Not long ago I was speaking with a client who said to me: “I just can’t stand using my cane!”
Although in the last 18 months, he had already had two failed back surgeries with a 3rd lumbar fusion scheduled, and he very clearly struggled to walk even 20 feet without looking for a wall or chair to lean on, he insisted that he didn’t want to use his cane. Of course when I asked him why he doesn’t use his prescribed cane, he said: “I just hate this thing! It makes me look weak and make me look like an old man!
That’s when he first revealed to me that he has what I refer to as the “Rocky Balboa Syndrome”. Some of you may remember the movie Rocky. At the end of the movie, when his boxing match with the champ nears the end, his eyes completely swollen shut, Rocky tells his trainer to use a razor to cut his eyelids so he can see and keep fighting. Despite his obvious pain, Rocky just wouldn’t give up, he wouldn’t quit, he wouldn’t show weakness, and yes, at the end of the movie he is victorious, but your disability claim, or your accident claim, is NOT a Hollywood Movie.
In the movies, when the underdog hero displays determination it’s a great thing, BUT NOT IN YOUR ACCIDENT OR DISABILITY CLAIM! When you go to see your doctors, but are determined to appear healthy and look “normal” and refuse to use your cane or, when asked, say “everything is fine” when you’re actually in pain, you’re making a BIG mistake. Wearing a “mask” so as to not show how you really feel is a BIG problem. Although your ego may feel better when you appear to not be hurting or in pain, that kind of behavior is actually doing great damage to your case and can ultimately seriously undermine your credibility. It is ABSOLUTELY critical that your doctors and therapists completely UNDERSTAND all of your symptoms, including pain, antalgic gait, etc.
If you are trying to “look good” in front of your doctors because you don’t want them to think you’re weak, or hurting, or a complainer, then you are suffering from the Balboa syndrome. Meaning that no matter how much pain and anguish you’re in, no matter how difficult things really are for you, you’re doing all that you can to carry on displaying the exact opposite: that you’re “doing fine”.
So of course, if you’re good at masking your symptoms, and masking how you’re really feeling, your medical records will likely reflect this; specifically, your medical records clinical progress notes will reflect “patient doing well” with “no complaints”. This will be a big problem most likely down the road….
Later, perhaps at a hearing, when you’re asked if you have pain, and you state: “Yes, regularly, I often have pain and often use my cane”, the Judge might not be convinced or fully believe you. He may look at your medical records and ask: “If you’re having pain, and often use a cane, why is it that your doctor notes never reflect you appearing to be in pain, or complaining about pain, or using a cane?”
What then will your answer be?
Avoid this problem. No Rocky Balboa behaviors. No masking. Be honest and complain, complain, complain! Let your doctors know about ALL of your symptoms fully, your functional limitations, your challenges….Then, later, your testimony will be consistent with the evidence of your medical care….