| Last Updated August 04, 2005 |
My TOS :
5 years ago I began having tingling, burning, pain in both hands, wrists and forearms, plus excruciating pain in my neck. I was a graphic design professional working 50+ hours per week at the computer. It seemed to be a "no-brainer" to diagnose me as having bilateral Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. After months of PT, conditions were still evident. After more months of work restrictions, the pain was still there. Finally I had bi-lateral CT releases in 2001 & 2002. . 6 months later, pain was still very evident and my doctor diagnosed severe nerve compressions in both my forearms. At that time, I was unable to oppose my thumbs and had a claw-finger condition in both index fingers. I felt completely disoriented losing the function of my hands and this affected even my balance. I had constant pain and nothing, even narcotics seemed to help me. After a year, I had surgical nerve releases for both sides. After the surgical releases in 2003, and after I returned to work, I was fired from my job due to my medical conditions. It has been 2 years since that surgery and I am still in great pain and feel completely incapacitated. Though I have had some jobs in the interim, I am still unable to hold a fulltime job doing anything. My hands still don't function well, I am clumsy and drop a lot of things. I can't seem to get anything done around my house, as I feel exhausted and in pain all the time. My sleep is horrible. I am awakened many times in the night because of arms tingling and burning. I have resorted to sleeping in a sitting position on my living room couch because I can sleep longer periods of time without the numbness waking me up. But this is also affecting my back. Now I feel constant achiness all over my body. But my pain conditions seem to worsen when I lie down in any position. There are times when I cry because I am so tired but I know I will be in pain if I lie down to sleep. My disability insurance carrier doesn't believe I have these continuing conditions because tests appear "normal." I have been tested using MRI, electromylograms and nerve conduction studies. All appear in the normal range, and yet I am in constant pain and it never goes away. Because I have appealed my disability carrier, I was sent to an IME doctor who, after about 5 minutes with me, suggested I could do 40 hours a week of any other profession (not graphic design) and he recommended that I could push or pull 25 lbs. for 2.5 hours, climb ladders and crawl on a job. So while I cannot type, and manage the computer design, I can use my hands and wrists in these other ways! This is ridiculous!. On that basis, however my carrier has denied my appeal! I live alone. I have discontinued an active social life because my friends don't understand or believe the pain I am in all the time. I tend to cry a lot, and tear up real easy whenever I need to face challenges. My hand surgeon now believes I may be suffering from TOS but is more inclined to recommend gastric bypass surgery instead of TOS therapy, since over the past 5 years I have been in pain I have also gained a lot of weight. This is quite a humourous suggestion, since he has made my weight the main cause of the pain instead of the TOS. He has accused me of being chronically depressed and "a pathetic individual" (as he puts it) because of my pain behavior, my weight and my inability to resume a "normal, productive life." He tells me that "sometimes you have to just deal with the pain" as he did when he climbed Half Dome in Yosemite! He says sometimes even though the pain ins tremendous, the adrenaline of achievement can actually act as a pain reliever. Does anyone else know anything about this remedy? Do something painful so the other pain isn't as noticeable? I don't tend to agree. Pain is a signal from the body that something is being injured or is suffering. But I am willing to diet and lose weight to help me feel better on other levels. If anyone else out there has had a similar experience with weight gain, please let me know how you have handled it. I have no desire to exercise, and actually cannot do any exercise without burning pain and immediate fatigue. Before all of this, I was dancing 3-4 times a week, singing in groups, and having a very active social life. My doctor thinks I am a candidate for psychiatry. I am seeing a counselor for pain behavior management, but I have not had any relief from my symtoms.We are experimenting with the Alexander tecnique. I would like to say it has helped, because this counselor is very devoted and a wonderful person. But nothing helps ... at least not yet. My disability carrier has denied my claim and I am gradually going broke with no immediate options except to get a job and do the work even if it causes me more pain. And yet, no matter where I am, even in a car, my lack of sleep causes me to to be drowsy and slow-thinking with a short attention span. I am just beginninng with a diagnosis of TOS. I hope I find a healing path that gives me hope.
None.