Why Treatment Timing and Documentation Matter
In an injury claim, your medical records usually do the heavy lifting. They help show (a) when symptoms started, (b) whether they changed over time, and (c) what your providers thought was going on and why certain testing (like nerve studies) was ordered. When pain worsens but testing or referrals stall, the risk is not just discomfort—it’s that the claim file ends up looking “quiet,” which can lead to disputes about whether the injury is still active or connected to the incident.
Also, nerve-related complaints often rise and fall. Clear documentation of what you reported and when you reported it can matter later when the insurer evaluates medical expenses, future care needs, and pain-related damages.
Common Scenarios and What They Often Mean
- Referral delays (like an app message that went unanswered): This can create an unintentional “gap” in the record. The fix is usually showing repeated, reasonable follow-up attempts and getting the plan restated at your next visit (for example, “nerve testing requested due to worsening symptoms”).
- Worsening symptoms while waiting: From a claim standpoint, you want the worsening documented by a provider, not only described later in a settlement discussion. That doesn’t mean you exaggerate—just that you report changes consistently and accurately.
- Changing or adding treatment (such as physical therapy): Insurers often look for whether treatment changes were tied to documented symptoms and provider recommendations. A clear note from the treating doctor about why PT is being added (or why it’s being deferred) can reduce confusion later.
Practical Documentation Tips (Non‑Medical)
- Bring a simple symptom timeline to your appointment: dates, what changed, what activities make it worse/better, and any functional limits (sleep, driving, lifting, typing). Keep it factual.
- Confirm the referral plan before you leave: who is sending the referral, to what type of specialist/testing, and what the next step is if you don’t hear back.
- Keep proof of follow-up: screenshots of messages (without sharing private details publicly), call logs, and appointment confirmations. This helps show you didn’t ignore care.
- Save visit summaries and work notes: these often capture the “why” behind testing and restrictions, which can matter when proving ongoing impact.
- Be careful with written descriptions: avoid absolute statements like “I’m fine” or “it’s unbearable 24/7” unless that is truly accurate. Inconsistency is a common way claims get challenged.
How This Applies
Apply to your situation: You’ve already done an important thing by scheduling a treating-doctor appointment to restart the referral process for nerve testing. At that visit, clearly report that the arm pain is worsening, explain that the earlier referral effort stalled due to lack of response through an app, and ask that the plan (nerve testing referral and whether PT is appropriate) be documented in the visit note. After the appointment, keep a simple log of follow-ups so the claim record shows consistent efforts rather than a treatment gap.
What the Statutes Say (Optional)
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52 – sets a three-year limitations period for many personal injury actions in North Carolina.
Conclusion
If your arm pain is worsening while you wait on nerve testing, the practical goal is to get the issue documented and the referral process moving, while also avoiding a “gap” that can be used to question your claim. Keep your next appointment focused: describe what changed, ask for a clear referral/testing plan, and keep proof of reasonable follow-up. One next step: gather a one-page symptom timeline and bring it to your upcoming doctor visit.
