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flea
Enthusiast
Reged: 05/17/02
Posts: 279
Loc: Recently moved to Mid-West, bu...
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Hi all,
Well i have searched for quite some time all over the net to see if there was any info on this, but to no avail. The reason I am interested in this is that one of my friends from back in CA who just happens to be getting married in 4 months has just recently said she was jurt at work by lifting boxes.
I used to be really good friends with her but sorta lost track through the years. We just recently reconnected after many years, and it was during that initial e-mail that I briefly touched on my whole back nightmare.
She proceeded to ask all sorts of questions about my condition. I must say that I was pretty shocked at how interested she was in the very detailed aspects of the herniated deisks, as well as the failed surgery afterward, but I thought she was just trying to be nice and really show an interest in whats been going on with me lately.
To be real honest, although we had been friends for quite some time, it was more like we were just "party" friends. You know, the ones that you can always rely on to go out and tear it up with. It was not at all like she was one of my close, close, girlfriends. We were mostly just out to have a good time.
However because I missed my 10 year reunion not so long ago, I have been hearing from several of my old friends, this girl being one of them.
Well to make a long story short here, we shot back and forth several e-mails and were in contact for several months. The funny thing is that she really had not changed AT ALL!! And I don'y mean she stayed young and beautiful, but rather she still parties like a rock star each weekend, and still hangs out with a lot of those same partiers we had associated with 10 years ago. I could not believe it. Especially since she told me she had 2 kids but had never been married.
I do know she never went to college and absolutely HATED her job at Costco. I suppose I should have put 2 & 2 together after being drilled so hard for answers about my condition, but I guess I was just so clueless!!
What happenend is apparently one day she was lifting up some boxes and fell to the floor screaming in "pain". She was rushed to the hospital and the rest is history. Apparently what she did was take most of the info I fed her about my condition, and regurgetated it almost verbatum back to the medical staff (docs and nurses).
She also had an MRI and much to everyones surprise, she had some growths or some weird bulges in her spine (L-4 S-1, L-5 S-2 region). Whatever it was, she claimed to be in a lot of pain. She was put on paid leave from her job and was home gorked out on pain meds the last I heard.
To be honest, when I first heard she was hurt I felt SO bad. I even sent her flowers and baloons. Stupid me!! It was not until a month or so later when I heard from another mutual friend that she had devised the whole thing on her own in order to sue Costco and to get pain meds. (apparently she hurt herself on an area of the store where the floor was wet, but was not supposed to be wet, hence LAW SUIT, as well as WORKERS COMP).
When my friend told me that I thought to myself that I was really dumb for not realizing that she had actually staged the whole thing, that sneaky little chick!! (It just infuriates me more since i am the REAL DEAL, and I am on the verge of losing my medical insurance and have been cut off from disability).
Now, here is the main point of my entire post. Somehow, someway she was able to fake the results of her MRI. She apparently researched the process enough to figure out how strap something on her body at just the right spot, in order to make it look like a disk or even worse, some sort of tumor or growth on or around her spinal cord. I think she went for the "herniated disk" problem in order to get $$ from her employer.
My question is, "How in the heck is that possible? I mean wouldnt an MRI machine show if something was taped outside of the body? It would end up looking like boobs do, right? How could she possibly have out smarted those technicians and doctors, SPECIALISTS????
If she taped something on the exact spot of where it would look like a herniated disk, wouldnt the tape show? Or if there was no tape, how did she do it and what did she use? I for one know how specific my herniations looked and if anyone wanted to copy that, they would have to be near experts in the field of X-Rays and MRI's, right?
I do remember hearing someone one time saying that if you go and have an X-Ray while holding BB's or something like that, that the X-Ray would show up looking like you had gall stones, or kidney stones, or something CRAZY like that. Dude, people are freaks!!
But it even gets worse because just yesterday another friend told me they found a growth on her spine, and that this was found on the MRI but had not been there the first time she had it done. Could it be that she keeps shifting whatever it is she is trying to use to fool this machine and doctors, and becasue of that it looks like she has a growth on her spine? Or would her strapping something to her body as she went into the MRI just end up looking like a bulge on the OUTSIDE of her body, therefore exposing her lie?
If anyone has ANY info on this phenomenon, please share. Not only is this going on with someone I know, but to be honest I am absolutely fascinated. Sadly I don't need to fake ANYONE out, my nasty scar tissued, DDD, herniated disks take care of things all by themselves!!
Anyway, thanks in advance for any info you can share!
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Flea
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ReOkie
Board Addict
Reged: 02/20/04
Posts: 343
Loc: Oklahoma
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Flea:
My best friend (now deceased due to drugs) was a pro at faking injuries to get drugs and settlements. That is what killed him in the end.
I don't know how you feel about this but you could always turn her into the worker's comp people and even contact the company and they could hire a PI to try and catch her bowling or lifting something, lol.
Our system is in ruin because of people like this and we should all do our part. I recently turned my ex-wife in to the welfare people as she was collecting food stamps from Oklahoma while living in Texas. They busted her and that was that.
Good Luck,
ReOkie
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voyager
Old Hand
Reged: 04/17/03
Posts: 418
Loc: United States Virgin Islands
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Hopefully your friend is only faking it because should she actually have a growth on her spine she could be in REAL BIG TROUBLE.
If however she is only faking it then i am of the opinion that she should be exposed for a fraud. Its the people like that that are ruining it for LEGITIMATE chronic pain patients everywhere.
If she is allowed to continue to milk the system, It will even become more broke and we will all continue to pay.
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prettyday
Threadhead
Reged: 02/09/03
Posts: 978
Loc: Coastal Sage Scrub
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First of all, hey there, hello  !!!
Secondly, I wonder if she knows someone or some facility on the inside....
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First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
- Mahatma Gandhi
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scissorhands
Member
Reged: 06/04/03
Posts: 168
Loc: Hell
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Flea: I don't know the age of your friend, but I was told this once by an MRI technician, that if you pulled 100 people off the street over the age of 25 by random and gave them an MRI, 90 percent of them would have some kind of bulging disc or small herniation.
I'm by no means suggesting this in your friends case, but the way the technician explained it did make sense. Could she have possibly wanted to know all your symptoms because she wasn't actually experiencing any. Maybe in this MRI, she possibly got lucky or in our case unlucky. I know myself after five back surgergies, I wouldn't wish back pain on anyone but if she has found a way to fool the MRI techs, then perhaps she should suffer our back pain for just one day and maybe she would get what she deserves.
My husband has a cousin who recently told us she has throat cancer, I felt so bad for her, found out the other day, it was a big fat lie, she did it for sympathy. I don't wish the cancer on her by no means but for her lies, I would love to see her break out in warts all over her face for a couple of weeks. 
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Baseball is wrong...Man with four balls cannot walk!
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wren
Enthusiast
Reged: 06/01/02
Posts: 284
Loc: up north & homesick for the di...
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Hi Flea! Wow I am totally fascinated by this,I cannot imagine how somebody can fake this but I guess nothing is impossible! I for one would be terrified,and I was thinking you know how they ask you that long list of questions about having any metal in your body like dental work and surgerys and stuff,I would be afraid I would come out glowing like radio-active material or something!!! Please let us know if you should find out more,this is really interesting to say the least! You know people are always finding new ways to scam but this one takes the cake!!!have a hoppy easter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wren'
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its all fun & games til someone puts an eye out,then its still fun ,you just can't see***
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rkjones
Member
Reged: 02/13/04
Posts: 159
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This reminded me of an incident I had a few years ago accidently:
I was at ER for a kidney stone when all this started. I am a smoker and er will not let you sneak out for a second even. Anyways, I had a lighter kinda tucked inside the band of my panies (at the waistline) so I could sneak one puff in the bathroom and the doc ordered a kub. they took me down did the KUB then came back later ans said they found a strange mass in the pelvic region but it was to big to be a kdney stone and not in the correct area and they needed to loo into this further. My mom and I looked at each other in horror and I got really worried about what kind of mass i now had. Then I felt that area to see if i could feel anything like a lump or something and low and behold there it was! A LIGHTER!!
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Noone has to endure abuse from others, god gave us moderators for this reason!
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Gekko
Banned: posting about recreational drug use
Reged: 12/01/03
Posts: 11
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I would hate to see it happen but it is possible that some unscupuluous individual would sell fake medical records including MRIs for sale on the net like they do for university students who buy research papers. However, on the idea of faking an MRI I can't see how this would happen but then maybe I am just naive when it comes to such things. I had at one time even considered returning to college for a degree in Radiology as medicine is one of those careers that will be growing as us "Baby Boomers" age and get more maladies and the body starts to develop one problem after another. I try to keep in good shape with daily workouts and Martial Arts (San Soo Kung Fu - Fut Ga), even forcing myself while in pain but losing weight is a necessity anymore with rising cardio and diabetes problems in the US.
Gekko
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sigmund22
Member
Reged: 03/23/04
Posts: 160
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Flea,
From your clear reporting, your friend may be showing signs of "Malingering," a psychological disorder which is the exaggeration of physical symptoms motivated by external incentives such as avoiding work, obtaining medications for exaggerated pain, filing Workers' Comp claims, etc.
It sounds as if she were questioning you in so much detail in preparation for a deposition, report to an attorney, insurance company, but not to feign an MRI reading or report.
Times have really changed in that Malingering is now ruled out first when doing an ordinary psychological assessment.
Malingering can be suspected in some of the following situations re: to your friend 1)if the person is referred by an attorney to talk to a therapist, 2)if there is a discrepancy between the person's claimed disability and objective findings, 3) lack of cooperation during a diagnostic evaluation/non-compliance with medical regimen, and 4) presence of Anti-Social Personality Disorder.
You presented some insightful information on your friendship with her over the years and it sounds as if this scenario fits in well with a Workers' Comp case and/or lawsuit.
Just another perspective...
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night_shade
Threadhead
Reged: 08/26/03
Posts: 907
Loc: The State of Hockey
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I agree with Sigmund.
Also, if anyone DOES have some kind of idea of how to fake these or other diagnostic tests, I hope they use better sense than to post this information on this board.
And it is this type of thing that costs us all millions in extra insurance premiums, taxes and healthcare expenses because so many are exploiting the system. I hope she is exposed and fined or prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Sorry, I don't have sympathy in this situation, addict or not.
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Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.
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flea
Enthusiast
Reged: 05/17/02
Posts: 279
Loc: Recently moved to Mid-West, bu...
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I really have to say that the info all of you shared with me regarding my friend and her "quite odd" situation were more than just a little bit helpful.
Every response had me re-thinking the entire situation; mostly just opening my eyes to the real severity of her actions. So to all of you that took the time to chime in, I am sending you a GREAT BIG THANKS your way!! It really helped me see the light. I guess that can sometimes happen upon hearing so many different points of views. God knows none of my friends were questioning the legitimascy of her case. But then again, none of my friends have had any real back problems. Come to think of it, i do not even think any of them have had "any" serious medical problems since high school. I mean I obviously don't consider their complaints about waking up with the "worst hangover ever" to even come close to the Best if kept off the board I have endured since my back surgery, and the pain that followed. But then again it's been a looooooong time since I have woken up with a "really bad" hangover!!!!!If their is anything at all that I can recolect from my partying days, it would have to be the horrid feeling of waking up tht next morning. Oh geez, weren't those the worst? UGH!!!!!!! (quick random thought here, but did anyone watch Sopranos last week? It was when AJ had been partying and when he woke up the next morning his friends had super glued his face to the carpet, but even worse than that was when he finally jarred his flesh free, was what he saw in the bathroom mirror's reflection.......SHAVED EYEBROWS!!!!Apparently when he passed out, his friends went to town on both him and another guy. Sounds horrible considering his character is supposed to still be in high school, however my husband and eye almost peed our pants during that scene. Turns out we have both been the bearer of unsolicited "markings, if you will" while being passed out. In his situation, he was in a frat when he passed out from drinking too much. His fellow "brothers" put him in a bikini, full girly make-up, (of course the make-up was really just applied with a sharpie pen, meaning he was going to have to scrub for a loooong time to get that stuff off, and then dumped him off in from of the one sorority that he claims had the "hottest" girls ever. HA HA! I initially felt bad when he was reminicing, until he decided to use the words "hottest girls ever" in which case I only laughed and told him he deserved to be made a fool of, as no one should get so drunk that they are unaware they are being dressed in drag. However secretely I was more mad that if he had been that drunk to let that happen t him, that his "brothers" should have kept a better eye on him or even had taken him to the hospital, instead of embarrassing the heck out of him. I mean come on, he could have died!! Oh yea, and for my own "personal drunk story" well, sorry everyone, I will never tell another sole what happened when I blacked out. Just trust that it was nothing sexual or anything, but it did make the morning papers. OK that's all I can say about that!)
Anyway, as I was saying........I did appreciate all of the posts on this specific subject. Especially the person who metioned the whole "Malingering" theory. I can not believe I have NEVER heard of such a thing. I mean I am not saying that I know EVERYTHING, but I at least trhought I would have at least heard this specific word before. But nope, I hadn't. So thank you for sharing. It is really interesting!
Now, in response to all of your valid complaints and suggestions about my needing to turn her in for this. Well all I can say that while I do understand how Best if kept off the board!ed most of you should be (me included), I still do not think I would ever feel right if I did end up "turning her in".
I just am not sure I would be able to do that. I mean yes, she could very well be milking the system for all it's worth, which in turn messes up everything for the legitimate pain patients that are in desperate need to receive just 1/4 of the care that she is currently getting. (ie. workman's comp, disability, pain meds, and just about everything else that associated with an employee that "claims" to be injured while on the job, especially when dealing with an employer like COSTCO for God's sake!!)Not to mention P!SSES ME OFF!!!!!
I mean of course, without a doubt her milking the system for all its worth with a "fake" injury just wholeheartedly infuriates me, it still does not make me feel comfortable enough betraying her trust as I would hope and pray that just about all of my friends would do the same for me. Even though we are not "best friends" that's just not really who I am.
I mean I put a lot of thought into it and the fact that most of the people who are effected by her deceit are all of us "real" folk who suffer from "real maladies of sort" just makes me madder by the second, especially since whether or not we like it, we are forced into dealing with "her mistakes". Fradulant claims end hurting those of up seeking medical help for our "REAL" pain. These "problem patients" tend to warrant such undeserved and especially unwanted scrutiny for those of us seeking legitimate help!!!
But I guess until I find out a bit more about her situation I will just have to bury this somewhere deep in my psyche, or else I will just go mad!!!!!!! Although I have decided not to talk to her again, as I am in no condition to deal with her annoying Best if kept off the board. Its odd though, even being accross the country from where I grew up, it seems I still hear the ins and outs of just about every juicy gossip story out there. It seems like High School never ends. Oh but please God, there must be an end. Isn't that what college was for?
Anyway, thanks all and I will keep everyone posted!
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Flea
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sigmund22
Member
Reged: 03/23/04
Posts: 160
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Flea...this was a real group effort which you integrated so well.
"Malingering" is a technical term. I only used it b/c it gets at the criteria, say Workers' Comp psych assessors use. "Faking"
without awareness of the reasons would do just as well.
As far as reporting her, you might think or continue a group think on the board as to what would be best for everyone involved -company for which she works, Workers' Comp, and taxpayers.
I believe that she needs psychological treatment, but the question would be how to get someone to convince her. She does have anti-social traits and can't see the impact her behavior is having on others. 
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yawkaw3
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/22/03
Posts: 1193
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Quote:
and then dumped him off in from of the one sorority that he claims had the "hottest" girls ever. HA HA! I initially felt bad when he was reminicing, until he decided to use the words "hottest girls ever" in which case I only laughed and told him he deserved to be made a fool of
I've gotten in trouble for using a similar phrase- how are you supposed to word that? Hottest girls ever except for the one I'm coincidentally married to?
-yawkaw
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