I had my IME for back problems about 3 months ago and I know exactly how you're feeling! The anticipation was honestly worse than the actual exam. Here's what helped me get through it: Bring a support person if you can - they can advocate for you if needed and help you remember details afterward. Also, don't feel pressured to do anything that causes severe pain. When the doctor asked me to bend or twist, I went only to my comfort level and said "this is as far as I can go without significant pain increase" and they respected that. The doctor spent a lot of time just talking - asking about my daily routine, what positions are most painful, how I sleep, etc. The physical part was maybe 15-20 minutes total. They watched me walk, sit, stand, and did some gentle pressing on my back to check for tender spots. One thing I wish I'd known - take your regular pain meds beforehand! Don't try to show up in extra pain to "prove" your condition. They want to see your functional level with proper treatment, not at your absolute worst. Write down your main concerns beforehand because it's easy to forget things when you're nervous. You've got this! The fact that you have clear MRI findings showing herniated disc and nerve compression is in your favor.

I went through an IME for my chronic back pain last year and completely understand your anxiety! Here are a few things that helped me prepare: **Before the appointment:** - Make a detailed list of your daily limitations (how long you can sit/stand, what activities cause flare-ups, etc.) - Bring copies of recent MRIs and doctor's notes - Wear comfortable, loose clothing - Take your pain medication as scheduled - don't skip it **During the exam:** - Be completely honest about your pain levels - Don't push yourself beyond your limits - if bending forward causes severe pain, only go as far as you can tolerate - Ask for breaks if you need them - The doctor will likely ask about daily activities, work limitations, and do basic range of motion tests **Important:** You can bring a support person with you! Having someone there as a witness can be really helpful. The exam itself was much less intimidating than I expected. The doctor was professional and didn't try to "catch me faking" - they just wanted to verify that my functional limitations matched my medical records. My benefits continued without any issues. Remember, these doctors see real back injuries all the time. Your MRI results showing herniated disc and nerve compression are objective evidence that will work in your favor. Try to get some rest before Tuesday and don't let the anxiety make your pain worse. You've got this!

I'm dealing with this exact same lockout issue right now! Been stuck for 4 days and it's incredibly stressful when you're depending on these benefits. Thank you to everyone who shared their strategies - I had no idea there were so many different approaches to try. The early morning calling strategy from @Luca Russo sounds promising, and I'm definitely going to test the browser cache clearing trick from @Mateo Gonzalez. The assemblymember option from @Aisha Mahmood is brilliant too - I never thought about reaching out to elected officials for help with this. It's absolutely ridiculous that we need to become system-hacking experts just to access our own benefits, but this community is a lifesaver for sharing real solutions. Going to try multiple approaches tomorrow and will update if anything works! Stay strong everyone! 💪

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the EDD lockout situation is absolutely maddening! I've been following this thread and wanted to share another approach that worked for my sister last month. She contacted her local state senator's office (in addition to the assemblymember suggestion) and they actually have a dedicated EDD liaison who was able to unlock her account within 48 hours. You can find your state senator at findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov. Also, if you're comfortable with it, try calling the EDD technical support line at 1-855-327-7057 - sometimes they can help with login issues even if it's not technically their department. The key is being super polite and explaining that you just need to access your benefits. Hang in there, and definitely try that early morning calling strategy - it really seems to be the most consistent method! 🤞

I had the exact same E324 error last week! What finally worked for me was using a different browser entirely (switched from Chrome to Firefox) and making sure I wasn't using any browser extensions or ad blockers. Also double-check that you're entering your SSN exactly as it appears on your card - no dashes or spaces. The EDD system is super picky about formatting. If all else fails, the phone number for SDI is 1-800-480-3287, but yeah, expect to wait on hold for hours. Hope this helps!

I've been dealing with E324 errors for the past two weeks and finally got through yesterday! Here's what worked for me: I disabled ALL browser extensions (especially privacy/security ones), used an incognito/private window, and made sure my browser was fully updated. Also, I noticed the system seems more stable between 6-8 AM PST. One thing that really helped was having all my documents ready as PDFs beforehand - the system times out if you take too long uploading files. Don't give up! It's frustrating but you'll get through eventually.

I went through this same situation about 6 months ago and I was just as panicked! Reading through all the advice here, it sounds like everyone has given you really solid guidance. Just wanted to add that when your doctor submits that supplemental certification, make sure they're specific about WHY you need the extension - not just that you do. In my case, my doctor initially wrote something vague like "patient needs more recovery time" and EDD came back asking for more detail. The second submission included specifics about my healing progress and complications, and it went through without any issues. Also, one thing that helped reduce my anxiety was setting up text alerts in my SDI account so I'd get notified immediately when there were any updates to my claim status. That way I wasn't constantly logging in to check. Sounds like you're on the right track with getting your doctor to submit today - that timing should work perfectly to avoid any payment gaps!

I'm so glad to see this thread and that you got your doctor to submit the form! I went through almost the exact same situation about 4 months ago - surgical complications that extended my recovery way beyond what was originally expected. One thing I wish someone had told me: if your extension gets approved but your recovery ends up taking even longer than the new estimated date, don't panic about doing another extension. The process is the same - your doctor just needs to submit another supplemental certification. I ended up needing three extensions total because of infection complications, and each one was processed smoothly once I understood the system. Also, I noticed you mentioned your condition is getting worse - make sure your doctor documents any new symptoms or complications that have developed since your original claim. EDD sometimes questions extensions if the medical picture seems inconsistent, so having clear documentation of how your condition has evolved really helps. Wishing you a smooth extension process and hoping your recovery goes better than expected from here on out!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! Got my IME letter yesterday but I'm also planning to return to work next week. From what I've been reading here and researching online, it sounds like the key is being proactive with EDD communication. One thing I wanted to add - if you do end up having to schedule the IME even though you're returning to work, some of the IME doctors are more flexible with scheduling than others. When I called the office listed on my letter, they actually had evening appointments available which would work better if I do go back to work. Also, has anyone here dealt with the situation where your employer wants you to get medical clearance before returning? My HR department is asking for a doctor's note saying I'm fit to return to work, which seems like it might conflict with having to do an IME that's checking if I'm still disabled. Just wondering if that creates any complications with EDD. Thanks for all the helpful responses everyone - this community is so much more useful than trying to navigate EDD's website!

As someone who went through this exact situation a few months ago, I can share what worked for me. The key is to handle both the IME requirement AND your return to work properly with EDD. Here's what I recommend: 1. **Certify tomorrow as planned** - You were legitimately disabled during that period, so certify normally. 2. **Contact EDD first thing Monday** when you return to work. File your return-to-work notice and explain the IME timing conflict. Ask them to note in your file that you received the IME letter after you had already recovered and planned your return. 3. **Still try to contact the IME doctor's office** - Even though their system doesn't show your paperwork yet, explain your situation. Sometimes they can expedite or work with you on timing. 4. **Document everything** - Keep records of all your calls, when you received the letter, your planned return date, etc. Regarding payments: Yes, EDD typically pays up to 7 days from the IME letter mail date (so through 11/27 in your case). Since you're certifying tomorrow (which should be within that window), you should receive payment for the time you were actually disabled. The good news is that returning to work usually resolves the IME requirement, but you need to communicate this properly to EDD rather than just ignoring the letter. Don't let the bureaucracy stress you out too much - you're doing the right thing by going back to work when you're ready!