any help would be much appreciated!!!!

[risingeagle222]

I have been back to work for almost 2 months after having carpal tunnel surgery, a trigger finger fixed and also a cyst removed. My hand was doing farely well up until 2 weeks ago or so. Im having alot of pain in my hand and now also my shoulder. This morning when i got up i couldnt straighten 3 of my fingers.....was like they werent going to move.
I finally told work today i have been having problems but they said arthritus isnt covered by workmans comp. I have no clue who diagnosed this.....i guess work did. Needless to say I left work 4 hours early in tears because of this whole mess.
They told me it was my choice to come to work and if i hurt then maybe i should look for a different job.
I can't just quit as my hubby is disabled..........i have to work.
Any ideas for me ???? anyone?????
I will never find another job because of all this so I don't know what to do. Thanks and i appreciate all of you very much!!!!!!

[jayne]

you need a lawyer

[red1030]

Hi risingeagle222 and welcome to the board.  I can't tell you what to do, you are going to have to make those decisions.  I might be able to throw out some options for you.  First, how long were you out on workmans compensation?  Did the company notify you that you were also using your EFML?  Next I would want to know where the diagnosis of arthritis came from and if it is truely arthritis.  Maybe you went back to work to soon and you need more healing time.  This is something that you need to talk to your doctor about.  If it is indeed arthritis which is not surprising following a surgery, you may want to take to your doctor about treatment for this.  If you need some time off related to a new disease, then you may ask for some time on your EFML if you have not already used it for the time out with workman's compensation.  I hate it when an employer is so heartless that he or she says look for another job especially when a person is already in pain.  That was not something that you needed to deal with at the time.  Always remember that you come first, and without your health you have nothing.  Please keep us updated.  My praryers are with you.

[Bad Boy Bad Boy]

I have to agree, get in see your Doctor, get an X-ray, and lets see what is going on. Never know, the CTS may not of been the full problem from the begining, but your Doctor would need to state that for you.

[risingeagle222]

Thank you all your input. Guess I never even thought it could possibly be something more than what I had surgery on. I just want not to hurt anymore but seems work dont care about that.

[DarkAngel]

risingeagle222, Hi I'm new here. I joined the old board just before
the switch over so this is my first post. I had carpal tunnel and
trigger finger release in 3/06. I continued to have alot of pain and
swelling after the surgery and I have just recently been diagnosed with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. I'm not trying to scare you but
it is something to be aware of if everything else checks out ok.

[Babebahn]

Risingeagle...Call your doctor ASAP!

[rickandkryss]

I think that you need to definitly go see a doc. As far as work goes they are not the ones who have to live your life forever. My employer did the same garbage to me and I made the mistake of catering to their demands and work anyway. I was scared to lose my job and go into debt. Well I lost my job anyway because that was my employers goal in the first place...I let my employer cause me further disability before they "laid me off" though. Dont make that mistake. Yes, I lost my job, yes I went into severe debt but I came out better in the end. I now have a great job that pays more and I am slowly digging out of the debt, plus I am in college. I believe everything happens for a reason and I had to take 3 steps back to go 30 forward. The lesson I have learned is that the only thing I should have been concerned with back then is my body and how it was healing...it is important to stand up for your medical care, who else s going to?

[punk]

I agree, you need to contact your Dr. ASAP about the continuing pain!! As well, I don't know where you work, but unless they are Dr.'s it is not legal for them to diagnose you for any reason. It might just be one person's opinion, but since he/she isn't a Dr....then I would politely remind them that unless they have a Dr.'s degree that you would appreciate it if they would leave the diagnosing to the professionals! End of discussion!! I will tell you this though, after one has surgery on any joint...be it wrist, knee, ankle, back or whatever...there is usually some degree of arthritis that will set in, but it still needs to be diagnosed by a person of the medical profession!!!
As for your job, I don't know what kind of work that you do..is it possible for you to be looking for other, more suitable, employment so that you aren't overworking your affected parts. I realize the need to have employment and insurance for you as well as the rest of your family...however, if you seek other lines of employment BEFORE you were to quit then it'd be easier and most likely wouldn't have a lapse in coverage. If your spouse is disabled are the getting medicare/medicaide? If so, then they are covered in full until such time your new benefits would take effect. Therefore causing no lapse in coverage...thus no pre-existing. Now, if your employer has suggested that you find another job then I would be on the look-out that they may be looking for a reason to terminate you. I don't want to alarm you or scare you...but this is very real possibility, especially when dealing with a WC situation!!
If you don't have an attorney, now would be the time to be getting one. They can help you in many ways...medical and even some employment law help. Be sure to interview more than one before signing any retainer agreements...you have to be sure you'll be able to work with this person...you'll work very closely throughout all of this...clear through until settlement and possibly afterwards as well!
Hope this helps you a little! Keep us updated, and welcome to our little family here on the forum!! You'll find may helpful, knowledgeable people here to aid you in this! Feel free to pop on and ask ???'s, tell a funny, vent, rant/rage, cry and even give your own opinions. That's what we're here for....to give each other moral and emotional support as well as provide you with anything we might of learned that might be of benefit to you one day. Mind you, we don't give advice...we give opinions only!! We are not lawyers, Dr.'s, judges or anything like that...for the most part we are injured workers, just like you, who have been there--done that!! Good luck!!

[risingeagle222]

Thanks all for your input. I have an appt to see my surgeon on monday. The weird thing is my hands were doing farely well and then back on full duty now seems more things have starting causing me pain. This is not in my head as work seems to think it is..........but do they care??? The motto at work is ""we are all family here""......going for the puke bucket now.