Some history:
May 2006, I suffered a back injury at work. It was declared permanent in 2007, it's in my upper back and there's no remedy. Fine and dandy. It doesn't affect my quality of life much. Some yes, constant low grade pain, and physical limitations of anything involving moving my shoulder. (ex. folding laundry, I cannot do. Driving, I can't drive for longer than a couple hours. I need a special chair to support my upper back. I cannot lift over a lb from my waist to shoulder. I'm ok lifting floor to waist. To some it may seem more serious, but wait till you read below and you will understand why I find it ok to deal with)
Feb.14, 2007: I woke up in the evening (worked midnights, sleep during the day) and I literally could not move either of my hands. They were swollen and seized, excruitiating pain. Went to the hospital, diagnosed with inflammatory tendinitis.
This was not out of the blue. My hands/arms/elbows had been giving me problems at work for about 6mos prior. (I was an industrial cleaner at an egg plant...meaning I played with pressure washers, did alot of repetitive gripping/squeezing/pinching... maintenence on heavy equipement, etc.)
Extensive physiotherepy helped me regain some ROM (range of motion) and some strength. Reached a plateau where I was not getting better, but not getting worse.
Declared a permanent disability as well.
I also had furthur medical which showed that I have DeQuervians tendinitis ( http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00007) in both thumbs, as well as both medial epicondylitis (golfers elbow http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/elbo...lferselbow.htm) and lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/elbow/a/tenniselbow.htm)
You can say that my arms/hands are totally messed up
Summer of 2007, I entered the WSIB (workers comp) LMR (labor market reentry) program as I would never be able to work my job again. I went to school, got my Gr. 12 in Dec. 07. Started college for Web design/development in Feb. 2008), with assistive aids n' such to accomodate my disabilities. Not a smart program choice
but the disability company thought with the assistive aids (voice software to limit typing, arm supports, custom braces, etc) that I could do this program. If they had researched properly, this would not have been appropriate. The voice software works well for typing the english language. It does NOT work well for typing programming languages, or graphic design (not usable at all).
By August, when we started some of the heavier programming courses, everything flared up because I had to type it. I am stubborn and don't know how to quit LOL. Eventually it got to the point that I was missing alot of classes due to not physically being able to drive into school, somedays not being able to dress myself or tend to personal hygiene (showerring, using the washroom, etc).
Nov. 2008, WSIB pulled me out of school pending furthur medical. I have been at home since then, doing nothing. I play on the comp (via voice software) and sit on my butt all day.
Rest usually helps tendinitis subside. Hence the reason I was ok for the first part of schooling (getting my gr. 12, I used voice software... and it was in town, so I only drove 5mins, I still had the tendinitis but the inflammation had lessened so for the most part I could function, with pain medication.... college, driving 45mins 2x a day, unable to use the voice software for alot of my course...my dr. will not prescribe stronger pain meds than what I have).
My family dr. is a moron. I've been at home, resting for 3mos and finally got the appt. to go to the Hand and Upper limb clinc for a reassessment (had been discharged in Oct. 2007).
Feeling not too bad, I had my appt. yesterday, and was incredibly worried because I'm doing better than in Nov. and was having a "good" day. Some days are worse than others depending on if I actually do something or not. So on the outside I look fine, although my pain on a daily basis ranges from a 5 out of 10, to a 10 out of 10 (and that's on strong narcotic pain meds). But I had more functionality than I did when I was pulled from school, so my thinking was that it could appear I was "faking it".
Ummmmm. No.
Upon physical examination, I have not gotten as well as I feel, nor has the inflammation gone down as it should with 3mos of rest.
The Dr. highly recommends surgery
FINALLY. For the De Quervian's tendinitis because that is the one that inhibits me greatly. The elbows are secondary from a functionality standpoint. They think with more rest, the elbows will subside and shouldn't be a huge issue. Constant low grade pain though, but I have 90% of the normal ROM in my right, and 85% in my left.
Now I get to play the waiting game. It could be 2-3mos before I get the call with the surgery appt.
But I am HAPPY, so happy that I will be getting the surgery. Something like 98% of patients who have this surgery will regain 100% functionality of their hands
Yes, as with any surgery, there are risks involved. The surgery is simple and straight foreward but the radial nerve lays ontop of the band they have to cut, and it is very sensitive to even the slighest brushing with a finger/surgical instrument/etc and could cause permanent, unrepairable injury.
It is a risk I am willing to take. My quality of life is awful, I can't even begin to describe how awful you feel when you can't even wipe yourself after using the bathroom, your kids have to open containers for you, brush your hair, help you pull up your pants. The things we take for granted untill we lose the ability to do them
Not to mention living in daily agony....unless you've experienced it, you can't even begin to comprehend the effects it has on a person. I am seeing someone for the pyschological aspects of all of this...it helps, a little... as well as I've met a few people who are in the same boat (not same injuries, but dealing with no independance, little hope, constant pain, etc) and that has helped more than the psychiatrist
As well as the harassment from my employer, the issues with WSIB, etc. Someone saying "I understand" who has never been through this, does not understand. How can they? They can empathasize but noone can understand what it does to you. I went from a physical active, healthy and very independant 29 yr old, to not being able to wipe my own butt. That's the most direct way I can put it so one who has never experienced this type of situation, can relate to it. I will be 32 in May... hopefully I will be having the surgery then
If anyone, is dealing with any of the above and needs support, please don't hesitate to msg me.
Has anyone here ever had the surgery for De Quervians, or golfers/tennis elbow?
If you made it to the end, I truly thank you for reading and appreciate you taking the time to do so. Any extra support I can get would be great, and I would be extremely greatful for that.
thank you.
May 2006, I suffered a back injury at work. It was declared permanent in 2007, it's in my upper back and there's no remedy. Fine and dandy. It doesn't affect my quality of life much. Some yes, constant low grade pain, and physical limitations of anything involving moving my shoulder. (ex. folding laundry, I cannot do. Driving, I can't drive for longer than a couple hours. I need a special chair to support my upper back. I cannot lift over a lb from my waist to shoulder. I'm ok lifting floor to waist. To some it may seem more serious, but wait till you read below and you will understand why I find it ok to deal with)
Feb.14, 2007: I woke up in the evening (worked midnights, sleep during the day) and I literally could not move either of my hands. They were swollen and seized, excruitiating pain. Went to the hospital, diagnosed with inflammatory tendinitis.
This was not out of the blue. My hands/arms/elbows had been giving me problems at work for about 6mos prior. (I was an industrial cleaner at an egg plant...meaning I played with pressure washers, did alot of repetitive gripping/squeezing/pinching... maintenence on heavy equipement, etc.)
Extensive physiotherepy helped me regain some ROM (range of motion) and some strength. Reached a plateau where I was not getting better, but not getting worse.
Declared a permanent disability as well.
I also had furthur medical which showed that I have DeQuervians tendinitis ( http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00007) in both thumbs, as well as both medial epicondylitis (golfers elbow http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/elbo...lferselbow.htm) and lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/elbow/a/tenniselbow.htm)
You can say that my arms/hands are totally messed up
Summer of 2007, I entered the WSIB (workers comp) LMR (labor market reentry) program as I would never be able to work my job again. I went to school, got my Gr. 12 in Dec. 07. Started college for Web design/development in Feb. 2008), with assistive aids n' such to accomodate my disabilities. Not a smart program choice
By August, when we started some of the heavier programming courses, everything flared up because I had to type it. I am stubborn and don't know how to quit LOL. Eventually it got to the point that I was missing alot of classes due to not physically being able to drive into school, somedays not being able to dress myself or tend to personal hygiene (showerring, using the washroom, etc).
Nov. 2008, WSIB pulled me out of school pending furthur medical. I have been at home since then, doing nothing. I play on the comp (via voice software) and sit on my butt all day.
Rest usually helps tendinitis subside. Hence the reason I was ok for the first part of schooling (getting my gr. 12, I used voice software... and it was in town, so I only drove 5mins, I still had the tendinitis but the inflammation had lessened so for the most part I could function, with pain medication.... college, driving 45mins 2x a day, unable to use the voice software for alot of my course...my dr. will not prescribe stronger pain meds than what I have).
My family dr. is a moron. I've been at home, resting for 3mos and finally got the appt. to go to the Hand and Upper limb clinc for a reassessment (had been discharged in Oct. 2007).
Feeling not too bad, I had my appt. yesterday, and was incredibly worried because I'm doing better than in Nov. and was having a "good" day. Some days are worse than others depending on if I actually do something or not. So on the outside I look fine, although my pain on a daily basis ranges from a 5 out of 10, to a 10 out of 10 (and that's on strong narcotic pain meds). But I had more functionality than I did when I was pulled from school, so my thinking was that it could appear I was "faking it".
Ummmmm. No.
Upon physical examination, I have not gotten as well as I feel, nor has the inflammation gone down as it should with 3mos of rest.
The Dr. highly recommends surgery
Now I get to play the waiting game. It could be 2-3mos before I get the call with the surgery appt.
Yes, as with any surgery, there are risks involved. The surgery is simple and straight foreward but the radial nerve lays ontop of the band they have to cut, and it is very sensitive to even the slighest brushing with a finger/surgical instrument/etc and could cause permanent, unrepairable injury.
It is a risk I am willing to take. My quality of life is awful, I can't even begin to describe how awful you feel when you can't even wipe yourself after using the bathroom, your kids have to open containers for you, brush your hair, help you pull up your pants. The things we take for granted untill we lose the ability to do them
If anyone, is dealing with any of the above and needs support, please don't hesitate to msg me.
Has anyone here ever had the surgery for De Quervians, or golfers/tennis elbow?
If you made it to the end, I truly thank you for reading and appreciate you taking the time to do so. Any extra support I can get would be great, and I would be extremely greatful for that.
thank you.
