PALM PAIN

[ARNell1950]

1 1/2 YEARS PAST STROKE AND AM ABLE TO USE LEFT HAND VERY WELL FOR TOTAL CARE.  PAIN NOW IN PALM INCREASING TO UNBEARABLE.  STARTED AS PAIN IN CALLUS AREA THAT FELT LIKE BURNING NETTLES.  NOW AREA IS SWOLLEN LIKE POUCHES BELOW LITTLE AND RING FINGER.  LOOSING MOBILITY IN HAND NOW AND NO ONE CAN DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM.  ANY IDEAS?

[ARNell1950]

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR KINDNESS.  YOU ANSWER A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR HELP.  AFTER READING FORUM NOTES, I DON'T THINK MY PROBLEMS ARE SO BAD.

NO WORD FROM MEDICAID YET BUT PATIENTS PERVALE.

I'M MAKING PLANS TO MOVE IN WITH MY SON IN JANUARY.  I WORKED IN LONG TERM CARE AS SOCIAL WORKER FOR SEVERAL YEARS.  JUST NOT READY FOR THAT MOMENT IN LIFE!

GOOD WISHES FOR 2010.

ARNY
PS-I PUT MORE PICS ON.  GOOD SHOT OF HOUSE-HO-HO'S

[Tuckamore]

I did google you and read the sad news. How horrible that you were treated so poorly. Now you are facing this disability issues alone.

On a different note I would have loved to have seen your Christmas lights and decorations this year. You'll have to have someone teach you how to up-load a photo. It's not all that difficult.

Don't know any single congressman but I meet one I will send him your way. I hope you are successful with your application for Medicaid. I would not want you to have to give up your independence and reside in a nursing home, unless it is of your choosing.

I began my first career in long term care and I can attest to the fact that there are some great facilities out there. A few bad ones give the entire industry a bad rap.

Please keep in touch and let us know how you are doing.

Merry Christmas to You and Yours Also,
Tuck

[ARNell1950]

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR JUST CARING!  THAT MEANS A LOT.  IT HELPS MOST TO FIND THAT CT MAY BE THE CULPRET.  SEVERAL DOCS LOOKED AT IT BUT DIDN'T OFFER ANY SOLUTIONS. I'M NOT AFRAID OF SURGERY, JUST THE TIME I'D BE TOTALLY DISABLED.  I TAKE INSULIN SHOTS ALL DAY FOR DIABETIS AND HAVE GOT THE PROCESS DOWN PRETTY GOOD WITH ONE HAND.  EVEN GLUCOMETER TESTS OK BUT WITHOUT THAT HAND, I'D HAVE TO HAVE 24/7 HELP.  MIGHT HAVE TO CROSS THAT BRIDGE THOUGH.

YES, WE HAVE PUBLIC HEALTH OUT HERE.  IT'S RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO ME HERE BUT THEY DON'T OFFER ANY SERVICES I NEED.  FREE PREGNANCY, FLU SHOTS, FOOD HANDLER CARD, FREE BIRTH CONTOL FOR ILLEGAL ALIANS......JUST DON'T FIT

WE DO HAVE A STATE INSURANCE PROGRAM HERE BUT I WAS DENIED BECAUSE I SCORED TOO HIGH.  325 POINTS ALLOWED IN ILLNESS AND I SCORED 550.  COVERAGE DENIED BECAUSE OF DIABETIS NOT STROKE.  I'VE BEEN DIABETIC OVER 40 YEARS.  A THINNING BLOOD VESSAL IN BRAIN CAUSED THE STROKE.  RETINOPOTHY IN BOTH EYES.  MY EYE DOC CONSIDERS ME A MEDICAL MIRACLE BECAUSE I CAN SEE WITH CONTACTS AFTER DETACHED RETINA IN ONE EYE AND VINTRECTOMY IN THE OTHER.

WE DO HAVE SOCIAL SERVICES HERE BUT I'M STILL NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THEM.  I DID THE JOB FOR 6 YEARS AND GOT FIRED WITH 1 HOUR TO CLEAN DESK.  A LOT OF CORRUPTION HERE.  I'M STILL GOOGLE-ABLE IF YOU WANT TO READ THE SAD NEWS.  I AM LUCKY TO HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE STILL.  IT HAS ALLOWED ME TO MAKE BOLD PHONE CALLS TO AGENIES AND COMPANIES I KNOW CAN OFFER HELP.  LIKE DRUG ASSISTANCE.

I HAVE APPLIED FOR MEDICAID AGAIN.  WITHOUT HELP WITH HAND I AM LOOKING AT POTENTIAL NURSING HOME.  UHG!!  I'LL KEEP FIGHTING FOR COVERAGE.  DO YOU KNOW ANY SINGLE CONGRESSMEN!  MY IDEAL!  GOLDEN FLEECE INSURANCE AND PENSION.  LOL!

XMAS PRAYERS AND JOY TO YOU AND YOUR.  YOU'VE MADE A DIFFERANCE IN MY DAY.

ARNY
ARNELL HAWS
SAN JUAN ISLAND, WASHINGTON

[Tuckamore]

You are so brave to face your limitations alone. Those two years between SSDI and Medicare seem very unfair to me. I too am in the same situation. However I am lucky to have a husband that has me on his medical plan through employment. And like anyone can live on SSDI and pay for medical coverage!!!  I am sorry you are in the catch 22.

A diuretic will only help if the swelling is due to fluid. Do you have edema (fluid swelling) any where else in your body? It is not unusual for a CVA victum to have edema although it is often dependant, meaning from non-use of a limb that is not elevated. "Pockets" of swelling does tend to make me think they may be fluid.

I had CT surgery and had no significant use of my surgical hand for about 48-72 hours. I would imagine your teeth would be pretty gruesome in 3 days!! LOL  However the swelling disappeared in a few weeks. I never had pain in my wrist. It was all in my fingers and my hand would "fall asleep" if I slept on it or over used it. I had some tingling and numbness but it was the swelling that was the worst.

I understand you had three jobs but at that time you also had use of both hands. When we depend on one to do everything the picture changes. Have you tried using a wrist splint at night? If you haven't a splint an ace bandage wrapped distal to proximal, meaning from the area furthest from your heart to the area closest to your heart may help the swelling and support the wrist. I guess you would have to ask a neighbor, family memeber or friend to do this for you.  Remember not to wrap it so tightly that it hinders your circulation.

Have you called your local county social service department? Sometimes they have programs or volunteer that can help you with activities. They also can tell you if you are eligible for state insurance. In Wisconsin we have a state insurance program that is NOT medicaid.  It is for all ppl without insurance. The cost is based on income and there fore can be next to nothing.  I don't know if WA has something similar. It's worth looking into if you haven't already.

Thanks Arny for responding to my post to you. Please keep in touch. I know that key strokes may be difficult for you but we are here to offer support, suggestions or information. We certainly don't have all the answers but we do care. I'll look forward to hearing from you again.

Take Care,
Tuck

[ARNell1950]

THANK YOU SO FOR RESPONDING.  YES, IT IS NOT ON THE EFFECTED SIDE.  MY LEFT SIDE, AND ESPECIALLY HAND IS ALL I CAN WORK WITH RIGHT NOW.  I LIVE ALONE SO DO FOR MYSELF.  I NEVER BAUGHT THE THEORY OF OVERUSE SINCE I HAVE GONE FROM 3 JOBS TO NONE.  I WAS DX WITH CT BUT HAVE NO PAIN IN WRIST, JUST TWO POCKETS OF SWELLING BEHIND RING AND LITTLE FINGER.  THE IDEA OF SURGERY SCARES THE POOO OUT OF ME. HOW TO BRUSH MY TEETH WITH LEFT FOOT??

UNFORTUNATELY A DOCTOR'S ADVISE IS UNATAINABLE RIGHT NOW.  NO INSURANCE FOR ANOTHER YEAR.  TOO RICH FOR MEDICAID (DISABILITY OVER $600) AND ONE MORE YEAR TILL ELIGABLE FOR MEDICARE.  THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR COMMENT.  NO, I AM NOT ON DIURETICS..  DO YOU THINK THEY WOULD HELP?-ARNY

[Tuckamore]

Hi Arnell,

Welcome to the Pain Mangement Forum. I am glad that you found us and posted.

I assume the palm that you are talking about is not the effected side but the left one. Swelling can come from over use or under use, hindering the movement of blood and interstitial fluids. Are you taking a diuretic?

Could it also be symptoms of carpal tunnel (CT)? When I went to my PCP with what I suspected to be CT the initial reaction was CT does not cause swelling. Even the orthopedic surgeon said it could nor be from CT so first step was an x-ray looking for arthritis. When it was negative I was sent for nerve conductivity test, which was positive for CT. I had surgical release and the swelling and pain disappeared. My surgeon claimed he had never seen swelling accompany CT.

These are just some thoughts. Hopefully our members will offer other suggestions. Please let us know how you are doing. I will look forward to your updates. Take care.

Peace,
Tuck

[Mollyrae]

Hi:

I feel that your best bet is to have your hand re-evaluated. Unfortuately there is no one qualified to answer your question in this forum. Sorry. You may want to try the expet forums here at MedHelp. Go to the top of the page, click on forums and in the forums section you will find the expert forums on the right hand side of the page.
My best to you,
Mollyrae