meltel
Crowing
Good morning Whites!! It's my left hand but I need both because I am required to lift 200lb dead weight patients on a daily basis and i am worried about grip strength and mobility-I don'y want to drop and hurt someone-or myself! I have to see who they tell me to because its workmans comp and they are being very difficult because they want me in and out and are even being argumentative about me seeing an in network specialist because its a 2 1/2 week wait-which is normal for a good surgeon. I made my point and they are going to let me see the Dr that specifically treats this. my husband has really good insurance but they wont touch it because its a workmans comp injuryGood morning, Mel
I just thought of something that may be of some use to you. Being in the profession, I'm sure you know the reputation of Johns Hopkins here in MD. Do they do the kind of work you need?
I know what it is to lose the use of your dominant hand. I got lucky; most of my function returned.
Three or four years ago, I came down with a case of Shingles. I essentially lost the use of my right arm & hand. The resulting nerve damage was such that I couldn't even write legibly for six months or more. Whenever I needed to sign anything all I could do was make an "X" I had no grip strength in that hand, nor enough sensation to know if I was still carrying whatever I had in my hand, or had dropped it. I could still drive, once I was able to get the key in the ignition, but I had to give up bowling that season 'cause I couldn't grip the 5" duckpin ball. I had to use both hands just to pick up a glass. I eventually learned to use my other hand to do a lot of things, but I lost my job as a newspaper carrier; I couldn't hold onto a Sunday paper...it was too heavy, and I couldn't reach the plastic bags hanging below the rear view mirror. Worst of all, I couldn't even manage a fishing rod w/o using both hands. It was, and still is, to a lesser degree, a PITA.
Today, after 6 months or so of PT, I'm able to do just about everything normally. I can write, though not very legibly sometimes. It's as if I'd suffered a stroke. I still can't pick up a full glass w/o consciously making sure I have a good grip on it. When I bowl, I pull the ball to the left a lot 'cause the muscles in that arm aren't 100%. I can't throw a baseball or pitch a horseshoe any distance worth a chit, and that really bugs me 'cause I love both games. My hand still feels numb most of the time, my fingers don't always work right, & I sometimes have a stinging sensation in that arm. As you know, nerve damage takes a long time to heal, & sometimes never does. I'm still not 100%, & probably never will be at this point, but you learn to compensate to do the things you need/want to do.
I hope that you're able to find a doctor somewhere that has the knowledge & willingness to do what needs to be done to get you back to normal function. He's out there; it's just a matter of finding him. If it's viable, you really ought to check out Johns Hopkins University Hospital; they're the best in the world at what they do.
Good luck, Mel, and don't give up; it'll all work itself out in the end.
