I NEED HELP!!!! with Carpal Tunnel, Tendonitis, and L&I

by Nyiesha W
(Kent, Washington)

My name is Nyiesha. I feel that I am currently in the middle of a losing battle with L&I and I am seeking suggestions, opinions...etc..

I have been dealing with carpal tunnel/tendonitis symptoms in both my hands, wrists and forearms for close to 6 years now.

The onset began when I started working as a Title Assistant/Escrow Assistant typing legal documents 10-12 hour days, 6 sometimes 7 days a week. I worked through the pain for about 4 years and finally brought it up to my doctor (GP).

After a quick series of tests she made me fill out an L&I claim before leaving. The company that I worked for was found responsible and my claim was opened up in January of 09.

From there I proceeded to see my GP on a monthly f/u basis and she approved me for bi-weekly Occupational Therapy. Through Occupational Therapy I was given paraffin dips and massages, given wrist splints to wear at all times (even hard cast splints at night while sleeping), silver ring splints for the tips of my fingers (finger deviation), and exercises to perform on a daily basis.

At the end of August, 2009, my claim was closed without notice. Not quite sure what happened or why my claim was closed.

Two weeks later(Sept. 09) the company that I worked for (that was responsible for my disability) laid me off. I got a lawyer a few days later and they began working on my case. In January, 2010, my claim was opened back up and I was approved for treatment and benefits. I began seeing my GP again on a monthly basis and she approved my Occupational Therapy for me. I have been going to Occupational Therapy since then.

My GP just recently (3 weeks ago) for the first time gave me a cortisone injection in my right elbow and prescribed some pain medication and anti-inflammatories. They were helping immensely for chronic and daily pain.

Then my attorneys suggested that I go to see a physiatrist so that they could assess my symptoms and offer further assistance so they set me up with a doctor for March 10, 2010.

On March 1st, my OT saw me for one last visit and then said that she was going on vacation and she failed to schedule future appts for me for when she returned, she just told me to see what the physiatrist suggested and then let them know.

I saw the physiatrist and was extremely unhappy with our visit. She told me that my problem was simply "overuse" and that there were a lot of employers out there who would still hire me but I wouldn't be able to go back into the field that I was presently in.

She suggested that maybe I should go back to school....in my opinion, going back to school right now would result in "overuse" of my hands/wrists/forearms. So she contradicted herself. I strongly feel that this physiatrists' report is going to mess up my recently re-opened L&I claim. I called my attorney's immediately after the appointment and explained my irritation and I really felt that they were no help. They told me to go back to my GP and see what she said.

Fast forward to today, when I tried to call and set an appointment with my GP. According the them, I have a past due account from a few years ago that would need to be paid before my GP could see me again. I was laid off and am on an extremely strict unemployment budget - if I had the money I would just pay it.

Not sure why they continued to allow me to see my GP for the last 6 months if I supposedly owed this money from two years ago?? So now I am STUCK...I feel like I am winning a losing battle (if that makes sense?).

Currently, I have no Doctor. I have no Physiatrist, I have no Occupational Therapist.....I was starting to see results and now it has all been taken away from me. I have tried to do searches online for new doctors but have really had no luck.

Maybe I have to grab the phonebook and just go down the line, calling every Doctor's office. I should not have to be dealing with this at this point in my case, I generally know my rights and this does not sit well with me. Do you have any suggestions?

I apologize for the length of this question. It has been difficult to type due to my disability but I am desperate. So many thoughts are rushing through my head right now,I am emotionally, physically and mentally drained. I am frustrated because even most of the smallest activities including household chores are painful for me.

EVEN FLOSSING MY TEETH causes extreme pain and soreness to my wrists. Stirring food in pots and pans is painful, wiping counters...pretty much everything you can think of causes some type of pain or discomfort. This is absolutely NOT just an overuse problem.

It has been a very rough 6 months since my layoff and a very rough 6 years of dealing with this injury. I am surviving though, I am a survivor.

If you can help or know someone who you think can point me in the right direction....I would be extremely and forever grateful.

Thank you for listening!
God bless!
Nyiesha W







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Joshua Tucker, B.A., C.M.T.
The Tendonitis Expert
www.TendonitisExpert.com