Powerball
Yesterday two things happened, 1. the Powerball that J1 bought me, arrived in the mail. Just intime for 2. going to the specialist's specialist for my carpal tunnel.Maybe it's just me, but I hardly ever have any luck with doctors (besides the one's I'm related to). Initially, I went to a walk-in clinic because my hands and wrists were killing me. He referred me to a specialist - a rheumatologist. He determined that I have carpal tunnel syndrome and then referred me to another specialist, someone in the neurophysiology field.
Well, I went to that appointment yesterday. I got to the lab and was the only one there. I could hear alot of laughter in the back. I waited for the receptionist to get off the phone, she was very polite and professional. She took my name and info and asked me to take a seat. I listened to more laughter from the back, apparently the boss was away...anyways, finally a very nice pregnant woman came and did my tests. A series of pulses on certain areas of my hands and arms, which made my arms and sometimes my whole body spazz out...thats supposed to happen...she did her readings. When I moved to the otherside of the bed, all the change fell out of my pocket, some of it onto the floor under the bed, which she ended up moving and picking it up (which is why I said she was very nice). I could have done it but she got right in there, then said that the only thing that would make her bend down at this point of her pregnancy is money.
So she then left me with a three page questionaire to fill out, you know, how often does it hurt, from a scale from 1-10, which fingers hurt more etc etc. This took all of 5 min to do, but again it seemed that all the staff was at the back of the lab hanging out and chatting. Over 15 min later, the doctor finally came in. This is when I realized that he was one of the people in the back talking because I recognized his voice. He then introduced himself and took my papers away. Within seconds, I could hear him chatting up the ladies again, talking about how he's going to sod his backyard this weekend. About 10 min goes by, with continuous chatter. He comes back in to say, "Well, you definately have Carpal Tunnel, but I can't tell you how to treat it, because I don't have permission from your referring doctor".
This was definately a HUGE waste of my time. I told him that I already knew I had it, and he told me that he was testing to see how badly I had it, which apparently is "moderate". When I asked what that meant, he told me again he wasn't allowed to tell me anything, but that it was definately not a mild case. AND that it was worse in my right hand than left, no kidding dingdong, I not only told two doctors, a lab technician, but also wrote it down on my survey thingy. He then went on to say, that IF he was to say anything, he's say there is a very good surgery you can have for it, but I can't tell you what treatment to take.
I have an appointment with the referring doctor, in another month, probably so I can go there to hear that I have moderate carpal tunnel syndrome and that he's going to send me to another specialist (a hand surgeon).
It has taken over four months to get to this point. In another month, I'll know more. So for now, I'm going to self treat myself with the powerball my sister sent me, and continue to wear splints when I sleep...or try to.
Knitting is again, on hold.
posted by Jay-too @ Thursday, June 22, 2006
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