Re: FULL RANGE OF MOTION

In Reply to: Re: FULL RANGE OF MOTION posted by Anne on July 18, 2003 at 00:19:34:

I only completed one form and did it again about half way through therapy and again at the end. The rest they completed but I saw everything that was written on the forms. I later got a copy of the complete file.

The file was pretty good except that the final grip test was wrong. There was a new therapist and she recorded my last test at 80# when a week earlier my test was 48#. DR re did the test when I went back and it was at 52#. So she over stated that test but otherwise they did pretty well.

: I'm astounded, or maybe a bit shocked... in my first times with PT, it was the PTs who filled out forms, which I didn't see until months later. They were noting the range of motion, etc. I never even knew at the time. It was when I requested the records that I saw what had been jotted in records -- long before I was aware anything was.

: With the pain management and with the pain doc/surgeon and surgery center, those forms are supposed to be filled in by me.

: I think, now, Erin, a few of us have said, a second opinion appears in order.

: The AMA and CMA have listings of those practitioners, and they can be also found on the net for the area of practice. In CA, any disciplinary records can also be discerned so that a potential patient may ask more about a doc. someone is interested in seeing.

: All we can do: guide someone in an appropriate direction and hope for the best for him or her.

: The primary care doc should have a referral list, as you said :)

: : When I was in Physical Therapy I filled out an activity sheet my first day. The sheet asked me about what things I did and how much certain things bothered my hands/arms. My grip test was #40 Right/#42 Left. One question on the questionaire was how much trouble I had dressing, bathing and doing basic grooming. Which I answered that I could do those things but with some difficulty, increased pain and having to stop sometimes.

: : The way it was explained to me was that, they measure these answers against studies and answers from other patients. I was told my responses and strength tests were consistant. They said it takes about 20 lbs of strength to do things like bathing and dressing.

: : The fact that you can move your arms does not mean that you do not have pain with repeated activity. That is the reason that most Doctors will have you repeat the strength test 3 times with each hand.

: : At a minimum you should contact your personal doctor or another DR for another opinion. See about getting some physical therapy. I hear so many times about people on WC who get poor treatment. In the end you need to take care of your self. Don't give up.

: : : I feel deceived by the WC doctor. During my visit with him, i was asked to raise my arms up/down/sideways. Because I was able to perform these tasks, he released me back to work full duty w/o restrictions. Despite feeling pain in my arms and hands, I still could defintely move them. Pain is subjective and I need definite proof of an injury. EMG/NCV tests were normal. My Jamar grip test faired extremely low with the L 10/10/10 and the R 15/10/10, but he didnt find that "objective".
: : : My WC case is being denied, but i am appealing. What do I do in the mean time? Should I get a third opinion from another orthopedist and how does WC weigh the facts?
: : : Thanks