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So, I finally got ahold of my attorney as well as my Dr., and I am scheduled for an IR as well as an FCE Thursday morning (yes this Thursday the 16th) at 9 AM. This means I will have to be up by 5 and out the door by 6 as I am going to hit rush hour traffic in DFW on my way to the testing.

I can understand an IR taking 30 minutes with all the testing and measurements that they have to do. But what in the world is going to take them three hours to do an FCE on just my right arm from shoulder to wrist ?? My treating Dr. isn't including my hand or wrist due to my previous WC injury on that.

I have called my attorney once more (actually 3 times) and once again, she is either out of the office or on the phone doing conference calls. I called my treating Dr. and no one can answer me there either. So I called the number that I was given for the Dr's office that is doing the testing, only it wasn't his number. Some lady that answered the number I dialed knew who I was and said she would call his office and have someone call me back. That was well over an hour ago.

All I know is that I can't stand for more than 20 minutes or sit for more than 20 due to the problems I have with RSD in both legs and feet, as well as the herniated disk at T8-T9. I'm afraid if I refuse to do certain things, that the IR Dr will say that I didn't cooperate fully and I will be back to square one fighting WC IC for claim acceptance and I won't ever get any kind of treatment, or what they owe me in back pay, as well as travel pay. and if by chance, he has me do something that makes other health problems worse, the IC won't allow them as part of the claim as they are pre-existing and once more, I will be screwed and end up worse off than I was to start.

Anyone have any ideas why an FCE would take three hours for a single extremity? I am almost at the point where I am going to cancel it until I get the answers that I need. This is pure hogwash in my eyes. I have been told that the FCE is to see if I am capable of going back to work. Even if I was, there is nothing I could be hired to do. Our economy here is so bad that in the past 6 weeks, there was one job that I might be able to do, advertised in our local paper. And then I doubt if they would have hired me, with all of the restrictions that I have at this time. And I wouldn't qualify for unemployment as I was terminated back in October and it is to late for me to file. Add to that the fact that I can't handle driving more than 3 or 4 miles without having to pop 2500 mgs of motrin every 4 hours to get me to where I need to be and back home again.

Any ideas??

Angel ^j^
The FCE isn't just for a single body part or single issue. The FCE is just what it stands for. It a full function evaluation to see what you can and and can't do or perform, in the work field. It's a full body issue. It will help to determine what you are capable of doing and then measured up to a type of work you might be able to perform. Refusing to do something is never good. You need to attempt them all. You will be wearing a heart rate monitor. When the heart rate goes up, it is kind of showing them your trying. When the heart rate goes up to fast, or to high, they make you stop that task. The FCE is and can be a good tool for your case, and help you very much.

I would say in my opinion, is to not medicate before the FCE or IR, and bring your medications with you, for when you do need them, or take them after these test are done.
BadBoy,

I can't understand why they want to test my whole body, when it is just my arm that is keeping me out of work at the moment. There is no way that I can stand for another FCE (I had one done last summer and that one came out rating me below sedentary) for three hours, unless they want to take me out in an ambulance and pay for my ER bills.

They aren't even treating me for anything but my right arm. And even at that, I haven't had any treatment because it is a contested claim. It has now been 13 months since the injury to my arm. What does the rest of my body have to do with the FCE.. when it is just my arm on the claim, and they won't be treating me or allow any treatment for anything else. It isn't any of their business what I can do with the rest of my body as far as I am concerened. It has nothing at all to do with my WC claim.

As for not taking meds before, I have no choice. I have run out of all the prescribed meds that my pain management Dr had me on for over a year and all I have that helps is motrin..and 5 equate pm pain relievers when I am ready to go to bed and go to sleep. I will have to take at least 2500mgs (possibly more) of motrin just to make the 115 mile drive to see this stupid idiot, or I will never be able to make the trip. And by the time that I get there, I will have to take another 2500mgs, or there is no way that I could even make it through the IR, let alone any kind of FCE. By the time they are done with me...from the way it sounds, I will have to take 5000mgs just to get me out the door, into the car and on my way home. That is, if I feel well enough, as well as safe enough to drive after they would finish with me.

Angel ^j^
UA, I do understand on how you feel. But, an FCE is an FCE. Hasn't changed since I can remember. I hated them too. Like me it was my neck, so why test everything else. I know, I know, but I guess they want to know. What can I say. I know I won't perform another if I can help it.
I will just contact my attorney's office tomorrow and tell them that I am canceling the appointment with this Dr. I am not going to put myself in a position for a stupid test that I DON'T need .. at the cost of possibly paralyzing myself for life. She can just tell the judge to reschedule my contested claim hearing and we will take the IC in front of him and see what he has to say. I have three Dr's aind I lost count of the tests that prove this is related to my job. If the IC can't handle that, then we will just have to take it to the next step.

If my attorney doesn't want to do the right thing, nor the IC, I will just drop my case and none of them will ever get a red cent from this case. I am just plain sick and tired of being put through the games that only continue to make me worse. I will find a way to get insurance and go back to my Pain Management Dr with the WC denial letter and have him help me. At least that way, I will be familiar with the Dr and have some idea of what he can/can't do to help me.

Angel ^j^
Angel,go to your test....let them take you out in an ambulance it will speed up your claim....and get you some pain relief
Jayne,

If I really thought that they would do anything to help me, I would be there in a heartbeat. But the WC IC isn't going to pay for a hospital bill for me if it doesn't pertain to my injury. There is no way that I want to be stuck in a hospital in DFW, with my car sitting in some quacks parking lot and no way to get to it when discharged. And there is no way that I could walk to get the car once released if that were to happen. I would end up stuck on the streets of DFW till the weekend when my BF could get down there to get me and take me to my car and then follow me home.

It's just not worth it. I am not going to permanently injure a part of my body that isn't connected to my injury just so they can play their games even longer with me. What is even dumber, is that the Dr they are sending me to is a chiropractor... just like my treating Dr. What does he know about injuries to arms that my Dr doesn't ?? At least my treating Dr is familiar with all the other medical problems that I have.

I went ahead and called my attorney's office tonight and left a message for her in the morning. If I haven't heard from her by noon, I am cancelling the appointment. There is no way that I can drive for anywhere near 5 hours (round trip) as well as be stuck at the Dr's office for up to 4 hours. I have to have regular meals during the day... and with an 8 to 9 hour day... I will probably end up having my diabetes rear it's ugly head after keeping it under control with just food and diet for 19 months. My health isn't worth a stupid test that I don't need.

Angel ^j^
Do you not have someone to take you or at least drive with you? I hate to see the turkeys win
Not a soul. BF has to be at work, as he has used up all his sick time this year and just got 2 new students in his class this week. The friend that usually goes with me just began a new job.. and no way that she could get time off now. Everyone else that I know has jobs that they have to work at, unless they want to loose them.

Angel ^j^
geez sister I wish I was closer I would have Bill drive us.....
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