Ortho Doctor's Notes: Each Visit $40 out of pocket expense

July-August 2000


March 2001
This is the same doctor that was depositioned by the lawyer for Auto Owners.

Two notes on this page; these were the last visits to this orthopedic group. I went to another doctor in this group (other than the surgeon) and this was the first time that a doctor acknowledged that perhaps there was something more serious and chronic going on. He also noted that I am a pleasant and nice woman; which I am. He did not note anxiety just concern for why I was not getting better. He noted that there may be Reflex Sympathy Syndrome (sp?) which is a chronic and uncurable condition. He was close to it.

Pain Management= Caudal Nerve Block 9/12/2003

A Caudal neve block is just like an epidural that is given during childbirth. The one difference that the medication can numb the nerve pain for varying levels of time. The doctor and I were both disappointed that it was not successful. I did have some lessening of pain for a few days after the nerve block but my doctor said that was from the lidocaine used to numb the area where they inserted the needle.

When the lidocaine was injected (it felt like he shot about a gallon of the stuff in my lower back) is very very painful. Thank goodness it only last 30 seconds or so but it is very intense. The nurse gives the patient a stuffed turtle to squeeze duing that time. A patient before me sqeezed off on of Tommy Turles legs. So my turle was three legged. But I squeezed him good.

Deposition Of My Orthopedic Surgeon:

I was a patient of this doctor for about 14 months or so. It is too bad he did not take it another level; a patient continues to complain about pain despite the anti-inflammatories, nine months of physical therapy he ordered which resulted in worsening of pain, gait and no improvement at all, and surgery. If he had done a post op MRI of the same area, of the lower back and a nerve conduction test (burning pain is indicative of nerve damage and my pain was right on that knee that hit the dashboard) it could have saved a lot of time and money. I wrote this doctor a letter in 2004 letting him know what he had missed so that he could be warned with his patients that came after me when they complained repeatedly of burning pain get them over to a neurologist asap. He thanked me for the follow up and the advice.

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More Documents from the NC Dept. of Insurance and Auto Owners Insurance Company:

Pain Management Clinic Documents:

7/12/2004 Trial spinal cord stimulator surgical notes Photos of this procedure are included here on the Photo page. The pics show my back with the dressing and another shows this wire sutured to the skin and coming out of my back. It IS pretty gross! As gross as it looks, it is ten times worse for the patient. Trust me on this!



7 28 2003 One of the bills for the paravertibral nerve block. Being sick is not cheap! I still owe money to the pain center, they have sent me to collections but I am still a patient there. They put up with me and love me too despite the fact I owe them lots of money.



7 28 2003 photo 2 of operation


7 28 2003 photo of operation


7/23/2003 Post op paravertribral nerve block doctor notes


7/23/2003 Post op paravertribral nerve block operation procedure


7/28/2003 Prep for 1st paravertibral nerve block a very painful procedure after the lido wore off two days later it was pain back to normal


6/20/2003


10/4/2004 Post op spinal cord stimulator implant


9/10/2004 Post op spinal cord stimulator implant


5/12/2003 Initial consult page 2


8/23/2004 Post op spinal cord stimulator implant


5/12/2003 Initial consult

Auto Owners Insurance Co had a copy of all my medical records up until the day before the mediation in late Feb. 2004. In spite of all this proof of injuries; their lawyer still misrepresented the medical facts in this case and dismissed all of these injuries as result of my other issues; i.e. being gay, having a child with special needs, etc. blah blah blah. And still threatened me with $20,000 worth of court costs.

I began pain management in August 2002 with my primary doctor; when I again had work and medical insurance. Several months later she insisted I see a pain management specialist. I was reluctant to do this because I was tired of being referred to another doctor with the same results; nothing resolved, no improvement and no difinitive diagnosis. She finally laid down the law with me and said I had to do it."

I am so happy I did. My doctor there is incredible. I just love this guy. And so does my family. He has a great sense of humor.

I have to post something here that happened in July 2004 when I went for the trial spinal cord stimulator surgery. My oldest daughter came up to care for me and brought my two oldest grandchildren. Morgan has been very upset all along at his Grandma Cookies pain. So he does what I often do; cover fear and concern with humor. After my doctor implanted the temporary device into my back; he came back to visit me in the recovery room. And had this discussion with my grandson. He could tell that my grandson is a hoot.

"Dr. XXXX, is there someway you could do surgry on my grandmother and take out all the things inside her that are hurting?" My doctor's answer "Well, Morgan if I did that you would have to carry your grandmother around in a bucket. Like a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken." Morgan laughed and said, "That would be cool."

First thing out of his mouth after interviewing me was "You are a very nice person who has been through so much. We are going to help you. There is no cure for nerve damage. But we can help by alleviating some of the pain with treatments, surgical procedures if necessary, counseling, support and various medications we found to be helpful controlling nerve pain. You are not crazy. You were really hurt and we are going to do everything we can to find out what is wrong and try to help. We cannot ever promise complete and final relief from your type of pain. That is not possible. And I am looking forward to working with you."s