[alice13]

New here. Ga - Been out of work since Sept 2014 new here and getting used to the slow and painful wc process. I started with the box drs and now have seen ortho and have had MRI of neck and shoulder. Neck has a lot wrong with it and my shoulder is showing rotator cuff tendanitis. To make a long story short I had to go to the er for pain relief due to the ortho not being open and it is ilegal for the oncall dr to perscribe narco over phone. I took my mri reports with me to the er and the dr had no problem dignosing me right away to where the ortho dr has not. This is a bit concerning to me. The er doc said i have cervical radiculopathy and that is why I am experiencing pain in shoulder and neck with numbness in arms and hands. Should I ask my ortho to refer me out to neuro? I am in PT just started again last week. My range of motion is terrible with shoulder and arm, no strength no lifting overhead or over 5lbs. I am in constant pain with only being perscribe tramadol and soma by ortho. The Er dr. did give me morphine last night and that took my burning stabbing pain down a lot! But i do not want to be on heavy pain pills forever! He sent me home with hydro rx. I am looking for some advise with someone with same condition that has been or is going through wc. I do have a great lawyer and have had no problem getting stuff approved it just takes forever. I see my ortho dr tomorrow for the 3rd time and I do not know what to really do next as far as sticking up for m injury and wanting the best for me. My ortho guy is also a specialist of the hand so that has me a bit concerned as well. I have to go to the wc docs I do no t get to pick Thanks for any advice. - Alice

[1171]

why do you believe the ER doc and not the specialist?
doctors often have different opinions. if you want a third opinion, then you should ask for a referral. at some point you are going to have to stick to one set of treatments.
these are really medical questions and do not have to do with insurance rules or benefits.
you might get more medical information from a site that specializes in medical conditions: web md or merck.

[California_Help]

http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/pai...iculopathy

I do not see where the ER doctor diagnosed you differently than your ortho surgeon. If you google radiculopathy, it is a symptom of radiating pain. If you reviewed your ortho records, he may have written it differently, such as radiating pain. This cannot be known with the info in your post.

If you do get a second opinion with neurosurgeon, make sure he specializes in the spine, not brain.