend, and checking the mail to see if there is anything from their lawyer yet for my IME exam. I will go to it and listen to what he/she has to say, and only be honest about how this is a new injury and not a previous one that they are trying to say. I will look into this doctor's reputation and see the history of this person that will be doing the IME exam, and if i am not completly happy with the outcome i will hire my own doctor to do a 3rd exam.

I know at this point the ic will do anything to save money, and my case is ligit enough that i should be kept at the origional percentage that their wc doctor put me at in Dec. of last year. It is their doctor, so why are they disputing it? To save a buck. Thank you to all that replied, and every bit helps. I will get through this and fight till the end of what is rightfully mine.