Carpal Tunnel and Ulnar Nerve Surgery

[Joerokit]

I was wondering if anyone has had a postive out come from these surgeries .. i have had both hands and both elbows operated on carpell tunnel and ulna nerve release .. i have had a WCE and now i have a light medium work restriction ...my employer is a contractor and doesn't have light duty for me and this feild of work ...does anyone have a dollar about or a scale to maybe gauge were to start off with a settlement ... i really don't want to get a lawyer yet because as soon as i do my line of communcation with everyone will be cut off ... now i call and ask questions at will and get responses rather fast if i get a lawyer i have a feeling i will get the boot and end up making things worse for myself ... i plan on getting a lawyer if they make an offer that i do not agree with ... but till then i'll wait ... also does my employer need to know if i take legal action against a doctor ... thank you for any and all input ... i'm lost

[Mr. Knowitall]

I've known people with positive results. The key to a good outcome, though, often seems to be making sure the initial diagnosis is correct. Surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome may do a great job of alleviating pressure in the carpal tunnel, but that doesn't do much good if the initial diagnosis was incorrect.

[Joerokit]

well i think the main problem with my hands going to sleep is fixed for the most part. but now i am having pain in both elbows and pain and lack of strenght in my arms and hands ...my elbows hurt most of the time even if i don't do anything at all. i.e work.. what should be the next course of action on both sides of this problem..

[turbowray]

Question: Doesn't workers comp. only pay a set amount of money for limb loss, or percentage of disability? I mean a workers comp. claim is not a huge check like a car accident, is it?

[aaron]

Worker's compensation benefits vary by state. Benefits typically include payment for medical care necessitated by the accident, physical rehabilitation, possibly retraining, and a percentage of lost wages.

You seem to be speaking of the possible settlement of a claim for a workplace injury which results in permanent partial or total disability.

[turbowray]

Worker's compensation benefits vary by state. Benefits typically include payment for medical care necessitated by the accident, physical rehabilitation, possibly retraining, and a percentage of lost wages.

You seem to be speaking of the possible settlement of a claim for a workplace injury which results in permanent partial or total disability.

Well the O.P was asking us to guess at a dollar amount for a settlement, so I was just trying to get information about what I thought, that there is no dollar amount to go after, and that W.C would tell him what it is worth, if it did in fact end up a disability of any kind. Thanks for your answer aaron!

[Joerokit]

I have had a WCE .. work condition exam.. or some kinda test to show what restictions i may or may not have now ... the out come was a "light medium" rating which means i can't do the job a previously had ... no i am waiting on my doctor to set whatever restriction he may put on there to and wait to see the result from that... i am not looking to be a millionaire i just want to go to school and make up for the lost wages mostly...because the job i did have i can not do anymore because of this surgery and reoccuring percentage of injury ... thanks for your help so far .. its been helpful

[turbowray]

I have had a WCE .. work condition exam.. or some kinda test to show what restictions i may or may not have now ... the out come was a "light medium" rating which means i can't do the job a previously had ... no i am waiting on my doctor to set whatever restriction he may put on there to and wait to see the result from that... i am not looking to be a millionaire i just want to go to school and make up for the lost wages mostly...because the job i did have i can not do anymore because of this surgery and reoccuring percentage of injury ... thanks for your help so far .. its been helpful

I don't know about your state, but in Oregon, if you can not return to your original job they can offer vocational assistance, if all the following is true: You have a permanent disability, you can not return to your regular job or a job that pays at least 80 percent of the wage you were earning, and you are authorized to work in the U.S. Vocational assistance includes help with job placement and training. In Oregon they also offer incentives for an employer to hire someone that can not go back to thier original job.

Those were just examples of them trying to help you find employment. If all else fails, then if by going to school, you can learn to do something that you can handle, with your new disability, they will help you. This is my understanding after reading the pamphlet. It may be different in your state. It also said that if you are partially disabled, then they will offer you an award, that is based on a formula set by law. If you are deemed permanently disabled, or unable to perform gainful and suitable employment, you will recieve monthly disability payments for the rest of you life, if you remain totally disabled. Your insurer will re-examine your claim at least every two years to see if you remain unable to work.

That is all I can gather, hope it helps a little.

[chuckycheese]

Carpal tunnel surgery is usually easily diagnosed and successfully treated without complication. It is considered to be a "bread and butter" sort of a procedure for a neurosurgeon in much the same way that a tonsillectomy would be considered to be by an ENT.

As far as your numbness in your hands and pain in your elbows, that could be unrelated to the carpal tunnel nerve. There is another nerve on the inside portion of the elbow that, if damaged and inflamed, can cause both symptoms. Sometimes, surgeons will make an incision and bury the nerve deeper in the existing tissue in order to protect it. I might add that the most common cause of the condition is sitting in a chair that has hard or sharp armrests. Good luck! I feel sure you'll get to the bottom of it.