Do i have a Malpractice Case

[Lowrider000]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Tennessee.I was injuryed on the job and got hit in the neck by a blunt item.Worker Comp approved everything and sent me to a regular dr who done xrays and said it was just a neck sprain and that is would heal up in 4 to 6 weeks.On the 3 week i started get numbness in my right hand and and my arm was getting weak,hard to lift things up,so i told worker comp and they set me an apt with a Neurology.I went to see this Neurology and told him about the numbness and the weakness in my hands and arms and shoulder.By the time i got to see him the numbness have move to both sides of my body.So he request to do a monopolar needle exam on me.Worker comp approve that.So he done the test and said everything was normal and that there was no evidence of nerve entrapment or periphera,neuropathy.and That i was ok.So worker comp closed my case.I told that dr i was still have sharp pain in both hands and both arms were weak and i was starting to have numbness runing down my leg.He said i don't know what to tell you.Worker Comp case manager was beside me when this dr told me this.The case manager told me to go to my family dr.so I did,my dr sent me to another neurology .I told him that i had got hit in the neck and that i was having numbness in both hand and both are was weak and my shoulder hurt and numbness was in my legs.So he request a mri on my head and spine.I had that done and went back a week later for the result.The mri should that i had a ruputer disk in my neck and surgery would be the only way to stop progress of the numbness and weakness in my arms.The pain had been going on for 6 months and i tried everything and nothing worked.Now i can't hardly walk or lift anything and the numbness feels like pins and needles in my hand.I cant sleep at night,I have trouble button up clothes,my hand won't let me do it.I having surgery this week as i speak and worker comp open my case back up.My question is how could the first neurology over look a neck injury as serious as that.why didn't he request a mri,it was like i was telling him stuff,it was going in one ear and coming out the other.Can this Dr be sued

[lya]

You initially had x-rays that showed no bone or disc injury. Something happened during the interval between initial injury and MRI findings of a bulging disc.

The neurologist ruled out any deficit in nerve function; thus, an MRI was not indicated.

Being referred back to your regular MD was appropriate. The MRI revealed a problem, which is being properly managed.

You have a worker's comp claim and no other claim.

While you are recovering, brush up on the English language. Verb tense and plural vs. singular nouns/pronouns are in serious need of improvement.

Best wishes for a speedy and infection-free recovery,

[Lowrider000]

lya,i didn't ask for a smart remark,You need to learn how to talk to a person before you give a remark,and a regular x ray doesn't show a rupture disk

[lealea1005]

Originally Posted by Lowrider000

lya,i didn't ask for a smart remark,You need to learn how to talk to a person before you give a remark,and a regular x ray doesn't show a rupture disk

It, most certainly, does! An X-ray will show any abnormailties of bony structures. However, CT and MRI provide more details, and enable the Physician to see any soft tissue surrounding the spine, than a conventional x-ray.

And just to throw my 2 cents in...I agree with Lya. Your original post was difficult to read both because of the poor grammar and lack of white space. Many seniors would have skipped right over. I had to re-read it a couple of times.

[Lowrider000]

Lea if that was the case,why wasn't more test done when i complain of numbness and weakness in my arm.Worker Comp case manager ask the Dr the same question.The case manager said he would get any test approved the dr requested.

[lealea1005]

Originally Posted by Lowrider000

Lea if that was the case,why wasn't more test done when i complain of numbness and weakness in my arm.Worker Comp case manager ask the Dr the same question.The case manager said he would get any test approved the dr requested.

[quote=Lowrider000;2054246].On the 3 week i started get numbness in my right hand and and my arm was getting weak,hard to lift things up,so i told worker comp and they set me an apt with a Neurology.I went to see this Neurology and told him about the numbness and the weakness in my hands and arms and shoulder.By the time i got to see him the numbness have move to both sides of my body.So he request to do a monopolar needle exam on me.Worker comp approve that.So he done the test and said everything was normal and that there was no evidence of nerve entrapment or periphera,neuropathy.[/QUOTE]


You had nerve conduction studies done by the Neurologist.

[Lowrider000]

[quote=lealea1005;2058256]

Originally Posted by Lowrider000

.On the 3 week i started get numbness in my right hand and and my arm was getting weak,hard to lift things up,so i told worker comp and they set me an apt with a Neurology.I went to see this Neurology and told him about the numbness and the weakness in my hands and arms and shoulder.By the time i got to see him the numbness have move to both sides of my body.So he request to do a monopolar needle exam on me.Worker comp approve that.So he done the test and said everything was normal and that there was no evidence of nerve entrapment or periphera,neuropathy.[/QUOTE]


You had nerve conduction studies done by the Neurologist.

Lea.i had a nerve study done at the other3 Neurology that i went to after the first dr and everything was normal,The first dr was only looking for carpul tunnel and that was normal.That is where the first dr stop running test and said everything was normal.The other 3 dr done the needle test also and said everything was normal also but they went into more detail looking for the problem and found the problem.The first Dr should have known neck injuries lead to numbness and weakness in arms, hands and fingers.All the other 3 dr asked me if i had a mri taken on my neck.I told them no.The first Dr said i didn't need it..The second dr said i need a mri taken of my spine.When I got the films back,the dr showed me on the film why i was having numbness and weakness.A rupture dics.all 3 dr's looked at the mri and they all said they same thing.

[lealea1005]

[quote=Lowrider000;2058523]

Originally Posted by lealea1005

Lea.i had a nerve study done at the other3 Neurology that i went to after the first dr and everything was normal,The first dr was only looking for carpul tunnel and that was normal.That is where the first dr stop running test and said everything was normal.The other 3 dr done the needle test also and said everything was normal also but they went into more detail looking for the problem and found the problem.The first Dr should have known neck injuries lead to numbness and weakness in arms, hands and fingers.All the other 3 dr asked me if i had a mri taken on my neck.I told them no.The first Dr said i didn't need it..The second dr said i need a mri taken of my spine.When I got the films back,the dr showed me on the film why i was having numbness and weakness.A rupture dics.all 3 dr's looked at the mri and they all said they same thing.

Since my crystal ball has been foggy lately, I did not "see" anything about carpal tunnel....especially since you mentioned NOTHING about it until now. Why, with a history of a neck injury, would your w/c case manager make an appointment for you to be evaluated for carpal tunnel and not as a follow up/re-evaluation for the neck injury??

In any event, you would have needed surgery whether the disc rupture was found immediately or 6 months from injury. The outcome would have been he same. The first Doc appropriately ordered the x-ray and, when no abnormality was noted, made his recommendations.

I'm out. Maybe some one else could be of more help....although Lya put it as simply as it could be stated. Good luck.

[Lowrider000]

[quote=lealea1005;2058611]

Originally Posted by Lowrider000

Since my crystal ball has been foggy lately, I did not "see" anything about carpal tunnel....especially since you mentioned NOTHING about it until now. Why, with a history of a neck injury, would your w/c case manager make an appointment for you to be evaluated for carpal tunnel and not as a follow up/re-evaluation for the neck injury??

In any event, you would have needed surgery whether the disc rupture was found immediately or 6 months from injury. The outcome would have been he same. The first Doc appropriately ordered the x-ray and, when no abnormality was noted, made his recommendations.

I'm out. Maybe some one else could be of more help....although Lya put it as simply as it could be stated. Good luck.

Lea in my first message i mention needle exam,that is when he check for CT.The case manage was taking the advice from the Dr and going on that.On a rupture dics,the longer you wait to get that taken care of the longer it will take ur body to get feelng back from numbness,and you might not get all ur feeling back

[ariastar]

Doctors do the tests they have reason to believe are needed. Your doctor did tests and follow-ups with neurology. I can tell you're just dying to find a way to make a few million here, but it isn't going to happen. What you went through is simply the process of finding the problem. Nothing more, nothing less.

[Lowrider000]

Originally Posted by ariastar

Doctors do the tests they have reason to believe are needed. Your doctor did tests and follow-ups with neurology. I can tell you're just dying to find a way to make a few million here, but it isn't going to happen. What you went through is simply the process of finding the problem. Nothing more, nothing less.

ariastar,that wasn't a simple way of finding my problem,I went thru 4 months of hell,I had no feeling in my hands,my arms was weak,I couldn't button up a shirt,If i had a glass in my hand,it would just fall out.I couldn't run anymore.Ariastar I bet if you had a rupture dics on your spinal cord and you was in pain and the Dr told you that everything was normal with your nerves,what would you do?By the way WC is picking up the tab on the other Drs that i went to find out what the problem,These other Dr came from my primary Dr.Worker comp
and I are both in the process of filing a complaint to the state on this first Dr that misdiagnose me.So WC know something wasn't right

[lealea1005]

Originally Posted by Lowrider000

ariastar,that wasn't a simple way of finding my problem,I went thru 4 months of hell,I had no feeling in my hands,my arms was weak,I couldn't button up a shirt,If i had a glass in my hand,it would just fall out.I couldn't run anymore.Ariastar I bet if you had a rupture dics on your spinal cord and you was in pain and the Dr told you that everything was normal with your nerves,what would you do?By the way WC is picking up the tab on the other Drs that i went to find out what the problem,These other Dr came from my primary Dr.Worker comp
and I are both in the process of filing a complaint to the state on this first Dr that misdiagnose me.So WC know something wasn't right

You were not misdiagnosed by the first Doctor. You wre sent there after being hit in the neck. He got an x-ray which showed no fracture or dislocation and told you to call in 4-6 weeks if not improved.

At 3 weeks you started becoming numb in your arms. You were sent to a Neurologist who ordered nerve conduction studies....which were normal.

After continued problems you went to a different Doctor who got an MRI because that is the next step after the x-ray and nerve conduction studies showed nothing abnormal. This time the MRI showed you had ruptured cervical discs which were surgically repaired.

Your Worker's Comp case manager IS NOT a Physician and has no business implying they knew what was wrong with you. Their main focus is to get you back to work and/or to prove that your injury/condition actually occurred at the worksite. I'm mean, heck, they were very quick to close your case the moment they were told the tests didn't show anything.

I'm sorry you had symptoms for so long but, as the above poster stated, it was the process of finding what your problem was. I think it was Lya who stated at the 2nd post that something may have happened between the original injury and the time you finally had the MRI.

Good luck with your surgery this week.

[Lowrider000]

Originally Posted by lealea1005

You were not misdiagnosed by the first Doctor. You wre sent there after being hit in the neck. He got an x-ray which showed no fracture or dislocation and told you to call in 4-6 weeks if not improved.

At 3 weeks you started becoming numb in your arms. You were sent to a Neurologist who ordered nerve conduction studies....which were normal.

After continued problems you went to a different Doctor who got an MRI because that is the next step after the x-ray and nerve conduction studies showed nothing abnormal. This time the MRI showed you had ruptured cervical discs which were surgically repaired.

Your Worker's Comp case manager IS NOT a Physician and has no business implying they knew what was wrong with you. Their main focus is to get you back to work and/or to prove that your injury/condition actually occurred at the worksite. I'm mean, heck, they were very quick to close your case the moment they were told the tests didn't show anything.

I'm sorry you had symptoms for so long but, as the above poster stated, it was the process of finding what your problem was. I think it was Lya who stated at the 2nd post that something may have happened between the original injury and the time you finally had the MRI.

Good luck with your surgery this week.

Lea ,the first Dr told me to call if i had numbness or any sharp pain in my neck,and I did which was about 3 days later,but my employer just hired a new manager and he didn't know how WC worked,so he just sent me to a dr that only does drug testing for the company I work for.The first Neurology that i went to who said the test was normal.I was having the same numbness and weakness in my hands and arms in PT before I went to the first Neurology him.The guy at PT told me it was probly a rupture disc,So I know if he had done the right test,my problem would have showed up.I hear stories that WC case managers are all bad.The one I got listen to his patients.After this Neurology said everything was normal and my claim was closed,my case manager asked me if i wanted a second opinion or he said I can go to my primary dr.Cause he could tell the way i was walking and the movement of my arms that something wasn't right.He wasn't going to argue with a dr when he didn't have any facts.

[lealea1005]

Originally Posted by Lowrider000

Lea ,the first Dr told me to call if i had numbness or any sharp pain in my neck,and I did which was about 3 days later,but my employer just hired a new manager and he didn't know how WC worked,so he just sent me to a dr that only does drug testing for the company I work for.The first Neurology that i went to who said the test was normal.I was having the same numbness and weakness in my hands and arms in PT before I went to the first Neurology him.The guy at PT told me it was probly a rupture disc,So I know if he had done the right test,my problem would have showed up.I hear stories that WC case managers are all bad.The one I got listen to his patients.After this Neurology said everything was normal and my claim was closed,my case manager asked me if i wanted a second opinion or he said I can go to my primary dr.Cause he could tell the way i was walking and the movement of my arms that something wasn't right.He wasn't going to argue with a dr when he didn't have any facts.

OK, so NOW you're saying you had symptoms of numbness 3 days after seeing the fiirst Doctor, yet you did not seek follow up treatment for 3 weeks because your new W/C case manager was new and "didn't know how WC worked". The first Doctor could not have possibly known you were having continued symptoms (his crystal ball must have been in the shop ) unless he was notified and you returned for follow up evaluation as soon as your symptoms increased.

Your WC manager does not have "patients" because he is not a Physician. He cannot make medical decisions, nor should he be advising a person medically.

Again, what you experienced is the progression of diagnosing a condition. You need to stop adding to and/or changing your story. I thought you said you were scheduled for surgery this week.

[Lowrider000]

Originally Posted by lealea1005

OK, so NOW you're saying you had symptoms of numbness 3 days after seeing the fiirst Doctor, yet you did not seek follow up treatment for 3 weeks because your new W/C case manager was new and "didn't know how WC worked". The first Doctor could not have possibly known you were having continued symptoms (his crystal ball must have been in the shop ) unless he was notified and you returned for follow up evaluation as soon as your symptoms increased.

Your WC manager does not have "patients" because he is not a Physician. He cannot make medical decisions, nor should he be advising a person medically.

Again, what you experienced is the progression of diagnosing a condition. You need to stop adding to and/or changing your story. I thought you said you were scheduled for surgery this week.

Lea
Yes im telling you that i had numbness 3 days after seeing the first dr.My employer sent me to another dr.They didn't want me to go back to the first Dr ..Ug my employer manager was new and didn't know how worker comp worked.The second Dr knew about the numbness and weakness and he didn't need a crystal ball to find that out cause my mouth was the crystal ball.All they had me do was PT and and wanted me to take pain pills.PT didn't do anything for the pain,so my employer got an Neurology approved thru worker comp so I went to him and he knew about the numbness and weakness,cause I told him the 3 times that i went there.He didn't need a crystal ball either to find that out.The neurology did that need test and said everything was normal.which i knew that was a lie.Lea you need to stop assuming and stop taking up for quack drs unless you are one yourself.For your information I did have surgery, thanks to the real Neurology dr that I went to,I am doing fine now.Lea my workercomp case manager and I filled out the complaint for that Quack Dr and it's on the way.