I hate my doctor...

[fiberaddict]

Let's see: fingers numb to the first knuckle and tingly, wrist achy, small spasms, thumb totally painful.

Diagnosis: has no clue. Do the exercises (BTDT), do nothing else with the hand until next visit (JUNE, people. I am expected to do NOTHING with my hand until JUNE).

It's workers comp, and he's the best ortho on their list, so changing is not really an option (unless I want to pony up the $$, and I can't afford it).

Disgusted? Nah - whatever gave you that idea? I'm sick of this. I think I need to go do some maintenance on my Kubota. Maybe the ER docs could do something about it?

Comments

[hugh-mannity.livejournal.com]

Sheesh.... Do *NOTHING* with one hand till JUNE????? And you a parent and fiber artist.

I got one thing to say to them, actually, it's not a word. It's a gesture and it only needs one hand :)

Sheesh.. Hugs and sympathies and all that.

[fiberaddict.livejournal.com]

I know. The sad thing is, I haven't been *using* my left hand for much of anything since *before* surgery #4 (in December). It's not getting better, so I can't really see how not using it for another 3 months is going to make a difference.

*sigh* I *will* be knitting a willie-warmer soon, and a tam, simply because I *have* to. That'll be just about it for the fiber stuff, though....maybe. *g*

[piraterogue.livejournal.com]

Sounds like what you Really need is a Nuerologist because frankly the tingle feeling sounds like a nerve thing. Either that or a blood flow thing. your fingers not normal colors? return to the original color quickly when you squeeze the end of them?

[fiberaddict.livejournal.com]

BTDT. I've been to 3 neurologists over the past 4 years of this. The fingers are normal colored; they are swollen, but they've been swollen since surgery #1 way back in 2002.

The last visit was last year...in October, I think. The doc had all my records; he was concerned because my left hand was noticably colder than the right hand.

There *is* noticable nerve damage, per the EEG (or whatever the letters are; the test where they stick needles in all the nerves, run current, and time the reaction.) We did a cyrogenic nerve block in Aug. 04 to try and get rid of the pain (under the premise that if you can't fix the problem, cover it up so you can ignore it.)...that was the biggest mistake I ever made. Not only did it Not work, it made it worse. (To the point that I was getting cortisone injections every time I went in, until I said No More because I couldn't handle the side-effects anymore. I quit counting around 6 - but I think I got 10 in all)

I'm seriously considering going out and working on my bush-hog blades...while the tractor is running. (Don't worry - my kids need me. I won't go quite that far.)

[piraterogue.livejournal.com]

Ummm, having no clue where you are have you contemplated a hand specialist? as in a doctor that JUST deals with hand problems. I cut my little sisters finger 95% off when she was three and now she can't even find the scar. Might see if there is one anywhere near you. Only one i know the name of is in the DC metro area, so if you live near their I'll find the name for you.

[fiberaddict.livejournal.com]

I'm in Texas....and yes, we're glad we shipped him off. Sorry, America.

Errr. *g*

Anyway, the doc I'm seeing is a hand/wrist specialist. Since it's worker's comp, I have to go to someone on their list. He's one of the best in the area (surprisingly to *me* - you certainly can't prove it by My results), and the rest on the list aren't specialists, just general orthopeds.

I'm just ticked off right now. This has been going on since the injury occured in Feb. 01. 4 surgeries, 1 cyrogenic nerve block, too many cortisone injections later, and we're still at almost the same point. (OK, so the spasms aren't *quite* as bad. Whoopee!) I've given up spinning (pretty much), weaving, knitting (completely, so far, but since it hasn't helped I'm going to grab the needles and whip out a couple of small projects), my work assignments have been changed so I'm not typing so much (that's the original cause of the injury). I don't walk my monster dogs, don't try to catch or ride the horses, don't carry either kid (most of the time)......

I'm allergic to all the pain-meds we've tried (vicoden makes me itch, darvocet makes me itch and swell....whatever the 3rd one was made me wired and itch.....) so - yeah. It's a boatload of fun around here!

Thanks for the advice, though. I think I need to check the WC's list again to see if they've added anyone new.

[piraterogue.livejournal.com]

Well there is always the option of seeing the specialist you want because the WC docs aren't helping a sending the bill to WC and forcing them to pay, it IS possible, it's a HUGE pain in the ass, but then again you seem to already have that huge pain in the ass going for you. Up to you.