questions ..questions ..questions

[lil_conner23]

I have a question..

I went to see an IME on February 5th of '08. He said I need surgery ..two different ones at that. However, he said in the mean time I am allowed light duty. Now I've been on light duty before seeing him.. so this wasn't "new." I had a doctor by the name of Dr. Ryu when I first was injured. He then referred me for a second opinion which was a doctor by the name of Dr. Sotereanos. He decided to remove a bone in my hand ..and I felt like it did no justice. Therefore, I went back and seen Dr. Ryu, who decided two things needed fixed in my wrist. Workers comp. didnt approve my surgery, so I was sent to this IME. Dr. Sotereanos had me on light duty, 4hrs. a day.. 4 days a week. Dr. Ryu kept me on that, but when I seen this IME.. his report said: Light duty until surgery.. up to 8hrs. a day.. no grasping, climbing ladders, etc. Well.. I gave this report to my employer and he gave me more hours and days. I cannot take it.. it's way too much for me. The nurse case manager gave me this report through my email ..therefore I gave it to my employer. Otherwise, I would have never seen it. How do I go about this, is the IME restrictions my "new" restrictions.. or do I tell my employer he isn't my doctor, I can't follow through with this? Please help me ..any advice would be appreciated.

[lfoster21]

I am so sorry for what you are going through. I don't know the correct answer, because I don' know if it is a state thing. I do know for me, when I was under the care of 4 different Drs. at the same time, my restrictions had to come from my main Dr. At 1st, that was my surgeon. Then, at 1 1/2 yrs. later and there were no more surgeries that could help me, my surgeon referred me to a PM Dr. This is who I consider my main Dr. Any referals have to come from his office. My NCM told me that any restrictions, referals anything that we wanted to do, had to come from this PM Dr. My opinion is that the IME is one of the I/C's Drs. to agree with or disagree with medical procedures. I would not think that they would be the one's to give your employer the restrictions, as he has only seen you a limited amount of time. Have you talked to Dr. Ryu and asked him for his restrictions to be put in writing and giving that to your employer. Then you could honestly tell the employer that the 1 set of restrictions was from a Dr. who is not your primary Dr. and you had only seen him once. It would seem that synce Dr. Ryu is the one that you last saw and he is the one making your referrals, that he would be your primary Dr.

Good luck and I am sure others who know for sure what you can and can not do.

Lorie

[lil_conner23]

Thanks for your reply. I've seen Dr. Ryu before in the past for a basketball injury to my wrist, TFCC Tear. He speaks like this, "I cannot give you a list of restrictions at work, because I don't know what you can and cannot do. I can't say, you can pick up milk.. when maybe you can't" ..So he doesnt really give a list of do's and donts.. where as this IME went into some detail like, no ladders to climb shelves. (I work in a grocery store) So I mean.. what if he says this when I ask for restrictions again..

[vickinat]

You really need to ask your attorney about this. I had the same situation where the W/C IME Dr's. restrictions were totally against my treating Dr's. restrictions. Your attorney may have to file a petition to have the IME Dr. report examined. Make sure you talk to your lawyer soon, because your employer will most likely want to use the IME's restrictions.
Take Care
Vickie