carpel tunnel questions

[katicabogar]

Hi, Tinar,

I agree with Confused..try to get an attorney. I know it is though to find one but not impossible. Many of the lawyers list themselves under Personal Injury not as WorkComp lawyers.
I had several surgeries(five)for carpal tunnel/tendonytis and trigger thumbs on both hands and I still have lots of problems and pain not only in my hands, but also in my arms/shouders and now in my neck, also.
My ortho surgeon is a very busy and famous one, so after my last surgery, because I still complained about pain, he abandoned me not willing to admit, surgeries failed. W/c refusing to pay for any medical since 2006 because this same doctor put me at mmi knowing I was still having lots of issues. And he wasn't even working for W/c.
My new doctor tells me I am still having issues because it's coming from my neck? Now this is new as I was never diagnosed with neck problem, but lately I am having tingling in my neck, also. Doctor told me, condition was treated(carpal tunnel) but not the cause(neck problem). I am more frustrated and confused than ever and my lawyer doesn't seem to help. I know I need more tests and more treatment but I am not getting them. Not sure what future holds but I will fight as I have no choice.
I hope you will figure out also how to fight and don't give up.
Good luck.

Confusedd...what other dx you have besides carpal tunnel? Is it related to your neck also? Did the judge order more treatment for you? My new doctor just diagnosed me with this: Brachial Neuritis. Lawyer said w/c will not pay for neck trouble but I don't understand why am I still in so much pain and I don't even work? Most of my problems are in my fingers and arms/shoulders.
Thanks.

[jamieo922]

I also have carpal in both wrists, Mine also have bone chips in both hands and fingers from a bad fall , Most of the doctors feel we are not smart enough to understand what we feel. You need to get and attourny in the state you live in .

[Confusedd]

katicabogar Wrote:Hi, Tinar,

I agree with Confused..try to get an attorney. I know it is though to find one but not impossible. Many of the lawyers list themselves under Personal Injury not as WorkComp lawyers.
I had several surgeries(five)for carpal tunnel/tendonytis and trigger thumbs on both hands and I still have lots of problems and pain not only in my hands, but also in my arms/shouders and now in my neck, also.
My ortho surgeon is a very busy and famous one, so after my last surgery, because I still complained about pain, he abandoned me not willing to admit, surgeries failed. W/c refusing to pay for any medical since 2006 because this same doctor put me at mmi knowing I was still having lots of issues. And he wasn't even working for W/c.
My new doctor tells me I am still having issues because it's coming from my neck? Now this is new as I was never diagnosed with neck problem, but lately I am having tingling in my neck, also. Doctor told me, condition was treated(carpal tunnel) but not the cause(neck problem). I am more frustrated and confused than ever and my lawyer doesn't seem to help. I know I need more tests and more treatment but I am not getting them. Not sure what future holds but I will fight as I have no choice.
I hope you will figure out also how to fight and don't give up.
Good luck.

Confusedd...what other dx you have besides carpal tunnel? Is it related to your neck also? Did the judge order more treatment for you? My new doctor just diagnosed me with this: Brachial Neuritis. Lawyer said w/c will not pay for neck trouble but I don't understand why am I still in so much pain and I don't even work? Most of my problems are in my fingers and arms/shoulders.
Thanks.

As far as other testing goes, just to let you know i talked to my regular treating physician about a Mri of my neck becasue my current W/C treating physician said the xray showed some compresson from c-4 to c-5. The insurance company did not want to pay for it,
no big surprise.
My Current treating physician as most do not want to get involved in W/C injuries, however he would do the MRI if i wanted to pay for it.
I almost did, it whould have been 1000.00 but it was proof and would have proved something else was wrong. (IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT MIGHT BE WORTH IT).

I was also told by my W/C treating physician, my neck was prob. one of the reasons for the C/T, that is why i still have it, along with all my other problems. Makes sense.

In my opinion, the insurance company denies any further testings because most people can not afford it, and don't do it. Therefore, it does not get diagnosed and the insurance company does not have to pay for further treatment. And the injured person stay's injured.

Good Luck!

[katicabogar]

Confusedd,

Thanks for your reply. My family physician referred me for further testing to a neurologist, but I can't really afford these tests , so I wait. I may have to go to court in the future and fight for more medical treatment. Right now w/c is not paying for anything except voc rehab and they are trying to close my claim. Did you have to fight it out in court, too? I may have to do it alone as my lawyer doesn't really help me fight this.
Kat

[Confusedd]

katicabogar Wrote:Confusedd,

Thanks for your reply. My family physician referred me for further testing to a neurologist, but I can't really afford these tests , so I wait. I may have to go to court in the future and fight for more medical treatment. Right now w/c is not paying for anything except voc rehab and they are trying to close my claim. Did you have to fight it out in court, too? I may have to do it alone as my lawyer doesn't really help me fight this.
Kat

Katicabogar,

Do you have an attorney, if not is sure sounds like you need one.

I am sure W/C is trying to close the claim asap, they do not want you to find any other injuries. I strongly suggest you try to get some more testing done asap, if they can find out what the real problem is, and it is work related, W/C will have to pay TTD.

What ever you do, do not close your case if you are still having problems. I would do what ever it takes including maxing out a Credit Card.

Nothing will be easy here on W/C..everything is a fight between you and them. I have found that they really try to get you to give up and just close the case, so they meaning (worker Comp.) can pay as little as possible.

I do have an attorney, which assigned me a AME which decideds all my furture medical. However, even tho the attorney knows all the legal stuff, which has been helpfull, I have been left on my own to fight the rest of the system, Dr.s , new testing, being terminated after 25 yrs, loosing my medical and all kinds of other stuff.

I recommend to everyone, to not give up! this is what they want that is why they make things so hard. "FIGHT THIS SYSTEM WITH EVERYTHING YOU GOT DON'T GIVE UP UNTIL YOU FEEL YOU ARE BETTER."

Good Luck!

[sparkey]

That is exactly what i am doing also. I had my PIR rating done and came out with a 39% rating which was so good that the ic now is trying to fight it. Saying that in 1998 that my origional carpal tunnel may not of been cured. It was or i would not of been able to work almost 10 yrs without it.

I went to my PCP and talked with him about how i just want to get fixed and waiting on the ic to settle and then i am going for a MRI and going to a specialist to get further tested as to what is causing all my pain from my neck to my fingertips. I am so bad today that i had to put my dominant hand behind my back to finish the day today so i would remind myself not to use it. My PCP agreed to order a MRI when i settle. I cannot live like this at a early age of 45 in pain everyday, and would surely love to not have to take such strong pain meds to get rid of some of the pain ( not all). I am always at a 7 pain level and i take pretty strong meds. If i had none i would not be able to function at all, and i do not want to live this life any longer.

If your doctor has not put you at MMI i would demand further testing. As far as what i read earlier in one of the post about wearing the brace constantly except to do dishes or whatever it was, i disagree on that. I was told to not wear it all the time as i feel that is how i got frozen shoulder. I was having the weight of it bearing down on my shoulder and protecting my hand for 2 months while i worked light duty. It only made me suffer more injuries than what i had. I was told that it is not good to ALWAYS wear it, and to use it as much as possible as if you notice when you wear it all the time, your wrist will freeze up and not get full extension that it should. Please take it off many times a day, just be careful how you use it when you do. My PT also told me that if you do not use your hand it will lose mobility and only cause more damage and need physical therapy down the road for ROM. Wearing to bed is good though.

[katicabogar]

Confusedd Wrote:Confusedd,


Katicabogar,

Do you have an attorney, if not is sure sounds like you need one.

I am sure W/C is trying to close the claim asap, they do not want you to find any other injuries. I strongly suggest you try to get some more testing done asap, if they can find out what the real problem is, and it is work related, W/C will have to pay TTD.

What ever you do, do not close your case if you are still having problems. I would do what ever it takes including maxing out a Credit Card.

Nothing will be easy here on W/C..everything is a fight between you and them. I have found that they really try to get you to give up and just close the case, so they meaning (worker Comp.) can pay as little as possible.

I do have an attorney, which assigned me a AME which decideds all my furture medical. However, even tho the attorney knows all the legal stuff, which has been helpfull, I have been left on my own to fight the rest of the system, Dr.s , new testing, being terminated after 25 yrs, loosing my medical and all kinds of other stuff.

I recommend to everyone, to not give up! this is what they want that is why they make things so hard. "FIGHT THIS SYSTEM WITH EVERYTHING YOU GOT DON'T GIVE UP UNTIL YOU FEEL YOU ARE BETTER."

Good Luck!

Confusedd,

I do have an attorney, the second one in six months. I handled w/c by myself for more than two years, than w/c started denying all medical and I had to hire a lawyer. First lawyer never returned my calls, so I got rid of him after one month and hired the current one. This new attorney I actually never seen him or spoke with him, I just deal with the paralegal and she was pretty good so far like meeting with Voc counselor, finding me a doctor etc. The problem is we are in litigation for three fingers only what w/c says cramping not related to work injury and this one is going on since Dec 2006. Since than I have more and more problems, all fingers/arms/shoulders and now neck but paralegal doesn't want to fight for treatment saying w/c not going to pay for it. I am frustrated and lost, new doctor not going to change his dx regarding the neck problem and told me he wants lawyer to call him. I am under more stress than ever and lawyer whom I never even spoke to, probably does't even know I exist. Don't know what to do, not easy to find a good lawyer and I just don't want to fight all w/c issues without one. That's why I decided I fight the medical if necessary without lawyer, but I need more info from people how they did it.
Thanks.
Kat

[Confusedd]

katicabogar Wrote:

Confusedd Wrote:Confusedd,


Katicabogar,

Do you have an attorney, if not is sure sounds like you need one.

I am sure W/C is trying to close the claim asap, they do not want you to find any other injuries. I strongly suggest you try to get some more testing done asap, if they can find out what the real problem is, and it is work related, W/C will have to pay TTD.

What ever you do, do not close your case if you are still having problems. I would do what ever it takes including maxing out a Credit Card.

Nothing will be easy here on W/C..everything is a fight between you and them. I have found that they really try to get you to give up and just close the case, so they meaning (worker Comp.) can pay as little as possible.

I do have an attorney, which assigned me a AME which decideds all my furture medical. However, even tho the attorney knows all the legal stuff, which has been helpfull, I have been left on my own to fight the rest of the system, Dr.s , new testing, being terminated after 25 yrs, loosing my medical and all kinds of other stuff.

I recommend to everyone, to not give up! this is what they want that is why they make things so hard. "FIGHT THIS SYSTEM WITH EVERYTHING YOU GOT DON'T GIVE UP UNTIL YOU FEEL YOU ARE BETTER."

Good Luck!

Confusedd,

I do have an attorney, the second one in six months. I handled w/c by myself for more than two years, than w/c started denying all medical and I had to hire a lawyer. First lawyer never returned my calls, so I got rid of him after one month and hired the current one. This new attorney I actually never seen him or spoke with him, I just deal with the paralegal and she was pretty good so far like meeting with Voc counselor, finding me a doctor etc. The problem is we are in litigation for three fingers only what w/c says cramping not related to work injury and this one is going on since Dec 2006. Since than I have more and more problems, all fingers/arms/shoulders and now neck but paralegal doesn't want to fight for treatment saying w/c not going to pay for it. I am frustrated and lost, new doctor not going to change his dx regarding the neck problem and told me he wants lawyer to call him. I am under more stress than ever and lawyer whom I never even spoke to, probably does't even know I exist. Don't know what to do, not easy to find a good lawyer and I just don't want to fight all w/c issues without one. That's why I decided I fight the medical if necessary without lawyer, but I need more info from people how they did it.
Thanks.
Kat

Hi katicabogar,

Sorry to hear things are so crappy. The workers comp system is one the worst i have ever been in.

In my case, my attorner and my employer's doctor's did not agree with the medical testing need, so they both agreed to a AME (agreed medical Examiner).
This doctor would be the final decision as to what future medical and treatments i would need. His report will trump all other Dr's reports.

For the most part i agree with what my AME not 100% but prob 75% which is much closer than other Dr's.

Has you attonery ever suggested getting a AME it might help solve some of these issues.

I would say, do not let the insurance company get to you or wear you down, stick with the fight until you get the necessary treatment and feel better.

Good Luck!
Confusedd