As the title says, after what I experienced last week, there is no way anybody can convince me that IMEs are legitimate. I’m not going deep into everything that has happened up to this point. We all know this “system” and its “processes” are a joke. But, here is a small backstory and then the most recent bullshittery that has taken place. I was injured in September of 2023. Ended up having 2 surgeries on my dominant arm in October of that year. Started PT in December, hit a wall in January. Things got worse and worse. Diagnosed with CRPS in March of 2024. Went through all the treatments. Nerve blocks, failed Sprint PNS trial, more nerve blocks, different meds, OT,PT. All the things. Was sent for an FCE in October of 2025 and was placed at MMI in November. 35% total while person impairment. Mediation was scheduled in December. The other side got it pushed back. Moved to January, they had it pushed back because they wanted a medical records review. On to April, we are supposed to have mediation on the 24th. NOW FOR THE REAL BULLSHIT. They sent me for an IME in April. Nearly 3 hour drive one way from my house. I had to have my mom go with me because there is no way I can drive that far with my condition. I get there, I’m in with the doctor for MAYBE 30 minutes but probably not even that long. My hand and most of my forearm was swelled up like a balloon and the weird red/purple color it is 95% of the time. The doctor noted it all and the complete lack of function I have in my hand and arm from this shit. Mediation gets pushed back AGAIN until May because they won’t have the IME report in time. 2(ish) weeks go by. We got the IME report this past Friday. This doctor confirmed my CRPS diagnosis. Said that my diagnosis is “a true case of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.” No shit. It’s not like I’m just pretending. Here is the good part. At the end of his report, he lowered my rating to 8% EIGHT PERCENT! It is bullshit. These people are 100% in with the insurance companies to try to help them save as much money as possible. There is not one damned thing that is “independent” about these exams and if you say different you’re a damned liar. This isn’t about money for me. They can keep it. Fix me back to the way I was before this all started and you don’t have to pay me one cent. This is a racket and I am convinced it is one of the scummiest ones in the world. Oh… we are going to fight it. My attorney is running with it just as hard as he can. I know that rating won’t stand. It’s a tactic they use. Part of the game. But anybody that tries to argue that these exams are truly independent or impartial are either adjusters or defense attorneys. It’s all a sham. Every last bit of it. Thanks for reading my rant. Have a good night.
u/External_Fruit_8094
I’m just writing this mainly out of frustration, because I know that people here will understand. I was supposed to have mediation today. This is the 3rd or 4th time it’s been put off. The other side scheduled my IME for last Monday because they knew that the report wouldn’t be ready by today. So they had a meeting this morning and put it off until next month.I have been referred to pain management but of course the adjuster “lost” one of the forms the clinic needed. I had to contact the pain management clinic to figure out what the problem is because I guess my attorney can’t be bothered with that. Anytime I ask him any sort of question, it’s just a short vague answer. I was thinking about it earlier. I hired this attorney back in 2024 and I have never had a face to face conversation with the man. Maybe 3 actual phone calls. All communication is by email. I mean, at the end of the day I know he doesn’t actually give a shit about me but you’d think they wouldn’t be so impersonal when they are handling a case that is literally going to affect the rest of a person’s life. I know I’m rambling. I know it seems like I am just bitching. But, this system absolutely sucks. I’m broke. My savings are gone. My 401K is gone. I’m living off credit cards and a loan from my parents that I didn’t ask for but, they gave me out of concern. My mental health is shot. It got so bad last year that I thought about just ending my life. I am in pain that I cannot find the words to describe daily. It’s constant. But then sometimes it gets worse. I call them flares. They can last a couple days to a week or more. It’s CRPS. I know there are people here who can relate. It’s hell. My dominant hand/arm is essentially useless. We are close to settlement I believe. That’s why they keep stalling. I am positive of that. I have applied for jobs. Nobody is going to hire a person with the restrictions I have on top of having pain so severe some days that I do not leave the house. No amount of money I get from a settlement is going to change all this. The next day, I will still have the pain. I will still have an arm that won’t do the things it used to be able to do. Sure, I can pay back the loan and pay off the credit card bills I have created. I might be able to finally take a breath knowing that money isn’t as huge a worry as it has been the last 2.5 years. Sure, I can finally be in control of my medical care and can try all the things that I want to try but those assholes won’t pay for. But other than that.. it all stays the same. My only real hope is that this goes into remission. But even if that happens, it can always come back. I’m tired. I’m hurting. I just want to be done. With all of this. It feels like it’s never going to end. If you’re going through anything similar, just know you’re not alone. DM’s are open if anybody wants to talk. This just sucks. Sorry for the rambling ass rant. Just wanted to get it out there somehow.