h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Making sense has never been one of my strong suits, as you've probably already noticed... but I AM capable of writing lists to take to the health store with me!

There is a possibility of scar tissue in the carpal tunnel. Sometimes the surgery has to be redone(I heard that comment). Make sure you ask them what can be done to minimize the possibility.

I don't quite understand the bit with other things (such as the elbow) getting involved. Is that a muscular or neurological problem?

Hey, you've got me beat hun, I'm not that organized!

I'm thinking muscular...

Then, I'm thinking skull cap, which is an antispasmodic, but not a muscle relaxer(you can still drive and operate heavy machinery, but only if you could before you took it). Just keeps the muscles from tensing...can't tell anything when you take it...it's very subtle. But, you will definitely know when it wears off. I've sprained that muscle under the shoulder blade(from coughing, no less). It took arnica, skull cap and ice packs just to get out of bed.

The elbow is definitely tendonitis (have had that chronically since the first wrist injury) but now they seem to be wondering if there's a neural component, too

Maybe a nerve was pinched in the original...um...impact/twisting? And, since then the outer sheath of the nerve has worn?

Your guess is as good as mine, Evangeline. When the therapist read the list of RSD symptoms the other day, most of them fit, but I don't have a real clear idea of cause, long-term effect, etc.

What worries me is that the Doc seems to agree that there's a good chance I've got it, whatever it is...

http://www.rsdhope.org/ShowPage.asp?PAGE_ID=3

http://www.rsdhope.org/ShowPage.asp?PAGE_ID=4
http://www.rsdhope.org/ShowPage.asp?PAGE_ID=39

Interesting links, thanks! I'd looked in WebMD earlier, didn't see a lot.

If I do, indeed, have this, sounds like I may have a long road ahead of me...

I googled. google.co.uk
We're all here for you.

Thanks!


On that note, kids, I'm gonna call it a night, I think. Tomorrow's another travel day, which will also include dealing with my boss. So I'd best get some rest, I think.

I appreciate everybody's kind thoughts! Thanks for the support, and for putting up with my whining!

Good night

Get well soon...Get well soon...

Night Ranger!

Drove 3 hours to a meeting today (in the snow part of the way) at my boss' office. In the middle of it, my surgeon's office calls my cell. To get my insurance to cover my surgery fully, they need a referral from my Primary Care Physician. I point out they had a referral from the local clinic. Not good enough.

So I call my Doc. She's going to be out of the office Fri/Mon, and the surgery is Tues. She won't give a referral without an office visit, but she will squeeze me in at the end of the day. So I sit through the rest of the meeting, then rush back to town. They take my co-pay. I wait. 15 minutes after my appointment time, she walks in, asks when my surgery is, says they'll take care of the referral in the morning. Doesn't look at my hand, doesn't ask me how I am, nothing. Is in there for less than a minute.



But, on the bright side, the $20 office visit will make my insurance coverage for the operation a WHOLE lot better. A small investment, I guess, but the whole mess just seemed so absurd. I've been dealing with this sh*t since October, and they just now realize they need more paperwork?!?!?

How very bizarre, and here was me thinking that only british doctors were slow!

I get why you need referral stuff but surely thats up to the relevant people to do, not you. Its not like its a new thing.
Or do they maybe think you wanted surgery just 'cause you had nothing better to do on tuesday?

*rolls eyes*

Hi Ranger! Sounds like a full day...how're you doing?

Well, ya see, Tuesday was looking a bit dull at work, so I thought, Hey, maybe I should have surgery instead, just to make work for medical personnel and irritate my boss...


Hiya Jazz!

I'm ok, I guess, but definitely stressing about this whole thing. I did NOT need further complicating factors!