Appointment with IME 4/10. Please help?

[SPECIALK]

Hi There! I just joined this forum and I need help with some questions. I was first injured back in 2002 at a company who no longer is in business. WC fully took care of me at that time (I had back surgury L5-S1 disc herniated). I have had no other problems until the end of Nov. 2007. Went to a bogus doctor they sent me to who said that there wasn't anything wrong with me (no x-rays or MRI given, not even any pain meds).After 1 month, I complained to the wc insurance co. and told them that I was not happy with the doctor. They then sent me to a neuosergeon who took x-rays and I had an MRI which showed that I ruptured the same disc again. He told me and my company that I should no longer return to my job ever again. I am a female and I am a truck driver who has to load and unload the truck by myself (very strenuous-constantly) and sitting for that long isn't working out for me as well. After the 90 days I chose to see the surgeon that I had in 2002 who did my first surgury. He told me that my x-rays show that I don't have any more cusion inbetween my discs. He also said that I can't drive truck anymore. He is referrring me to a pain management doc. In the meantime as soon as my co. was informed by the first neurosurgeon that I could now drive anymore, the very next day I was no longer allowed to work light duty in the office. It seems that they no longer wanted to pay me and have the wc send me full checks. Now they are sending me tomorrow to see an Independant Medical Examiner. I am wondering if they are going to try to dispute my case and say that it is pre-existing from back in 2002. Is that what an IME is for? And what is the next course of action for them? Will they try to buy me out or just try to drop me? Can they do that? Do I need a lawyer? [/color][/size] Please help!

[Still in Limbo]

Hi and Welcome to the Boards! I was a Driver Myself, and I had a Microdiscectomy/Laminectomy on 1/05, and Haven't been able to Work a Day Since! My 4 Discs are dried out above the L5/S1 Region, I have Retrolethesis, and Severe Scar Tissue, along with a Re-Herniation of My Disc the Surgery was performed on. We Need Your State to be able to be More Specific with Our Answers, so if You could Supply that Info. I'm Sure Someone would be More than Happy to try and Help! My Best to You, and if You would, Please Post Your State so You May receive the Answers You Need!!

[SPECIALK]

[quote=Still in Limbo]
Hi and Welcome to the Boards! I was a Driver Myself, and I had a Microdiscectomy/Laminectomy on 1/05, and Haven't been able to Work a Day Since! My 4 Discs are dried out above the L5/S1 Region, I have Retrolethesis, and Severe Scar Tissue, along with a Re-Herniation of My Disc the Surgery was performed on. We Need Your State to be able to be More Specific with Our Answers, so if You could Supply that Info. I'm Sure Someone would be More than Happy to try and Help! My Best to You, and if You would, Please Post Your State so You May receive the Answers You Need!!

Hi there fellow trucker!! You then definetely know how driving is and how they treat us. Not very easy work. I live in Pa. Have they given you alternatives to other careers? I am afraid they will tell me to do some other career with a lot less pay. It took me 14 years to make the money I am now used to making.

[sparkey]

Well now i can say i know what a IME is like. I had mine on April 3rd. with a doctor the ic's lawyer sent me to. I am still awaiting the results. I walked in and sat directly in front of the doctor in his personal office face to face. I do not know if he recorded me or not, but at one point it made me think he was.

I spent all but 10 mins with him like others had told me would happen. I sat there and only answered the questions that were asked of me. Age, date of injury etc. He then asked how it happened, and my career, and if i am working now. I did have to leave my career of 15 yrs. to do something that would not effect my hand as much. This was the hardest thing i had to do and I still am very depressed although i make 8 dollars more an hour than what i did before. I loved my job.

I would suggest that you just answer the questions with the truth about everything that happend. Do not say more than you have to as it could come back to bite you if you know what i mean. When i left there, i actually felt so humiliated and cried all the way out to my car in the parking garage. I do not have a lawyer and doing this all on my own. I think i was more upset that he is a hand specialist and I was thinking maybe he would of told me that FINALLY someone could redo my carpal surgery. I will have to wait and see what he put in his letter to the lawyer.

Just relax, and answer to the best of knowledge about everything. Good luck.

[Tuffy]

There are several here including a Pa attorney who may be able to help you. Hang in there and I am sure they will be along soon.

Welcome to the forum, and good luck.

[SPECIALK]

Hi Sparkey. Thanks for your message. I still don't understand what an IME is for though. Are they working for the wc and trying to dispute you? Why did you feel humiliated? I don't have a lawyer either and am getting scared. I can't afford to make less money than I am now. I just bought a house in order to move with my company 1 1/2 hrs. away from where I used to live. This is all so scary. I hope the best for you and wish you luck.

[SPECIALK]

[quote=Tuffy]
There are several here including a Pa attorney who may be able to help you. Hang in there and I am sure they will be along soon.

Welcome to the forum, and good luck.

Tuffy, Are you thinking that a lawyer will be inevitable? An app. to an IME is a dead ringer for them trying to dump me?

[chrischris]

Hi Special K: I don't know if this will help, but here are the IME's official guidelines of conduct. I've had two IME's and both agreed with my other doctor's opinions. Just be honest. Go to your IME dressed nice and be polite. Don't try and be defensive, and don't exaggerage your condition. Once they see your MRI and read your medical reports, if the IME is honest, they will make the right decision. Good luck to you!
------------------------------------------------------------------ (copied from the American Board of Independent Medical Examiners)

Guidelines of Conduct


Each physician certified by the American Board of Independent Medical Examiners (ABIME) is expected to comply with these guidelines of conduct.Accordingly, each physician should:

be honest in all communications;
respect the rights of the examinee and other participants, and treat these individuals with dignity and respect;
at the examination:

introduce him/herself to the examinee as the examining physician;
advise the examinee they are seeing him/her for an independent medical examination, and the information provided will be used in assessment and presented in a report;
provide the examinee with the name of the party requesting the examination;
advise the examinee that no treating physician-patient relationship will be established;
explain the examination process;
provide adequate draping and privacy if the examinee needs to remove clothing for the examination;
refrain from derogatory comments; and
close the examination by telling the examinee that the examination is over and ask if there is further information the examinee would like to add;
reach conclusions that are based on facts and sound medical knowledge, and for which the independent medical examiner has adequate qualifications to address;
be prepared to address conflict in a professional and constructive manner;
never accept a fee for services which is dependent upon writing a report favorable to the referral service;
and maintain confidentiality consistent with the applicable legal jurisdiction.

[SPECIALK]

Hi chris. Thank you for the info. Well it makes me feel better knowing that you had a positive experience twice and agreed with your doctor. Thanks again.

[sparkey]

I guess i felt humiliated because the way he was talking to me. He came across as very mean and at one point i said to him that " the pictures i sent you of my arm swollen and rashed" and he yelled at me because he said he never received pictures and " be careful with your words".

When i got all my records in the mail that the IME doctor was going to get, i corrected some things that were wrong and also copied pictures of my hand to send him also. Well they never got to the doctor as the IC lawyer never forwarded. I appologised and he said he likes things to be to the point and correct. So I guess i was just upset the way he was asking me things about my injury and never gave me his opinion. I have to wait for that I guess when he mails the lawyer.

The thing is i knew he was being paid by the lawyer to do this exam, and from everything i have read/heard, they are pretty much on their side to make sure they keep getting buisness from them. They get good money and that is what upsets me the most. That is what made me cry all the way out of there.All I want is help and someone that knows what to do to treat my injury. I really feel my pain would be much less if they repeated the carpal surgery. Now my other hand is getting very very painful as I am compensating that arm more.