Workers Comp~Blacklisted?!?

[pt_screwed_n_tx]

Heres my story, any advice would be greatly appreciated. I am about to be 30yrs old, and I work(ed) in a warehouse. I had barely statred this job and not even 2 weeks later I was was driving a Tugger Machine (that pulls carts) I had got to my aisle to unload boxes and stepped off the machine to pull the brake up when the machine malfunctioned,and went in reverse crushing my tibia and shattering my fibula. I was pinned up against 7 stories of shelves while the machine continued to run over the top of me. I am on workers comp, and was taken to ER,(8-2-2007) treated by surgeon on call, who did not want to do a surgery at that time, instead had me in a full leg cast, and told me to follow up with him, so I did. Almost 3 weeks later (8-22-07)the dr. told me the bones were not healing the way he wanted and insisted on surgery, so I ended up getting 8 screws and a metal plate in my right leg. After my dismissals from the hopsitals he had me on Darvocet for pain, and it was not helping, so he switched me to Hydrocodone 7.5mg. The instructions were to take 1-2 pills by mouth every 4-6 hrs for pain, which I was in alot of. He prescribed me 20 pills at a time so it was a 3 or 4 day supply. I had continued to see him, and still to this day have alot of pain (though some days are worse than others) however after a while he stopped treating my pain and refused to give me anything, just told me to take ibuprofen, so I did~It did not help. I was taking sometimes 8 or 9 of the a day, but no relief. I tried to talk to him about this and how much I was hurting but it was as though he was hearing me, but not listening to me. The pain got so bad at times, I was taken to the ER for treatment, though I had a treating dr. for this injury. I've been going to appts now for 5 months and at least the last 4 everytime, I was in and out of the exam room in ten minutes tops, he would take an x-ray, and dismiss me. He explained to me there is NO way I am in any pain because MY LEG IS HEALED. I know how much pain I have, but he did not seem to care. I then got a letter a few days ago to go to a different Dr. for my impairment rating, not knowing what to expect. However I went to see that Dr. and he was in shock that I had been in NO kind of Physical Therapy (though I had even asked my treating dr. that several times, and he told me it was not needed) Imp. Dr had my medical records (which I had also gone to pick up before my imp. rating appt.) and he said that "HE WOULD HAVE TO DISAGREE THAT I AM HEALED, AND I AM NOT AT MMI. HE STATED IT WOULD BE AT LEAST ANOTHER 9 MONTHS TO A YEAR BEFORE I AM COMPLETELY HEALED." He advised me that I should consider finding me another Dr. who is going to treat my pain, and get me into therapy and make sure that I am taken care of. After reading my medical records, I called my treating Dr. and my attorney and I requested another Dr. However, in my records Dr. M (treating Dr.) stated false accusations about me, for 1 saying that I had lied to him about having to go to the ER for treatment,(I had the discharge papers for proof) he also stated that I was abusing narcotics by taking too many of them, though I took them as directed on the bottle. I have been reading up on some things that my attorney had told me, and I never knew it existed, but my Dr. was blacklisting me, which is illegal. I was not only mad as hell but I was hurt and felt betrayed. I did everything he asked of me as a patient, and he never discussed any of these matters with me in person. Him and the staff would smile in my face and obviously talk behind my back. So my attorney found me another Dr. but I had to drive today for 3 hrs to get there because of my insurance (Network Dr.s) and that alone was a task in itself to get there, and once again, I was handed IBUPROFEN, and told to come back for therapy in 1 week~I AM IN SHOCK! How can this happen to patients? I understand that yes, there probably are people who misuse a narcotic, but I AM IN SEVERE PAIN, and its as though my Dr. has ruined me for a fair treatment. I was not taking them for the fun of it, but because I can barely even stand up to get out of bed sometimes, and if the weather is cold, I can not go outside because it hurts even more with the hardware in my leg. I have NEVER had any problems with any drug or alcohol problems in my life, because I choose not to do those things, I've seen what it does to people. I dont even like to take a tylenol when I have a headache, but I have no choice when my leg is swollen 3 times bigger than it should be, and in pain 10+ on a scale. I have worked in corrections for many years, and been in the military~so why am I being treated this way? It's just not fair, and I don't know what I need to do next. All I want is to be treated like any other patient, and get respect from a Dr. that I am comfortable with, but that Dr. has ruined my judge of character, and I am furious because it seems as though I am crying out for help,and only getting jerked around from not only my Dr. but my workers comp insurance as well, I would give anything to not have a broken leg but I can't change it. Now I am stuck with this hardware in my leg, ugly scars, and not to mention by self being, depression, stress, and will never be able to do all of the things that I did before. I feel helpless, and just need some advice from any dr., or someone else who may have gone thru something similar... I am about to just give up but its not fair that this can happen to patients, especially those who have no history of abuse and who really are hurting. They are getting paid to treat me, but I barely even get 5 minutes with them~What do I do?!? Please help! Thank you in advance for reading my story. Hope you are starting off 2008 better than I am!
S.L.

[uphill7584]

Have you tried going to a pain management clinic and seeing someone who specializes in treating pain?

[suppdawg]

I have been in a similar situation but with my back. First and formost you have a right to proper pain control, never forget that. Your first surgeon did you a injustice by failing to get you into physical therapy. A word of caution, do not trust any doctor employed by the workers comp company. My WC carrier got their doctor to write a letter stating I was ready to return to work, problem was it was written on the same day I was having a spinal fusion. These guys will write or say anything that the WC carrier wants them to say so be guarded but honest when you are talking to them.  Surgeons hate to give pain meds. They want to do the surgery and that is it. After all they get paid for the surgery and not to do pain management. I would tell your surgeon that you do have legit pain and resent him hinting you are drug seeking then request he send you to a pain management doc for evaluation.

[johnnykelly]

The ******* gave you your answer.Get a new dr. and denand a MRI ,or c.t scan. theres f0in pain there ,but as long as you be a good little boy,youll end up like me in more pain.When wer are WSIB patients remember we are all lazy bums that only love waiting fot that check.Brother get some balls and start making some waves,i know,ive been there.Fk those assholes you know that you have real pain and i know you do to.some of these dr. id like to see some patient in sane as a result on this pain,do something violent to one of those *** holes in the white coats,

[theeagle]

I just cant wait for virtual (computer) reality to allow all med school students to actually "feel" and "experience" the things their patients go thru. All the way from broken legs to chemotherapy (I did that one also) - I bet that will change the whole face of medical treatment. Have "Guido" stop and bust a knee on Doc and see if he hurts!!!

[uvlvrebel]

my addiction started with a broken tib/fib (compound spiral fx.)... yes it hurts more than anything.. i spent months of "non-weight bearing" time with a contraption called an "external fixator" that resembled a mimi-monkey-bar that my daughter wanted to pull every chance she got... recovery was worse- bones not fusing together, needed a "bone growth stimulator", physical therapy.  I really feel the drugs were the only thing that got me through- yet ruined my life at the same time....  I couldn't imagine going through RLS with a newly healed leg, reeling from ostioblasts if I had tried to WD from the meds then... My ortho took away my pain meds once my cast came off; but before physical therapy started and before I had tried to put any weight on that leg.  I thought I did the right thing by going to see a general practicioner for my follow-up, dropped the ortho, and resumed my pain med regimine... the new doc told me, "We need to treat your pain now (more meds) and we'll deal with AN addiction later"... what BS... after I showed signs of addiction I was dropped like a hot potato. So, I found a new doc... this went on for years.. Hell, my leg still gives me pain and it's been almost 5 years...

Yes, the drugs helped then... Yes I became addicted. My hubby would help in getting scripts for me once i had exhausted all doctor resources.  He was sentenced a few days ago to a felony fraud charge for this crime and our whole family will pay the price now... he's unemployed and hs no hopes of beomming employed- all the jobs he's applied for have turned him down because of that one little question, "have you ever been convicted/plead guilty to a felony..."  He went down teh road with me, and was taking my pain meds along side me towards the end of our