[aphinity]

Hey to everyone.
I'm being sent for a "pain assessment" this week.
I would LOVE to know what to expect, how should I answer questions, what happens etc.
Also, is Ralf Schnabel ok?
He is located in Mt Eden, Auckland, Clinical and Neuro Psychologist. What does all this mean..to have a pain assessment?
is there going to be anything physical involved?
The letter I have says to allow 1.5 hrs for the appointment...1.5 hrs of sitting? ohh noo.... not fair. will make me super sore!


Also, after my complaint and 20 questions email I sent to the CM about my rehab (or lack of it), they have asked me to attend a meeting with both the CM and her manager.
ideas on this too please...help!!!
Where is ACCLAIM Auckland located???
info wanted ASAP pleeease...

Cheers

[ernie]

From what I gather, you have an injury similar to mine - lumber disc prolapse?

Ask if you can get up and wander around when you need to - that is the only way I cope in any situation. Embarrassing as it is, I tell people in meetings about my injury, and even lie on the floor sometimes if that is what I need. There may be a bit of physical stuff, but do not do anything you don't feel comfortable about.

This assessment isn't usually too bad. The one to beware of is the Functional Capacity Evaluation. If you are asked to do one of these, refuse. I know of several people whose injuries have been aggravated through this, and ACC's policy is (now) not to suspend entitlements from refusal to comply with FCE - although, not so long ago, they did.

[Easyrider]

You will still get suspended, i turned up and still got suspended.

[Stumpy]

Hi Aphinity,
Nothing Physical involved with this. Lots of talking and Pschological stuff. Lots of filling in forms at the end. I went and am still fighting the battle.

Stumpy

[Juscallin1]

Hi Aphinity,
Were you given the choice of Pain
Assessor? If not you can refuse to go this person and you can nominate the person of choice.

It will be a person with about 8 pages of questions and you will be asked to put on a scale of 1 - 10. well, noone can measure pain, so I suggest you do not put in a number-. that will blow his computer programme for a start!!

On no account sit there like a martyr. Move around, show you are in pain etc.Even have a lie on the floor for a bit. It is this person's job from ACC to tell you it is all in your head and you need "Cognitive behavioural pain management." A load of crap . They will tell you it is all in your head and you can "work thru it" etc .
So be prepared and on NO ACCOUNT, GO BY YOURSELF AND TAPE IT AS WELL.
Good luck.

[aphinity]

hey Justcallin1, sorry for not getting back to you sooner, been sooooo "bluk".
As usual, they have sent me an invitation to attend the assessor of their choice. Just emailed her to ask for a list! Will see how that goes. cheers for that! will yak soon once I get sorted.

[aphinity]

So, what do you do when inquiring as to where is the "list" of pain assessors, and you get this reply from your CM?


"this is not always the case that we have a list available, there are not many clinical psychologists to choose from especially those that specialise in pain management, ralf schnabel does specialise in pain management, I suggest you discuss the choice with your GP if you feel unsure and let me know"

Is my doc supposed to KNOW him?

[Juscallin1]

Hi, That was a reasonable reply from CM> Yep, discuss it all with GP. He may know of someone else. Does anyone out there know this Scnarbel Fellow??

Also, does your GP think you need Pain management if you are still undergoing treatment? He can contact CM for you while you are there, then there is a witness. This exit process is soooo stressful!!
Good luck Aphinity!

[marilew]

Hi...I had to have a Functional Capacity Evaluation done...and yes it did worsen my condition, and also contributed to denial. I was forced to go beyond my capabilities...told that kind of pain is normal.....BS!!

I don't know how it is there...but be prepared to be videotaped. They videotaped me in the stair wells and throughout the whole ordeal. Some of the taping I knew about...but most I did not.

They also have a habit of manipulating the answers so demand a copy of the results. I agree...don't go alone either

I was able to obtain a copy of my results and was completely shocked at how they had changed and manipulated the whole thing.

Good Luck!
marilew

[Unicorn]

CASE MANAGER RANG ME TODAY SAY ACC HAVE GIVEN THE GO AHEAD FOR A CPA AT THE PAIN UNIT AT BURWOOD HOSPITAL

CAN ANY ONE TELL ME WHAT A CPA IS AND WHAT HAPPENS
TAR

[Juscallin1]

dont know what a CPA is, but be very wary of the pain clinic. They are the biggest bunch of liars with Alchin heading them.

You will be interviewd by a kid who says she is a psychologist and asked what do you expect from the Pain Clinc. She will ask you all sorts of questions about what you do all day. Then a Physio, so called will assess you and get you to lift things, which you mustnt do. It is all designed to trap you. He will make you do things like move your arms etc. Then after seeing a video you will have to see Alchin or his ilk.
He is utterly useless and a liar. So beware and take a witness.He is averse to taping so if you want to tape, I suggest you write in and tell them you will be taping, otherwise do it secretly!!
Then after all that they meet, have a chin wag and come back and tell you you are not coping and need to do a course of their head banging stuff.
It is all psychological, no hands on stuff at all.
So you will come outa there saying what a waste of a morning.
If you tell them you are there under duress from ACC CM, they will call the meeting off. OK, that is OK as long as they call it off and NOT you!!!!!!!!!

We were told they are sick of ACC sending people there who don't want to be there!!
Have fun and good luck. DO NOT go alone to this place. You cannot trust them. They are doing it for ACC not for you.....!!!

[Juscallin1]

hI, CPA is probably" Chronic Pain Assessment."
Who decided you were to have this? Was it recommended on an IMA??

If CM decided this, it must be discussed with your GP first.....

I would be asking a few questions here.

[aphinity]

I'm wondering, since this guy I am seeing is a Clinical psychologist, if CPA may mean Clinical Pyschology Assessment.

My chiro advised me to say, when asked about what my pain is like and how bad, to kick him in the "youknowwhat" and say "just like that". He too, as a provider is being hassled. Hassled about the amount of treatments he gives a claimant, about the amount of claimants he has, and yet he states he must save them thousands of dollars by helping patients get their mobilty back, their pain levels reduced without the expense of surgeries and drugs and specialists etc.

Here is a chiropractor specialising in Bio Skeletal stuff saying even he thinks its all a big farse, a complete joke.
He understands the pain I have, even wanted to offer me a wheelchair on my first visit. It wasn't the fact I was bent over and limping, but the fact he could see the pain in my face, my eyes.
But yet again, I have to go visit a stranger, have them delving into my life, MY PERSONAL LIFE and try PROVE my pain is REAL.
But I am going to go along, it should be interesting. I have read a few "self help" books that deal with the way our minds do think, and will carefully analyse the beat round the bush questions they may use to trick me.

I am also going to meet my CM and her manager, complete with support person, laptop, recorder and a huge list of points I wish to raise regarding my case.

I am snuffing around for a job now as I cannot afford to be on this entitlement much longer, still in pain, but debts are piling up fast, basically I am getting in the shit financially, and all this ACC crap is just a bloody joke, just more hassles and stress and worry.
So, it will take me a lot longer to sort my back out, if it doesn't stuff it completely, and I will reminise in my old age, that had I got it sorted in 2004, I might of had a completely pain free life.
I will do my damdest to expose them, claimant or not.

[doppelganger]

here is a document that you could fill in before the meeting so he has a cleer understanding on what you have to put up with
http://www.who.int/icidh/whodas/whodasvers...proxy_intDC.pdf

you will have to register to get a copy of it and as it is from the World Health Orginisation the site is quite safe

[dogma]

KAHALID MUNHUMMED HAS SAID HE CAN,T DO ANYMORE WITH ME SHOULDERS,JUST SPLIT ME ME GOOD SHOULDER SUB SCAP,HAVE INPINGEMENTON BOTH SHOULDER,S FLUID ON THE GOOD ONE,AND SAID HE CAN,T HELP,OFF TOO THE PAIN CLINIC,HAV HAD SUB SCAP REPINNED AN BISCEPS TENDON DONE,THEN SURPRA TENDON PINNED AN BISCEPS TENDONISED,AND KEYHOLE FRONT AN BACK.30/35% ELEVATION.THE ONLY TIME THERE,S PAIN IS IF I USE IT ,KAHLID SAID THE SPLIT SUP SCAP TAKE TEN WKS TO HEAL SO I,M 1/2 WAY THERE,ANYONE BEEN TOO THE PAIN CLINIC LATERLY,I,D IT WILL BE A CHCH APPT.L8R DOGMA.

[dogma]

Been threw workbridge program,as IMA BILL Turner recommended,on his report,also chronic degenerative rotator cuff ,in both shoulders,also degenerative tear pathology involving supscap,surrap,and biceps tendons and i have little doubt that he would have a similar tear pathology in the left shoulder which is the uninjured side,along with monofascial pain sydrome,just had a accident on 17/06/05 slipped on deck ,had ultrasound ,split 16mm in sub scap good shoulder, ,inpingement on both shoulders,fluid on good shoulder,that was done two wks back,workbrigde on hold at moment ,but so am i,.well just hav too play there silly game, and carry on.the split will heal itself and the inpingment will dissapear,along with the fluid i,ll be a happy man,cause it all in my ultrasound,woop,s in my head.?
happy happy joy joy,DOGMA

[photoman777]

i was tested by this man... i wonder if he will do any tests of your pain or just ask questions to form a 'somataform disorder' syndrome..surely a medical doctor is a more appropriate medical practioner than a clinical psychologist to access pain.. just my 2 cents

[splattercat]

well i have just recieved an appointment from the burwood pain clinic, and i am seeing john alchin. they sent out a lovely green double sided 13 page questionnaire for me to fill in and send back. this should be interesting.

[MINI]

Slattercat

Dont forget to let us know how you go.

Mini