Arthritis Insight-Member Stories-Missy

Missy

To tell my tale. I injured my R wrist at work picking up a 40 lb box. I thought it healed OK. But a few months later things weren't going great and was told I had carpal tunnel in both wrists with the R being the worse. I ended up having the surgery in May 2001. Didn't heal like I was hoping. Then in Jan 2002 I fell at work on the ice outside and injured both wrists. Now after nerve blocks that didn't work. One pain clinic told me to not come back as they had nothing else for me. I go to another who only gives me pills that don't work all that well. Inbetween all of this I saw a IME DR because my Work Comp carrier wanted me too. She decided that I was probably faking it due to nerve blocks not working,X-rays show nothing wrong,I did a strength test for her and failed cause I didn't try hard enough for her,That there no way my first injury could have turned into carpal tunnel. She moaned about all of the other DRs for not being smart enough to figure this out. She even complained about one DRs handwriting. So I was sent to Oregon to see two "psych" DRs to have testing. Its now been a little over two weeks and still no results of that. The testing they gave me was a spelling test,define certain words,math test,make pictures out of a book using little colored blocks, and an almost 600 question true/false test.I guess they are trying to figure out if I'm smart enough to feel pain.

Now I have the pain I have to deal with. Spasms in various parts of my body at times. Hands that go ice cold. Depression(on meds). No job. My job fired me for putting money into(YES you read it right) into my register when I made the mistake of letting someone alse use it and it came up short. Now can't find a job. I even got turned down by a 7-11 type store (gas and overpriced food). Cause I can't lift over 10lbs.

I guess I'll go now. I just needed to vent my frustration. Thank you. - Missy

Updated:

Results of "psych" DRs is in. They have labeled me as having an OPIOD dependency. That I'm only in the for the pain pills.

They base this on two separate times when I tried other stuff(the kind bought on dark corners) I did one thing 6 times and did the other 1. For the first item I have been clean 8+ years. The other item I did it once and have been clean 2+ years. Also before I was fired I would sometimes have 4-6 drinks a week,sometimes none. So since they were unable to find a "psych" problem they have given me this label. That I'm unable to give up the pain pills.

Also for all pain sufferers they added this statement:

Studies of patients with chemical dependency and pain syndromes who continue to use the drugs will never get better.

So according to these DRs they want to cut off the drugs, cut out my TENS unit,and to have me exercise and I'll be just fine.

The pain pill I take is Roxicet(5 mg percocet and 325 mg tylenol). I can take up to 6 a day. If I'd known then what I know now I would have never started on them damn pills. Pain or no pain. To have someone call you a drug dependent (addict) is the worst of all.

So I don't know what to think anymore. I don't even know if I should be posting here or not. Maybe find a drug addicts message board. I tried not to get depressed over this. The DRs tell you to learn to deal with the pain and then when you are trying to do that and you can smile once again then they tell you you're faking it and only want the drugs.

Updated:

My mother passed away recently (4/6/03) and I flew home from Alaska to Utah. I was miserable the whole way there and back cause now I have pain in both knees and one ankle as well as still in my hands. All that in and out of planes. Luggage handling. Airport walking. Then I stayed with my sister who lives 3 flights up the stairs. Next time I visit home I'll sleep in her yard. I love camping.

I wish someone would clue me in as to what is happening with my body. DRs so far are just here's the pills and have a nice day. If I could get anything for my birthday it would be to know whats wrong. Half the time I wonder if anything is or is it all in my head. God knows I don't want anything wrong but I'd be able to deal with it better if I just had a name for whatever is going on.

Trying to keep my mind off it by working in the yard. Raking and pulling weeds. Probably not the smartest thing to do when you hurt but I need get out and do something. My sunflower seeds I started are about 4 inches high now. The broccoli and lettuce starts are coming up just fine also. Can't wait to get to the garden.