"No Medicine - No Money"

 
That is the quotation that is generally tossed around the insurance adjusting trade. What it means is that the amount of money paid for a general damages award in injury cases depends upon the quality and quantity of medical care necessary. If you want to be a stoic hero, you will not receive the same award that will be given to those who obtain reasonable and necessary medical care.
 
Of course, you don't want to seek medical care just to get an award. On the other hand, if you choose to be stoic about your pain, to suffer without medical care, you need to know that your award will be less than if you had obtained treatment for your injuries.
 
Keep your doctor informed as to how you are feeling. Do not whine or complain. On the other hand, do not fall into the trap of telling your doctor that you are having very little pain or that you are feeling much better if, in fact, you are not. We all have a natural tendency to do that because we want to let the care provider know that her treatment is making a difference.
 
Physical therapists often use this as an opening question for each day of follow-up treatment. They want to know how you are feeling today and how you are getting along. In general terms, most of us will just state that we are "doing fine" and mention few aches and pains. The problem in falling into this trap, particularly with care providers to whom you have been referred by your main treating doctor, is that the care provider will include your comments in her report.
 
It is simply common sense to realize that, when you are referred by your primary doctor to a care provider for some type of limited care such as physical therapy, the secondary care provider is almost always going to have to report that she has improved your condition. Think about it for a moment. If she doesn't report to the referring doctors that she has helped their patients, she cannot expect very many more referrals. She almost always has to report that she has worked a minor miracle in improving the condition of their patients. Just be aware of that when you mention your condition to your medical care provider, especially if it is someone to whom you have been referred. That care provider will always be trying to report a positive spin on your condition to the one who sent you to her.
 
Your treatment plan is your responsibility. For more details on your choices, continue to:

• Your Choices in Medical Care
  
• Following Doctor's Instructions.