Looks like I'm going to have to go under the knife(again).

[THEFERMANATOR]

Small glimmer of hope in my future. When my hip problems got really bad back in 2013, I broke down and applied for disability. Hated doing it, but I had to try and do something to help provide for the family as my wifes income isn't enough(been selling stuff off trying to stay afloat in the mean time). Social security of course automatically denied me saying I didn't have enough medical history to prove I was disabled when I was still insured(haven't worked an actual job in a long time since my wreck was in 2001, just worked what I could when I could since then, and continued paying my taxes like I should since). I ended up getting an attorney(the 1st 3 turned me down, lucked out and found good reviews for one right up the road that didn't turn people away) to take it, got it in front of a judge, and finally won. So at least now we can hopefully afford health insurance for us as it was taking over half my wifes income to pay all 4 of our policies(courtesy of obamacare were all 4 on different plans because we can't afford to all be on her's through work). So at least now I can hopefully at least have the funds to go to the doctors, and insurance to do it.

[willy]

Good news Ferm, good luck going forward with your treatments

[bradford]

Good to hear some good news Ferm. Keep hanging in there bro.

[THEFERMANATOR]

Got my insurance and such squared away last month, so now I have resumed going to the doctors to try and move forward with taking care of some of my problems, and maybe get off of some of the pain meds. Went and seen a micro surgeon yesterday who specializes in hand and wrist surgery because I have lost feeling in my left hand for about 3 weeks now. My primary doctor thinks it's carpal tunnel, so I figure OK, simple enough. Seen the doc, and he thinks it might be carpal tunnel, but he said what I'm experiencing is more common in people who have used crutches and canes for walking for long periods of time. He thinks I have nerve damage either in my spinal cord(from supporting my body weight up with my shoulders for prolonged periods instead of with my hips how our bodies are meant to), or I might have damaged the nerves that run under my armpits. So they are scheduling me for a nerve conduction study, and an EMG test to check for nerve damage or prove it's carpal tunnel. So I'm waiting for the nuerologists office to call me and set up an appt for that. My pain management doctor has wanted me to see one since I started seeing him as he thinks I have spinal damage that has gone undiagnosed since my accident in 2001.

Also it looks like I'm showing signs of rhuematoid arthritis setting which could also explain my hands as RA is known to cause carpal tunnel. I'm in the age range for when most people start to show signs of it, and the hand swelling, bent fingers, and NUMEROUS other indicators are pointing towards it. So I have to call and get set up for a blood test to check for that now.

Not trying to sound like I'm complaining, just helps to get it off my chest sometimes as the wife is overwelmed to say the least with a 3 year old, our 8 month old(I beat the IUD challenge), and me going to the doctor all the time now. Just trying to do everything I can to keep my mind off of it as of late, and keep moving forward.

I know others here are also in bad shape, so maybe we ought to add in a gimp section for us to share our medical woes to make others think life aint so bad afterall.

[Pipe_Dream]

Keep the faith, ferm. It sounds like progress is coming.

[macojoe]

Hopfuly your on the right track! good luck!

[bradford]

"(I beat the IUD challenge)"

That's gonna be a tough kid, LOL

Hope the docs and find something that works for you Ferm, I know y'all have to be frustrated as can be.