I have a case coming up for WCB and since WCB denied depression due to chronic pain my Union made arrangements for me to have an independent medical assessment by a top psychiatrist.  Well, I received his report about 6 weeks later and I could spit I am so angry! 

First he says that I complained about pain the first 5 minutes into our interview...he failed to state that I had to sit at a computer and do several tests which took 2 hours straight with no moving or getting up....this makes a huge difference as the pain from my back radiates down into my leg after sitting for any length of time.  He states I complained the whole interview (Not true) I mentioned it once in the 5 minutes.

I had 3 accidents at work and after the last one have been off for over 5 years....Walked around with 3 herniated discs as Neurosurgeon told me to rest (4 times) in 2 1/2 years.  Until I found another Neurosurgeon.  Then I proceeded to have 3 surgeries within one 1 year.  I had no problems with my back or health previous to accidents and now I have spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, plus other things I just don't know how to spell. 

Somitization as I understand it is shopping for Doctors and overly numerous complaints about pain and their descriptions.  I certainly do have pain and every time I have ever had pain in my life something was severely wrong.  I did not Dr shop.....I wanted a second opinion....and if I don't decribe the pain how is the Doctor supposed to know what is feels like and make decisions based on that.

There is absolutely no way that I will allow my Union lawyer to use this in my case as evidence..this well renowned Psychiatrist is full of it..and I believe that he is working for someone else other than myself. 

Another reason I believe it is not somatization is that my file is full of evidence and tests of every sort explaining my back and spine problems so there is plenty of organic evidence to state otherwise.. I could understand if there was no evidence of problems, no links between pain and injury....but there is plenty which he totally overlooked.

I am so disappointed that I don't know if I described my gripe well enough but I am curious to know what anyone thinks and has anyone had this happen to them.

Appreciate it,

Suze