CRPS/RSD and The FCE test

[suffers from crps]

Hi all New to the forum , Breifly what happened to me then my questions .

first broke elbo at work had surgery on it to remove cartlidge in elbo , That didnt help at all 6-8 cortisone shots in 3 months, and months of therpy. Needless to say none of that work went to different Doc, He had me take a test shoot current from fingers up to bicep forgot name of test but hurt like hell, Test was to see if nerves were damaged...... Was determined they were 2nd surgery reapired 2 tendons n elbo and moved ulnar nerve .

Now Let the fun begin , Well the tendon reapair was a success however i started getting burning aching pain worse then original injury , So was sent to a pain Doc she diagnosed me with CRPS, After a shot through the front of neck into spine to nmb the nerve that failed twice no help.

Then had a temporary Med Tronics spinal implant that shoots current through spine down arm, Temp kinda worked but would get shocked with head movement etc ..... Doc said thats normal , Anyways he permanenetly install the implant in back,went back 2 weeks ofter to get adjusted the Medtronic woman electrocuted me for 10-15 seconds once she finally got it to turn off I fell to the ground .

After that fiasco told doc I will never turn it back on and want it out , So basically im now going to take a FCE Test and wondering what they are gonna want me to do with my arm all messed up with CRPS Any Ideas for this specific injury ???? Thanks for any help

[AQA]

a FCE is just that. Functional Capacity Exam, They want to know what you can and can not do. You will be asked to some tasks such as screwing a nut on a bolt, taking magazines off a shelf and placing them on another,ect,ect. The tasks will be simple and probably set up so you will move from one station to another.

If I were you, I would be very honest with exam and yourself. I also would NOT take any medications prior to the exam.

If you are an amplified impulse from the SCS when you move your head. That leads me to believe that there is a problem with the positioning of the leads. I know if I sneeze and have my setting set higher than normal. I will get amplified impulse from the SCS. That is due to my back muscels tensing up and the nerve and the leads are being pushed together tighter.

[suffers from crps]

(01-02-2011 03:19 AM)AQA Wrote:  a FCE is just that. Functional Capacity Exam, They want to know what you can and can not do. You will be asked to some tasks such as screwing a nut on a bolt, taking magazines off a shelf and placing them on another,ect,ect. The tasks will be simple and probably set up so you will move from one station to another.

If I were you, I would be very honest with exam and yourself. I also would NOT take any medications prior to the exam.

If you are an amplified impulse from the SCS when you move your head. That leads me to believe that there is a problem with the positioning of the leads. I know if I sneeze and have my setting set higher than normal. I will get amplified impulse from the SCS. That is due to my back muscels tensing up and the nerve and the leads are being pushed together tighter.

AQA Thanks for replying , My SCS has been removed , The Medtronics Nurse turned it all the way up and had it centered to my spine felt like a stun gun for 10-15 seconds till she shut off dropping me to the floor screwing up my ankle and knee..... But My question is I dont like ANYTHING touching my arm so lifting a BOX I seriously doubt I could do that , Or crawl around on the florr without face planting myself . Can you deny attempting doing certain things? I Live Just outside Chicago

[UndercovrAngel]

Suffers,

I also have CRPS from toes to hips in both legs, and possibly in my right arm from shoulder to fingertips. Will find out in February when my medicare kicks in.

AQA was right on spot when he described some of the things that you might find in an FCE. I went through an FCE of my right arm in March of 2010 (injured in Feb. 2008) and I did this and a lot more. They will be looking at grip and pinch strength, push and pull, dexterity (I had to put a stuoid 50 piece puzzle together in less than 5 minutes). They will also be looking for ROM as well as your ability to move arm forward, backwards, to the side and above your head.

You can refuse to do anything during the FCE, however, the IC will look at it as failure to comply and could stop any and all benefits that you are now receiving. I was told to do the best that I could, and at least give each part of the test a try. If I couldn't do it, the machine would at least show that I tried. Hopefully, yours will be a computer generated testing as mine was, as it can keep track of your heart rate, pulse, breathing .. things that a human doing them can't see unless they take a bp reading, check your pulse and use an oximeter before and after each part of the test. And I have yet to hear of any human doing that during an FCE.

Angel ^j^

(01-02-2011 04:04 AM)suffers from crps Wrote:  

(01-02-2011 03:19 AM)AQA Wrote:  a FCE is just that. Functional Capacity Exam, They want to know what you can and can not do. You will be asked to some tasks such as screwing a nut on a bolt, taking magazines off a shelf and placing them on another,ect,ect. The tasks will be simple and probably set up so you will move from one station to another.

If I were you, I would be very honest with exam and yourself. I also would NOT take any medications prior to the exam.

If you are an amplified impulse from the SCS when you move your head. That leads me to believe that there is a problem with the positioning of the leads. I know if I sneeze and have my setting set higher than normal. I will get amplified impulse from the SCS. That is due to my back muscels tensing up and the nerve and the leads are being pushed together tighter.

AQA Thanks for replying , My SCS has been removed , The Medtronics Nurse turned it all the way up and had it centered to my spine felt like a stun gun for 10-15 seconds till she shut off dropping me to the floor screwing up my ankle and knee..... But My question is I dont like ANYTHING touching my arm so lifting a BOX I seriously doubt I could do that , Or crawl around on the florr without face planting myself . Can you deny attempting doing certain things? I Live Just outside Chicago

[jayne]

if he is near chigago..he should demand a computer FCE BBBB said they have them there I believe

[bronco54501]

(01-02-2011 11:55 AM)jayne Wrote:  if he is near chigago..he should demand a computer FCE BBBB said they have them there I believe

You are correct Jayne...bbbb did.

[chrischris]

Suffers, here's an article from the RSDS site explaining what the test is used for.

http://rsds.org/1/publications/review_ar...s2008.html

I'm from Calif. and FCE's are not used here. However, I was given what was called a "mini" FCE prior to being put on a self-directed physical therapy program. I really wanted to know what I could and could not do, so it was quite interesting. I must say that the P/T knew what my restrictions were and followed them; i.e.: no overhead, no lifting over 5 lbs., etc. etc.

I wish you the best!

[freebird]

Be yourself during the test and I would take my meds. They are looking for a accurate exam. If you do not take your meds, this would constitute a false test IMO.

Be yourself; FCE's are performed all the time and most have no problems with the results.

[Wink]

Suffers,

Way back when, I had the computerized FCE. I was completely honest with myself and the examiner--giving the exam my all. The examiner knew the precise moment when there was any increase in pain. Although I tried to use mind over matter, the examiner stopped me when my heart rate and blood pressure shot up with any increase in pain. Had I been on meds that morning - which would have MASKED my pains - then it would NOT have been a true examination. Furthermore, I could have injured myself much more had I been on meds.

So in my opinion, anyone who tells you to take your meds before an examination - whether it's an FCE or during PT or a doctor's examination - doesn't have your best interests in mind.

[freebird]

(01-03-2011 07:04 PM)Wink Wrote:  Suffers,

Way back when, I had the computerized FCE. I was completely honest with myself and the examiner--giving the exam my all. The examiner knew the precise moment when there was any increase in pain. Although I tried to use mind over matter, the examiner stopped me when my heart rate and blood pressure shot up with any increase in pain. Had I been on meds that morning - which would have MASKED my pains - then it would NOT have been a true examination. Furthermore, I could have injured myself much more had I been on meds.

So in my opinion, anyone who tells you to take your meds before an examination - whether it's an FCE or during PT or a doctor's examination - doesn't have your best interests in mind.

That is your opinion based on your outcome. I was told to take my meds as I normally did. I was asked the day of the FCE Exam if I had taken my meds; I answered yes.

I believe in being truthful. Generally those who tell lies are exposed. The FCE is designed to see how one functions in their current state.

I received a honest rating on my FCE doing everything I was told to do.

http://highlandparkpt.com/faq_patient.html