Arkansas Rehab

Finally got hold of the person who is supposed to be working with me at Ark. rehab. She was supposed to send me some paperwork. (3weeks ago)Some kind of letter I am supposed to sign. And asking for documented proof of doctor supervised diet for 12 month. I told her in the beginning that I didn't have 12 months straight. Why do they let you go on knowing you don't have all that they require? Why do they require 12 month more of failure on my part before they will give me the medical treatment I need? Why did it take them over 8 months to get to this decision? Seriously, are they just hopeing I will give up or die so they won't have to help? Another year of life as it is and I may well be dead? I feel like I am falling apart. Now I have siatic (sp?) nerve problems. I cannot stand or walk without excruciating pain! Doctor said it is going to take a while to heal. It has been more than one month. Not enough healing to notice much. If I sit in a fairly comfortable position, my legs swell. My feet and legs are so deformed by swelling it is awful. They do not even look human. The doctor says I am not a candidate for back surgery because of my weight. May not get much better (the back ) because of the weight. Now rehab person is saying they probably will want me to go to the rehab for weight management program for 12 month and fail that before they will consider the surgery. I say to her "If I could stick to a diet for 12 month I would not need to be here in the first place." "So what you're saying is I need to go through another 12 month of failure before I get the medical help I need?"" Is that what you are telling me?" She says, "Maybe if you go through this program you will lose the weight and not need the surgery." Yes she actually said that to me! I explained to her that if I stuck to this diet for 12 months and lost 2-3 pounds every week for 12 month, that at the end of that 12 months I would still be obese! Maybe not qualify for the surgery by their bmi but still way obese. And that's IF I could stick to it for 12 months. She asked me what I expected her to do? I thought about it for a second and said" I expect you to do whatever you have to do to get me the help I need. I said "I expect you to do it as if it mattered to you." She asked what I meant by that. I said " Only that if you had any idea what it is like to be in my body, I wouldn't have to call you every day for 3 weeks just to find out that you didn't mail the letter you said you were going to mail. ( this has happened more that once. ) And that when I finally did get hold of you, you would know who I am and what is going on with my case, you would know where my file is.If you had any clue of what it is like to be in my body, if you had any compassion for the suffering I am going through, you would be calling me. You would call someone! You would do something! You would not wait 8 months and then make me drag this much out of you! Why do they insist on denying me the tool I need to help myself? Why is the bottom dollar more important than human life. Where is human compassion? Not to mention that when they find out I don't even live in that city I will have to transfer to this county. Then there is a waiting list to get to see this person here. They don't have a person or office here. The person comes here once a month and it will take a while to get an appointment. And then what? We start over? They're killing me! They're just killing me! I wonder if I will ever know what it is like to be free of pain again? If I will ever know what it is like to move and be healthy again? Will I ever really enjoy life again?

Hi Bonnie, I am so sorry you are getting the run-around. The "system" always looks out for their own welfare. Please don't give up! I think sometimes they just want to test the individual applying to see how serious and committed they really are to have this surgery. I am waiting for approval from my insurance company now. It has been 5 weeks since they have gotten all my information and they still will not give me an answer. Each week they think of something else I need to provide for them. If they don't pay for it, I will be applying with Ark. Reh. If after I've done all there is to do with them, and they still say "no", I will take out a loan. I will most likely have to work longer hours and possibly get another part-time job to help me pay it back, but in the long run, I know it will be worth it. I don't know if that is an option for you, but it might be another solution you might want to check into. Just don't give up! I know you are determined to be free of pain and to move easily and to enjoy life again. I am too! I'll be praying for you. God bless~~Charlene~~~

Hi Charlene; I just read your post to Bonnie and I have noticed others mention Ark. rehab. Who are they and how do they help? I have Health advantage through the state and I understand they won't pay. I have Medicare as secondary. I just figure I will have to be self pay. I feel this is my last hope. I am basically bedridden because of low back pain. I have had 2 surgeries on it and my surgeon says the surgery did what it was supposed to, but my large abd. is putting all it's wt. on my back. That's where I am carrying a lot of my wt. I am also diabetic and insulin resistant. I have polyneuropathy either from the diabetes or from lupus. The neuropathy is extremely painful, especially in my feet, legs and hands and the lupus causes pain in my joints. I have SEVERE constipation. The nerve controlling my bowels and stomach emptying has been affected by the neuropathy. I go 2-3 wks. without going! then the nausea and vomiting starts. I've been in the hospital several times for this. Well, this is much more info. than anyone wanted I;m sure, and I didn't mean to get so long-winded, but would like to know about Ark. rehab. I see Dr. Luttrell Thurs. Wish me luck! Thanks, Sharon Terhune

Hi Bonnie; Your post sounds like you are feeling a lot like I am. I ask myself every day if it is really worth one more day of lying here in pain. My 3 sons never call just to ask how I feel or if they can help me in any way. I would die of shock if they did. I have to beg them to bring my Grandchildren to see me! My daughter is good to call, but she lives in Bella Vista, 3 hrs. away. But every day I think, The Lord says he won't give us more than we can handle. I keep telling him, OK, I'm loaded up,you can lighten my load now! I know he will for all of us, there are may brighter days for us. I just want you to know I am praying for you, that the mountain of red tape will be reduced to a pretty gold bow! Sharon Terhune