Disability evaluation in posttramatic chronic joint pain patients.

ABSTRACT

A 37-year-old single female, working as a laboratory technician at a rural public hospital, was presented at Siriraj Hospital with the complaint of chronic knee joint pain for about a year and a half. She had a history of injury by falling down on both knees in her bathroom and suffered significant aggravation to her knee joint. Her pain was constant regardless of her activities except that it was worse with knee bending. Seeking several medical doctors\' treatments did not cure the pain at all. Upon a through physical examination and investigation, the objective data did not seem to correlate the severe subjective complaint or any definite diseases. After being treated with several methods, including medication, surgery, and rehabilitation for 6 months, she quite her job and personally asked for a permanent disability certificate. The formal request was submitted to the hospital\'s director fpr a disability evaluation and the issuing the certificate 6 months later. She was then scheduled for a disability assessment and consideration of legal fitness.