11-07-2010, 09:23 PM
I would like to say thank you to everyone who responded on my previous post with so much support.
I live in NV. I was injured 7 months ago when I fell on a threshold that was subsequently determined not to be OSHA compliant. I fell right in front of the guard station, so the actual fall is not in question by anyone. The fall resulted in injuries to my shoulders, neck and back.
I had a an odd feeling at my last doctor visit to the shoulder doctor, but told myself I was just being paranoid. I had been given cortisone injections in both shoulders previously and at the prior appointment I was sent for 4 weeks of PT. The doctor said he would make a decision about surgery after I finished the PT. He told me I had a type II acromion in both shoulders and suspected I had shoulder impingement. I thought that made sense and went off to PT.
At this last appointment ( 7 months post inury) the doctor reviewed the PT status report which said there had been no improvement and that none was expected with continued PT. Based on the PT report, I was really expecting to be told I would be having shoulder surgery. I don't like the idea of surgery, it is scary, but if that is what it takes to get better, then I was ready. I want to do whatever it takes to get over these injuries and I am tired of being in pain. I want to get back to work and my life.
At the last appointment, I was surprised when the doctor checked me out very quickly, asked me to remember a word he would ask me about later. I couldn’t imagine what memory had to do with shoulder injuries, but I complied. The doctor then said that he wasn't ready to make a decision regarding surgery. Instead, he wanted to give me a second cortisone injection in one of my shoulders (I wondered why not both since they both still hurt) and that I was to go for another 4 weeks of PT. He asked me which shoulder I wanted the injection in which I also thought was odd. The syringe was brought into the room and left on the table in front of me for about 15 minutes. The doctor finally returned, gave me the most painful injection I have ever had and said to come back in six weeks. He continued my restriction of not lifting above the chest level. The whole thing just didn't feel right, but again, I figured I was just being overly sensitive.
Concerned about my lack of improvement, last week I asked the physical therapist how long I would do PT before the pain lessened. I was stunned when the therapist said it was normal to do a 4 week course of PT and if that failed, then the doctor would do surgery. I asked why then was I doing a second 4 week session of PT for my shoulders if there had been no improvement with the first 4 weeks. The therapist got an odd expression on her face and said, ummmmm….she didn’t know, but that was what the doctor had ordered. I was confused.
After thinking about my last doctor appointment, the therapist's comments, the word test at the doctor appointment, the syringe sitting in the room for so long, the very quick exam and the return to a second course of PT, I feel the doctor must think I am malingering. The more I think about it, the more I think I am right, or maybe they are hoping I will just accept my limitations and pain give up. I don‘t know. I had such an odd feeling at that appointment. I am now starting to feel like I am nuts. I can’t imagine what I could have done or said to make him think this. I have always been very honest. I am now feeling very angry about all of this.
Has anyone else had an experience like this? What’s the best thing for me to do?
I live in NV. I was injured 7 months ago when I fell on a threshold that was subsequently determined not to be OSHA compliant. I fell right in front of the guard station, so the actual fall is not in question by anyone. The fall resulted in injuries to my shoulders, neck and back.
I had a an odd feeling at my last doctor visit to the shoulder doctor, but told myself I was just being paranoid. I had been given cortisone injections in both shoulders previously and at the prior appointment I was sent for 4 weeks of PT. The doctor said he would make a decision about surgery after I finished the PT. He told me I had a type II acromion in both shoulders and suspected I had shoulder impingement. I thought that made sense and went off to PT.
At this last appointment ( 7 months post inury) the doctor reviewed the PT status report which said there had been no improvement and that none was expected with continued PT. Based on the PT report, I was really expecting to be told I would be having shoulder surgery. I don't like the idea of surgery, it is scary, but if that is what it takes to get better, then I was ready. I want to do whatever it takes to get over these injuries and I am tired of being in pain. I want to get back to work and my life.
At the last appointment, I was surprised when the doctor checked me out very quickly, asked me to remember a word he would ask me about later. I couldn’t imagine what memory had to do with shoulder injuries, but I complied. The doctor then said that he wasn't ready to make a decision regarding surgery. Instead, he wanted to give me a second cortisone injection in one of my shoulders (I wondered why not both since they both still hurt) and that I was to go for another 4 weeks of PT. He asked me which shoulder I wanted the injection in which I also thought was odd. The syringe was brought into the room and left on the table in front of me for about 15 minutes. The doctor finally returned, gave me the most painful injection I have ever had and said to come back in six weeks. He continued my restriction of not lifting above the chest level. The whole thing just didn't feel right, but again, I figured I was just being overly sensitive.
Concerned about my lack of improvement, last week I asked the physical therapist how long I would do PT before the pain lessened. I was stunned when the therapist said it was normal to do a 4 week course of PT and if that failed, then the doctor would do surgery. I asked why then was I doing a second 4 week session of PT for my shoulders if there had been no improvement with the first 4 weeks. The therapist got an odd expression on her face and said, ummmmm….she didn’t know, but that was what the doctor had ordered. I was confused.
After thinking about my last doctor appointment, the therapist's comments, the word test at the doctor appointment, the syringe sitting in the room for so long, the very quick exam and the return to a second course of PT, I feel the doctor must think I am malingering. The more I think about it, the more I think I am right, or maybe they are hoping I will just accept my limitations and pain give up. I don‘t know. I had such an odd feeling at that appointment. I am now starting to feel like I am nuts. I can’t imagine what I could have done or said to make him think this. I have always been very honest. I am now feeling very angry about all of this.
Has anyone else had an experience like this? What’s the best thing for me to do?