Re: ulnar nerve entrapment leads to rsd

More | Report Post

On 5/21/08, Shane wrote:
> I am a 22 year old male from new york. In october of 2007
> I was hurt at work, a bunjii cord snapped and hit me in my
> elbow, which created an ulnar nerve entrapment at the
> elbow. I suffered through physical therapy for 3 months
> before the doc said it's time for surgery... the
> entrapment led to a condition known as "claw hand
> deformity". my left ring and small finger curled into my
> palm and stayed there. so I went in for surgery in
> february, and had an ulnar nerve transposition. the
> surgery was a success, my fingers returned back to their
> normal positions, and i continued physical therapy for the
> next three weeks with much progress. after the 3rd week, i
> developed very serious pains in my entire arm and hand. i
> called the doc and she prescribed vicoprofen, and said to
> make an appt. with her after the weekend had passed.
> monday morning i go into the doc's office and she see that
> i cannot move my arm nor open my hand to any extent, so
> she prescribes a script for a possible infection. i run
> the course of the script and there was no relief. so here
> i am, minus a limb, stuck with a closed fist because its
> so unbearable to move or open. so she sends me to pain
> management where i am finally diagnosed correctly. as a
> result of the surgery i developed a nerve disease refered
> to as RSD (reflex sympathetic distrophy). i am prescribed
> medications, lidoderm patches, narcotics, opiates, anti-
> inflamatories and every week, once a week, for six weeks
> i received a nerve block (stellate ganglion block). a
> needle shoved into my neck that paralyzed my vocal cords,
> left me with a lump in my throat the size of the alps, and
> the worst case of "pink eye". EVERYTHING...TO NO EVAIL.
> nothing worked. so now it is nearing the end of may, and
> because i cant move my arm or hand, the muscles are
> beginning to contract, and my p.t. says that if something
> is not done soon to mobilize my dead appendage, i will
> lose all function of it for the rest of my life. NOW...THE
> LAST, WORST CASE SCENARIO...a little contraption called a
> SPINAL CORD STIMULATOR. someone is going to go digging in
> my back, implant this device, plug it into my spine, and
> hope for the best. WOW. I am so fed up with the, "well if
> this doesnt work" and the "lets try this". i dont want to
> feel the pain anymore. i want to go back to work. i want
> to be 22 years old again. if someone is out there that has
> been through something similar, please tell me, inform me,
> help me understand. what do i do now? ill never be able to
> work again. how do i pay bills in the future? what type of
> compensation do i receive from the comp. insurers? how
> much is enough for a settlement? please... anyone...

I have been going through the same thing minus the clawing of
the hand for 3 yrs. I too have tried various medicines, PT
however my Dr is a total work comp Dr who refuses to do
anything else for it. I was 25 when diagnosed and had surgery.
the surgery only made it worse. I have been to several Drs on
my own who all agree the nerve is beyond repair. I have filed
a lawsuit against Work Comp (which takes a year or two to come
up) I have just done my deposition and should be offered a
settlement soon. The settlement will totally depend on what
state yoou are in. My advice is to figure your wages from the
time of injury (or when work comp stops paying) to the age of
65 here your settlement would probably be around half of that.
Also make a list of other things you are not able to do.
As for your arm surgeries are only going to make it worse.
Elavil has been the only thing that helps me and it pretty
much just helps me sleep. Lyrica is also suppose to be good
but i could not take it due to side effects. The other pain
meds do not seem to help nerve pain. I also soak my arm in hot
water several times a day and do stretching exercises (because
my arm is locked up) Unfortunately I have learned to deal with
not getting my youth back i have missed out on alot with my
children and wish everyday someone would fix it but all say it
can not be fixed because the nerve would only become more
damaged and I would loose total use of my arm.