PAINFUL HANDS

[Imagine1]

Hi everyone,

I have posted a few times on here about my illnesses. I have always worked for a living and recently I had to give up work for good. I am absolutely devastated. I loved my job and made many friends. The job I had was working in a hotel as a room attendant, which I have done for the last 20 years in between having a family. I have always gone back to this work. I had problems with one of my hands about 6 years ago but I just coped with working, now I am having problems with my other hand. It turns out that I have Arthritis in my hands, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in my wrists and Tensynovitis in both my thumbs. So now I am classed as disabled and my husband has to do most of the chores, I can't even drive anymore because I have no grip. This has happened because of my job. Lifting heavy mattresses and tucking sheet in, moving beds and shaking heavy quilts. I tried to get Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit because it happened at work, I get this for one of my hands, a measly £42 per week, I am now trying to get it looked at again because of my other hand but they are saying that there is no way I can hurt my hands at work to this extent. Obviously I have because there is nothing else I do what could have done this damage to my hands. I even went to a tribunal and they said that I could not have done this at work. So now I can't work and nobody is accountable for my injuries. I don't want to see a solicitor about this because I have tried over other things and they are not interested. Has anyone else had this type of problem and if so could they give me some advice please. I am at my wits end. I do get Personal Independence Payment but I did it at work and it is them that should pay.

Thank you in advance

Imagine 1

[strongmouse]

Sorry to hear you are struggling. Can you apply for ill health retirement pension from your employer? Citizen's Advice Bureau may be able to help.

I became ill while working and managed to get early release of my pension but not at the enhanced rate.

[Imagine1 in reply to strongmouse]

Thank you for your reply strongmouse, I don't have a work pension because I haven't worked long enough in one place to apply for one, plus I don't trust pensions of any sort. x

[Bananas5]

wHEN YOU WERE DIAGNOSED WITH CARPAL TUNNEL WEREN'T YU OFFERED A VERY SIMPLE OPERATION? iT IS CARRIED OUT UNDER LOCAL WITH ONE CONTINUOS STICH///soluable. I It may take a few weeks to heal keeoing hand elevated but very succesful and easy to repair

I had both hands done and never had another problem

I too have arthritis in my hands but again have managed a successful florists and garden business.Nedicatio does help.

I have no feeling in my right thumn die to a riding accident but again anything can be overcome if you are determined

If you are receivinf FLA?PIP at higher rate you should be able to get a Mobility car and,if suffiecent funds left over after purchase...there are adaptations to addiddt you in driving.

the world will not come to help you....you have to go out and meet it head on.

x

[Imagine1 in reply to Bananas5]

Thank you for your reply Banana5,

I am a very positive person and I have tried everything to stay in my job because I didn't want to have to stop working. My hands are that bad that I can't cook, wash myself and lift anything because I just drop it. I was a very fit active person before all this happened. I know about the operation for CTS but my surgeon told me if I had it done it would make my CRPS worse, I already have significant pain on having had my gall bladder out last year and that was a simple operation. I am allergic to painkillers so I have to live with pain. I don't want to make my pain any worse in having an operation. My thumbs have muscle wastage in both of them so I can't pick things up or hold things for very long. I try not to use my thumbs because when I do again I have significant pain. Thank you for your advice though. x

[Bananas5 in reply to Imagine1]

Yes I did know about your fall...I folllow all your posts with greay interest as yu are so angry and dismissove of all doctors, specialists etc

If that fall was over 3 yrs ago have any other fakksm accidents, bump etc congirmes RPS??

Carpal tunel is on;t done under local so should not aggrevate any conditions. Like a local at dentist

x

[Imagine1 in reply to Bananas5]

I am so angry at all doctors, specialists etc because it is them that have left me disabled. I went to the hospital expecting the correct treatment, which isn't hard to treat a broken ankle. It doesn't matter if I have an operation under local or general, the outcome is exactly the same. Yes the hospital knows of my CRPS condition so they have to treat me with caution, so as to not make the matter worse.

[Bananas5 in reply to Bananas5]

Who and when were you diagnosed with CRPS? I

x

[Imagine1 in reply to Bananas5]

i had a nasty fall downstairs and broke my ankle over 3 years ago, I didn't receive the proper treatment for a break. I was left and was expected to walk on it, which I did due to the so called doctor supposed to know what they were doing. I made it worse and I am still suffering today. Shortly after this I was diagnosed with CRPS, by a specialist that I demanded to see. In the end I saw three different specialists because my ankle/foot wasn't getting any better and they all said the same thing. I have all the symptoms of CRPS because I have read up about it, because I have this because of my ankle it can travel anywhere up the body. Once I have this condition the specialists have said that be careful about having operations because it will probably affect other areas too.

[DollyDutchGirl_1946 in reply to Imagine1]

If you're diagnosed with CRPS or the diagnosis is uncertain, you'll usually be referred to a local specialist pain clinic. These are mostly located within hospitals. If that referral hasn’t occurred, it could be worth asking your GP to refer you. However, it can take quite a long time to get an appointment.

[geniveve27]

Have u tried going to ur Gp toget a Nerve Conduction test for the Carpel Tunnel. I have it and have had the test and am now going to b referred too have a small op. From my research u r awake during op. So only local anesthetics.As far as getting legal help i wld suggest Citizens Advice Bureau.

[Imagine1 in reply to geniveve27]

Yes, I have had all the tests and this is how I found out that I had CTS. I was referred for an operation straight away because of how bad my hands are. When the surgeon read my notes and found out I have Complex Regional Pain Syndrome he advised me not to have it done because it could make my hands worse because of the excessive pain that I get even from the smallest of operations. I really don't want to risk it. I do receive small amounts of money from DWP because of this but I can't get any more even though my other hand has gone now. They don't believe that I could have done this at work, even though I have. Thank you for your advice though. x

[DollyDutchGirl_1946 in reply to Imagine1]

You could ask the consultant who gave you your diagnosis to provide you with a letter explaining your diagnosis and what it means - or, your GP should be able to help by writing a letter - or at least, by giving you a copy of the consultant’s report and submit your application again. The Citizens Advice can help with that. I’m too old for PIP however, I have been awarded full ‘attendance allowance’ as my husband is my ‘caregiver’ - as I need help getting dressed, getting undressed, going to the lavatory in the middle of the night, I can no longer drive, so have to be driven everywhere….the list of can’t do’s seems endless. Fortunately, my husband is incredible - and we are even crazier about each other now, than the day we met over 61 years ago and we laugh so much - about everything and anything - so, life definitely isn’t all bad 😊.

[Imagine1 in reply to DollyDutchGirl_1946]

Aww, thank you for your reply and advice. Every time I see my doctor I get the report of what my problems are so there is proof. The problem is I was diagnosed that long ago I don't know what dates and year to give the receptionist to print it out for me. My husband is fantastic too, if it wasn't for him I don't know what I would do? I was so fit and active before and now I am a shadow of myself. I can't believe how ill I have become in such a short time. To look at me you would think nothing was wrong with me, I hide it very well. When I go to assessments I don't think the doctor believes me just how ill I am and I am sick of fighting the system all the time. At present I am waiting for my IIDB to change for the higher rate, I am not holding out for much luck though and then that will be another fight. I was such a positive person before and now I am the complete opposite. xx

[Hidden]

I’m so sorry for what you are going through Imagine . I think most of us were hurt doing our jobs That we love and want to keep working at I understand I had to apply for disability it took three years to get it. I started working when I was just 15 years old and worked consistently until I had two failed surgeries. I miss working. I wish I still had the socialization and everything that goes with having a job. Once you don’t have it, you really learn what it is like to be alone.

[Imagine1 in reply to Hidden]

Yes I totally agree with you. I miss not working and it has only been 3 weeks. I had many friends and I loved my job. I keep looking for jobs even though I can't do this type of work again. The problem is every job needs your hands unless I want to be a footballer, which i also can't use my foot because i had an accident over 3 years ago and the break hasn't healed properly so I can't even do that. I would love for the DWP to get me a job but I don't think they ever will. x

[Hidden in reply to Imagine1]

Hang in there 😥

[Imagine1 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for caring. x

[PainConcernHelpline Moderator Community Champion Pain Concern]

Hi Imagine1

We are sorry to hear you have been struggling so much.

We have a few resources that may be able to help you, one is a leaflet specifically about CRPS and another that covers Neuropathic pain. Both are available to download or to order via the onilne shop.

painconcern.org.uk/product/...

painconcern.org.uk/product/...

The link below will take you to resources on our web site that deal with self-management of your pain. There are links to our Airing Pain Podcasts that have lots of information on pain management, also links to our Self-Management Navigator Tool

painconcern.org.uk/self-man...

It may be worth asking your GP about being referred to your local pain management services.

I hope these resources will be of help to you

Best wishes

Pain Concern

[Imagine1 in reply to PainConcernHelpline]

Thank you for your advice and concern. I am at present waiting for an appointment to see a specialist at the pain clinic. The last one I saw who was supposed to be a professor in a well regarded hospital, the best in the area, looked at my foot and said that I didn't have CRPS, the appointment I had with him was very early and I hadn't walked on my foot. I was seeing a solicitor at the time about my lack of care from the hospital, he was more concerned about that than my foot. Since then and before I saw him every specialist I saw told me that I have CRPS. I know I have it because I have all the symptoms.

[Billrower]

Hi. Have you looked at applying for ESA (Employment Support Allowance). I would definitely urge going to Citizens Advice for a ‘benefits check’ - they will pinpoint what you may qualify for and support you applying. I was a CAB Advisor for five years and did a lot personally, so I know they are well equipped here. Regards.

[Imagine1 in reply to Billrower]

Hi Billrower, I already receive ESA contributory based. I also receive Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit due to an accident at work that I had many years ago. I carried on working and damaged my hands even more so I reapplied for more money due to not using my hands properly. At present I am still waiting. Thank you for your reply.