ulnar nerve/ workmans comp. - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Message Board

chaterbox · 03-29-2007, 04:22 AM

Hello everyone,

My question is about safe return to work. I had left ulnar transposition March, 2005. My emg showed at the elbow 9.5, from what i understand, the nerve is almost dead. I was in physiotherepy for 6 months, but my neurosurgeon took me off after 6 months because it was not helping. Anyways, now I have tightening of the bicep, and tricep area, along with needle like pains in the collarbone area. My hand still falls asleep, as well as the 4th, and 5th, finger are numb alot. I am starting to have some uncomfortable pain in right arm/shoulder as well, neurosurgeon says it's from overcompensating. Anyways, i was at work for 4 hours a day, after being off for 21 months. The job I was doing was easy, it's just that i found at the end of the 4 hours, my hand/arm felt worse on some days. My neurosurgeon took me off work again, march 20, 2007 saying it is best to wait till I see orthopedic surgeon for shoulder problems, which could be linked to ulnar nerve. Comp. is making me see a mediator next week due to the fact they say I can do the job. Has anyone dealt with anything simular to this situation, if so how do I handle this? I have never been on comp. before, but I do know what my arm feels like and do not want to make matters worse. Any advice would be great!! Thank you

HURTEN · 03-29-2007, 11:22 AM

Hi,ihave Been On Comp 1st Time For My Cts Surgery In Aug I Had No Problem Collecting Was Out Of Work 8 Weeks. Went Backand The Pain Got Worse Iwentfor P/t 3x A Weekfor 24 Sessions No Relief Ithink It Made It Worse. Thedr Put Me Out Again This Jan Been Out Since Collecting Comp But Now They Reduced My Payments Because Their Dr Said I Could Go Back To Work But I Cant Do Any Repeitve Things An I Must Break Every10 Minutes So Naturally I Cantgo Back Towork.i Too Get The Pain In Theshoulder Andneck And The Tingling Pins Andneedles And Numbness Has Never Goneaway Andihave Coldhans Allthetimethe Dr Thinksits Rsd??? Andtold Metreatment Is Shots In Theneck To Dull The Nerve, So I Wont Be Doing That As Ithinkit Is Too Dangerous I Am Afraid That He Might Criple Me. I Will Live With The Pain.
Anyway In Ans To Your ? Geta Note From Your Dr.that Injury Is Work Realted And File With Your Co.for Comp . If They Denyyou Get An Atty To Fight For You As This Is Their Game.andyou Mayalso File For Ss Disability Because You Cant Survive On Comp Checks.
Dont Take Thisinjury Lightly As This Is An Epedemic And Companies Are Not Doing There Best To Help Us Avoid Injury Alltheywant Is Production And Theydont Care Who Gets Hurt.
Hurten

chaterbox · 04-01-2007, 05:15 AM

Hello Hurten, Thank you for your info. Sorry to hear about your situation, like they say you always think it's bad for you until you hear someone else's story. best of luck to you. I also seen an orthopedic specialist in the emergency room, who wanted to give me cortizone shots, to this day I can't understand why, when he even admitted it would dull the pain temporarily, WHY? So I could do further damage and not realize it until it's to late. That is the reason, I am in this position now, I have a high tolerance of pain, and let this go to far. My adjudicator is being difficult(VERY), if you don't mind what was your emg results? my shoulder 39, elbow 9.5, wrist 41. I don't take this lightly, I get frustrated when doing minor things and my arm or fingers get cramped or the electric shock, very annoying, very discouraging, my Dr. says my right arm is overcompensating for left, and to be extremly careful. Thank you for your answer, My Dr. also says that I may damage my arm worse if not careful. Thanks again and take care!!

HURTEN · 04-02-2007, 03:25 PM

I Dont No What My Emg #'s Were.ididnt Thinkto Ask.i***now That I Too Get Frustrated When I Cant Do Something. Like When Thing Fall Out Of My Hands Because I Cant Feel Them Or Trying To Open A Jar Ortoothpaste. Or I Love Toread And It Hurts To Turnthe Pages.
Sometimes Ido Nothing Allday And Then I Use My Hand S For 5 Minutes And The Pain And Tingling Start.
Itsd No Joke And I Feel That Work Is Responsible For It And They Did Not Take Me Serious Because I Dont Looksick. So Im Home Doing Nothing Allday.
How About You???

skych · 06-10-2007, 06:44 PM

Hello Hurten, Chaterbox,

I am so sorry that you guys are in so much pain I really can relate!

I have been on workers comp for almost 3 years! I have had 4 surgeries on my left arm!

The first was for carpal tunnel, then a thing called a TFCC repair. (Triangular Fibro Cartilage Complex) That surgery is to repair an area of the wrist that is similar to haveing a torn miniscus in your knee. It is the main support area of the wrist. So after the second surgery I started to have some serious pain in my elbow. I complained and complained and at one point they wanted to do an injection but I had another surgery for another health problem and they decided not to do it., because it would slow down the healing process or something! After a long time almost a year I finally got to see a doc in another state about my wrist, an orthepedic DOc who is one of the most renown Ortho's in the country, all the while I am also still complaining of the elbow. Anyway they did the 3rd surgery called the DRUJ, (Distal Radial Ulnar Joint) Basically they did a wrist reconstruction. This involved using my Palmaris Longus and drilling holes in the Ulna and radius and then taking the palmarus longus and threading it through and tieing to creat a new support system for my wrist. This surgery flarred up the elbow so bad that finally after another very long and painful 19 months they finally did a 4th surgery for Ulnar nerve transposition in the elbow.

I too have some numbness and tingling that I was told may never go away, as well as an area that is almost completly numb around where the inscision was and it to my be permanent. The buring sensation that was there prior to the elbow surgery is gone and I have a minimal amout of pain. Just nerve regeneration and sorness from Physical therapy.
I have issues with the right arm from over use as well as the left rotator cuff on the left arm being at a huge risk now because of lack of use of my left arm for 3 years. I go to PT for those things. Slow to regain strength!

Hurten, In my state I have learned to just keep on bugging my workers comp people untill they get things done. In my state you may ask for an Independent Medical Evaluation. This is when a Doctor that Has never seen you before does an evaluation of your injury as it is now and then he/she makes a recomendation if they think that will help. That person has to have all your medical records from the begining of the injury. Make sure you get a copy of the records that are sent so that you can make sure that they send the right information. In my case they did not do that and no doc would see me. I finally figured out why and threw a fit for them to get it right. After they did, it had prolonged my care for at least 4-5 months. In this state my Comp carrier has assigned me a nurse case manager that goes to doctor appointments with me and then she gets all the doctors orders approved in a really timely fashion, like days. The last 2 surgeries were approved with in a week with the nurse on the case. I am also going to a Pain Management Doctor that has helped me out tremendously!!! There is no reason i the world that you should have to suffer!! If it was not for Him and the nurse working together to get me on the right track with treatments (meds, surgeries, tests, etc) I can only imagine where I would be.
It has been a long road and I am now weaning off all the meds and hoping to go off the workers comp soon.

Please please do not let them push you around!! It is your body and your lively-hood that they are not managing very well.
Every state is different for workers comp but if you look in the phone book under atterneys, you may find ones that are sate appointed. In my phone book it is listed in the atterney section under Nevada Aterneys For Injured Workers. They answered some questions for me and sent me a packets that explained what MY rights were as the injured worker.

I am wishing yo the best of luck and most importantly some relief of your pain. If you have any more question please make a post and ask, as I have learned a bunch from my experience. I don't know it all but some!!!

Chrissy