Question:
i have been dealing with carpal tunnel and workers'comp. Get a lawyer now. They are all sugar and spice to start and then they get you to their docs saying your ready for work when your not.If your doc says it is work related, go with that.You only have to see one of their doc for evaluation,but stick with yours.consult an attorney. It won't cost nothing and he will tell you exactly what you need to do.
Answer:
Disco,
How are you doing? I see where you originally posted this message but we haven't heard from you. Keep in touch with us.
Answer:
Discotish, Not to worry I had Left hand CTS on april 30 and Rt hand on May 1st. They put you under on something called versed, it works great. They gave me 7.5 Hydros which was sufficient for the pain it was a dull throb but meds worked. I was using my hands within a few days no kiddin.
Good Luck
Fred in Tennessee
Answer:
footballcoach, I will agree with photonut1998 that to proceed without WC approval would not be wise unless you have a lot of $$$$ to give away. I had pre-approved WC also but no personal rep. to get through it with and I did enlist a attorney that WC pays for to give me advice or consult with. My experience with CTS was not very pleasant I would go to PT and wear a brace at night to sleep with in order to avoid the surgery as I have been forced into for my lefthand. I had CTS on my righthand 3 yrs. ago and during the surgery the median nerve was nicked and the pain was incredible I spent the next ten days on strong pain meds and frequent visiys to the ER. Then a second surgery was performed as eploratory to discover that a nerve had been nicked and then repaired at that time. What has ensued since then has been lots of nuerotin and tramadol and lyrica and lunesta and welbitrin all at the same time so that I can go to work and have an active life. Because the damaged nerve has developed into what is known as RSD(Reflex Sympathetic Nerve Sydrome) look on the index for more info. and I also wear a glove 24/7 I have 2 fingers and the palm of my righthand is numb feeling and hypersensitive and alot of pain in my elbow, shoulder, shoulder blade, with occasional sypmtons the same on the left because it can spend to other parts of your body. My lefthand is doing better with PT but I need it every week or it goes downhill fast. I have also added vitamin B6 to my diet it should help with the carpel tunnell no gurantees but it can't hurt. Don't let me discourage you from your surgery because this is a rare occurance and there are a lot of excellant Drs. out there just make sure that you use a hand specialist. Cheers, footballcoach
Answer:
footballcoach. I can empathize with you on nicked nerve and going through hell with resulting complications. I had the hypersensitivity , aching and burning etc in index, long finger and space between thumb and index finger, following my ct release in Feb of 2005. I didn't wear a glove 24/7, but did wear it a good portion of the time. I did research, alternative treatments, pt before going the neurontin route. Neurontin gave me blurred vision, so was put on amitriptyline. I think that has helped. I also am on Lexapro....and I had a second surgery( basically exploratory) where nick in nerve was found. Other docs( original surgeon and second opinion) denied it was nicked and the pain had to be in my head, that it was old nerve damage and nerves were remodeling.( which ended up not to be true)
I don't have the hypersensitivity that I had....it is more of a numbness now...hand doesn't throb/burn when it gets cold.
I did go for testing for RSD....autonomic and sweat tests were abnormal and consistent with RSD, but bone scan was normal, so I was told I didn't have it.
I hope you can get your RSD in remission or at a very low pain level, and that it doesn't spread.