March 23 1999

I'll try to pick up where I left off from my last update.

    On February 26 1999 I received an incredible letter from
Workers Comp, it was a FIT TO RETURN TO WORK letter!! Yes
that's right you read it correctly, fit to return to work. I was
stunned to say the least! I guess it's because of what I read in
the letter. The part of the letter that stunned me was this, I
quote "At this time, it has been established that you have
reached a plateau in your level of recovery and that you are fit
to return to work with the restriction that you are unable to use
your right arm, with job demands of sedentary employment
activities. With this information, the Extended Services
Department of the Workers' Compensation Board, with the
assistance of your pre injury employer and your co-operation,
will identify a return to work with the restriction you have.".
Now there is several problems I have that haven't even been
mentioned in the letter that will affect performance of a job and
ability to function in any respect! First off it was clearly stated in
the evaluation that I require FREQUENT rest breaks. Aside from
that I am on MORPHINE, which has a definite effect on my
mental capacities as well as making me physically tired, as well
as the lack of sleep from the extensive pain takes it's own toll on
my physical abilities. But don't think that for one moment I
wouldn't give almost anything to get back to work and feel
productive again!!!
That's not all of it though! When the therapist at the evaluation
center went through the evaluation with me he told me all about
the it and his responses. Most of it was pretty straight forward,
until he got to level of ability, that's where things took a turn. He
said that he had given me a sedentary performance level, BUT
that was ONLY because "it is the lowest rating he is allowed to
give", but I "didn't really meet the sedentary qualifications"! That
RSD was too unpredictable in nature for any clear evaluation.
And even though this was all written into the report it was never
ACKNOWLEDGED in the fit to work letter!
So I met with the Extended Services Department a week after
the letter, and we discussed the report and I put forth my views
on the missing data. It seemed as though he actually listened to
me when I filled him in on it, and then he asked what I thought
about retraining. Well I would LOVE to learn a new trade now
that mine has been stolen from me! But my concerns are many
with that option too. As with most RSDers my memory is SHOT!
On top of that the morphine to calm the pain would distract me
from the learning process, as well as the pain itself would! And
then there's the days I flare and I'm not able to function, missing
days is not something I would want to do! And I can't afford a lot
of make up time with flares being so unpredictable! I don't know
anymore what to do, or what I can do, or for how long I can do
it, or when I can do it. It's very discouraging and disheartening,
But I continue on daily battling this monster with all I have.

Until next update for all of you out there,
God Bless and take care of each other..
Bob