Re: ulnar nerve entrapment leads to rsd

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get ART and Graston therapies to break down scar tissue and
get back range of motion

On 6/03/08, adlpn wrote:
> 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...
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> 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.