Im curious if I stand a chance against a hospital i went to for malpractice. This happened in Missouri.
Sorry if this is long but...
I had a c section jan 12th and during the epidural removal they injured my right shoulder
Im unsure of the extent of the injury right now as my insurance ofc wont approve it until I do some form of physical therapy... which the orthopedic stated I would have to do at home therapy bc of my insurance... then come back in 6 weeks to try and rerequest an mri...
Anyway... I know for a fact they injuried my shoulder and I was brushed off and told it was gas pains.
I was in SEVERE pain. I kept telling them and even had them up the hydro to 10mg from 5 for the pain at the hospital.
At the hospital & Even at home I could not lay flat on my back had to prop myself up with a pillow. It only got worse when I went home as I had a newborn... it got to the point I could barely move my arm/shoulder in anyway. Couldn't even lay on the opposite side. I did have fluid and swelling in my arm as well. I would cry from the pain. It was agonizing.
I even told the doc that did the c section during discharge that the shoulder pain was worse than the c section procedure.
She brushed it off as gas pains along with the nurses telling me to get up and move but when I did it made the pain worse... all of this should have raised red flags
..at my 2 week check up I had a different obgyn and she seemed concerned and said it shouldnt be gas pain at this point but we would address at my next check up if it still hurt
I didnt make it a week in and called complaining
Ive been to the er twice and orthopedic
The er suspected shoulder bursitis or rotary cuff tear/strain.
How i know they injuried me?
During the procedure they gave me ketamine (along with i already had a epidural and spinal tap) because i could still feel pain.
After my boyfriend and baby was rushed out.
I VIVIDLY remember one of the nurses asking me if I could roll MYSELF to my right side.
I remember thinking..... yea let me just PLOP to my right side for you -eye roll- it irritated me thats why I remember/came to.
I did pull myself or try to with the bed railing and then this is when the injury would have occured...
Instead of laying me flat on my back and scooting me to the next bed they kept my unsupported on my right shoulder and scooted me....
On top of I did request my medical records and the summary report is not accurate...
While they have ketamine listed as a drug used. It is not in the report no where does it state why it was used.
The report says no complications and patient handled it well... no I didnt.. thats why an emergancy anesthesia was used.. I felt pain.. like you HAVE to put that in the report...
To top it off they never explained ketamine to me. They told me if I felt anything they would put me to sleep. Im very upset they even used a drug I had no knowledge about. I learned from a nurse that that is what was used.
..
From what ive read and my understanding it seems I would have a case against them. I just need an mri to prove the injury and have it lined up with when it happened.
I have witnesses, a paper trail, texts of me to my boyfriends mom complaining about the pain 3 days after i was home and my boyfriend was there the 2 day stay ..the medical report itself is inaccurate.
This shoulder injury has effected my daily life, work; taking care of my baby... I forgot to mention I did get a steroid shot in it but it is now wearing off and the pains returning and its been aching ALOT.
As my baby gets heavier its getting so hard to even hold her as I am right handed and its my right shoulder...
Also I cannot lift a gallon jug of water with this arm.. due to the injury my strength is gone
Does this sound like I have a malpractice case against the hospital. I know they are hard to prove but theres no way they cant say it didnt happen. When I have witnesses, paper trail, texts, on top of their medical report having a major error.
I walked into this hospital expecting a baby. I walked out with a baby & shoulder injury.... that was 100% preventable...
Also im unsure if I should speak to a lawyer now or wait till I get the mri back to see how bad the injury is as im aware the worse it is the better chance they'd take it.. but im worried my insurance will get in the way of getting one.