Despite all indicators of the contrary, Dr. Lim diagnosed a protruding herniated lumbar disc as…read moreScoliosis. In a Worker's Compensation case, he sent me back to work full-time with the restrictions of no standing or walking, only sitting permitted. Reviewing proper guidance from sources such as The Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins indicates sitting at most 30 minutes as appropriate protocol.
The result was a furtherance of my injury, increased symptoms in both scope and severity, and debilitating pain. I woke as many as six times per night with muscle spasms from my hip to my toes in my right leg, leading to sleep deprivation.
I experienced sciatic nerve pain in both a constant and wide area and intermittent focused shocks leading to complete immobility, increased blood pressure, and dizziness. There were times I felt I was about to have a heart attack. By the end of the workday, I was bent over, barely able to walk, and suffered from exhaustion.
After a delay of more than two weeks, I was granted an appointment with Dr. Lim. He said he had just undergone deposition and "was not about to go through that again." He agreed to one week off, a prescription for Gabapentin, and then a return to complete duties. He indicated he would be willing to provide a work excuse only after an MRI.
At the first meeting, he said he hoped my employer would let me stay home. At the second, he suggested I ask my Primary Care Physician for a work excuse, revealing he knew it was inappropriate for me to return to work and that he either does not understand Worker's Compensation or does not care.
It is the responsibility of the attending physician to provide an out-of-work excuse once assigned to Worker's Compensation; no other physician is permitted to attend, and no additional insurance is legally allowed to pay for care. Even the possibility of self-pay, which I investigated, is not allowed. I was forced to take an extended unpaid leave of absence. And more importantly, I continue to go without proper medical care.
At a follow-up appointment, I was attended to by Andrew McCraw, PA, not Dr. Lim. The MRI revealed a protruding herniated lumbar disc and little evidence of Scoliosis, undoubtedly insufficient to support the original diagnosis.
An epidural cortisone injection was then ordered by Dr. Lim and subsequently administered by Dr. Channing Willoughby 181 days after I sustained the initial injury.
Once again, at a follow-up appointment, I was attended to by Andrew McCraw, PA, not Dr. Lim. I requested three Physical Therapy sessions and permission to return to work.
Dr. Lim had been informed my position requires standing 8 hours per day, 40 hours a week, walking on concrete floors, and a mobile app has recorded travel as much as 16 miles in a single day. He also would have been aware I am 66 years old. As Stanford Health indicates, Cortisone can deteriorate the cartilage in a joint and weaken tendons; Dr. Lim should have acted proactively, scheduling physical therapy immediately after the cortisone injection.
When symptoms resurfaced to a much lesser degree, I contacted Drs. Willoughby and Lim inquired about the possibility of a second cortisone injection accompanied by physical therapy to prevent further injury. Neither replied. After inquiries by my attorney, Stephen Vicarri, with the opposing counsel, we were informed that Dr. Lim refuses to continue treatment.
The entire time spent by Dr. Lim speaking with me was less than 10 minutes. The time with Andrew McCraw, PA, was slightly more. The time since the injury at the time of this writing is 218 days.
I have filed a formal complaint with the South Carolina Department of Labor Licensing and Regulation Office of Investigations and Enforcement.
