TOPIC:

Hello everyone,

Finding this forum has been an immense relief, a huge thank you to everyone involved. Here is my story:

I am a 23 year old male located in Canada, and almost a year ago I had to leave my work due to bi-lateral wrist injury. I worked as a computerized communication facilitator at a university. My job consisted of attending classes with deaf, deaf-blind, and hard of hearing students and using a laptop to relay all aural information (and sometimes visual information, in the case of deaf-blind students) to them. What this means is that I typed every single word or sound that happened in the class so that the student with the disability could participate fully.

After about six months of doing this job I started experiencing severe pain in my wrists and hands, including shooting pains and tingling/numbness.

I had to stop working and went on workers compensation. The first doctor I saw diagnosed it as a sprain and prescribed physiotherapy.

I saw a really good physiotherapist and she told me that I have carpal instability. She did these tests and found a lot of \"clunking\" in my wrist bones. She wrote me a note to give to my doctor explaining her findings.

I saw the doctor again, and offered him the note from my physiotherapist. He told me to throw it in the trash, and he told me that my body is simply \"weak\" and that I should have chosen a different job. I knew then that this doctor didn't know anything about wrist injuries so I went to find another one...

I was blessed to find a really great doctor at a sports medicine clinic who knows a great deal about wrist injuries. He diagnosed me right away as having intrinsic carpal hypermobility and wrist arthralgia. He prescribed physiotherapy, and a specific type of exercise called short arc strengthening (which has helped more than anything I think). He took X-Rays, but they looked normal (from what I understand, this is quite typical with carpal instability).

I also saw a neurologist and had nerve conduction tests done. The findings were all normal, ruling out carpal tunnel syndrome.

Around 7 months after my injury the major shooting pains in my fingers and numbness subsided, but I am still left with wrist pain whenever I use a computer. I still can not use a computer like I used to be able to, and sometimes even basic tasks like opening a jar is still hard for me.

Here is the problem: workers compensation has suspended by benefits. They said I had a pre-existing condition which is delaying my recovery. They are referring to my carpal hypermobility.

I realize that it is true that hypermobility predisposes one to RSI related injuries, but I don't think this is right. The truth is that I never had this type of pain before I was injured from my job, and I have not recovered.

My doctor is on my side and is sending new information to workers compensation, so we will see how that goes.

I am feeling very stressed out. Before I worked at the university I was a graphics and web designer, which obviously involves heavy computer use.

Has anyone else here been on workers compensation for carpal instability? Particularly if you have carpal hypermobility?

It's also been very stressful for me, as none of my friends and family really understand my injury, and I think some of them believe I am faking it to \"get free money\". And sometimes I would wonder if I am being selfish.

You have no idea how much better I feel now that I have found this forum. Though it has been a sort of mixed blessing... as I have also found out just how severe and serious my condition really is.

Any help or advice would be welcome,
Thank you and God bless

hi there it sounds a lot like ur finally getting the help and ur illness finally has a name, ie a doctor knows whats wrong finally, lol, I know what you mean about everyone thinking your faking it, all my family and my doctors were thinking that untill last month and I'm 38. lol. my family still havent come around and are still questioning it, don't want to beleive they were wrong. My story is on the other disabilities section, I have total joint hypermobility syndrome, afecting more than just my wrists, but I too went thru the tests for carpal tunnel, sore huh?
However hypermobility is a genetic heriditary syndrome so if u have it u've had it all ur life and will have it for the rest of ur life.

ur case against the payments thing could b tricky because of it being a life long hereditary illness.
u may have more luck persuing a case against ur ex doctor etc for misdiagnosing u in the first place, thus extending ur pain and suffering and necisating u having to switch doc. Any old joint injuries could also b indications of the syndrome.

lol anyway feel free to chat anytime I know wot ur going thru.

all the best. Kitty

Hiya Bombadil

I am glad you've found this website, I've found it really helpful in meeting follow suffers of Mid Carpal Instability (MCI)/Palmar Midcarpal Instability (PMCI)

Or its also know has Wrist Instability & Carpal Instability, Wrist Sprains/Strains, & loads more

Your right about X-Rays & MRI-Scans are useless in detecting Carpal Instability, Unless its mainy years later & then Instability Patterns might appear on X-Rays & MRI-Scans, As all The Bones are out of Normal Aliment.

Hiya Bombadil,

I don't know much about Hyper Mobility, But My EX-Employers Marks And Spencer Plc's Choosen Private & Retired Medical Expert - Mr. James Campbell Semple - Consultant Orthopeadic Hand & Upper-Limb Surgeon,

Said I had nothing wrong with My Left Hand/Wrist & It was just a Party Trick, Despite 3 inderpendent Consultant Orthopeadic Hand & Upper-Limb Surgeons, Physiotherapists, Other Doctors, Consultants, & Tribunal Bench, All confirming I had Mid Carpal Instability in My Left Hand/Wrist Only & It was due to The Accident/Injury to my left hand/wrist on 13-10-2002 & I had no signs or evidence of instability in my right hand/wrist at all & no signs of hyper mobility.

My EX-Employers Marks And Spencer Plc's Choosen Private & Retired Medical Expert - Mr. James Campbell Semple - Consultant Orthopeadic Hand & Upper-Limb Surgeon, Kept saying I had a large Capitate Carpal Bone & Weak Wrists & Now I could do a Party Trick & loads of over rubbish.

His managed to stop me having a limited &/Or full wrist fusion, Which will give me the best chance of a reducing The Pain, Discomfort, & getting ridd of The Wrist Clunking/Snapping, Popping, Clicking, In My Left Hand/Wrist.

Just Some Mid Carpal Instability (MCI)/Palmar Midcarpal Instability (PMCI) Medical Journals Attachted: wristinstability.multiply.com

I am hoping to be able to upload all 86 Mid Carpal Instability (MCI)/Palmar Midcarpal Instability (PMCI) I have on My Hard Drive.<br><br>Post edited by: Scott_1984, at: 2009/02/08 09:49

IckleKitty wrote:

hi there it sounds a lot like ur finally getting the help and ur illness finally has a name, ie a doctor knows whats wrong finally, lol, I know what you mean about everyone thinking your faking it, all my family and my doctors were thinking that untill last month and I'm 38. lol. my family still havent come around and are still questioning it, don't want to beleive they were wrong. My story is on the other disabilities section, I have total joint hypermobility syndrome, afecting more than just my wrists, but I too went thru the tests for carpal tunnel, sore huh?
However hypermobility is a genetic heriditary syndrome so if u have it u've had it all ur life and will have it for the rest of ur life.

ur case against the payments thing could b tricky because of it being a life long hereditary illness.
u may have more luck persuing a case against ur ex doctor etc for misdiagnosing u in the first place, thus extending ur pain and suffering and necisating u having to switch doc. Any old joint injuries could also b indications of the syndrome.

lol anyway feel free to chat anytime I know wot ur going thru.

all the best. Kitty

Your Post/Thread @ www.ablehere.com/component/option,com_jo...ew/id,15746/catid,56

Thanks for your replies everyone.

I found out today that workers compensation (according to their website) will compensate individuals who have a pre-existing condition that was enhanced by a workplace injury.

This is really strange, because that is basically the opposite of what my case manager told me a few days ago. I was told that because I have a pre-existing medical condition (carpal hypermobility) that my injury was taking longer to heal and therefore my benefits were to be suspended.

My doctor is sending them more information and is recommending vocational rehabilitation.

It will be interesting to see what happens.

P.S. IckleKitty: Ya the nerve conduction tests HURT! <br><br>Post edited by: bombadil, at: 2009/01/04 13:10

Well today I got some really bad news and am completely stressed out.

Workers compensation will not cover me at all because the x-rays don't show anything.

I saw my doctor again today and he told me that he agrees my condition was pre-existing (hypermobility) and that it was just temporarily aggravated by the repetitive typing at my job. He says he can't find any objective evidence that my condition is permanently worse.

For some reason now he is saying I don't have carpal instability, just hypermobility.

I am so angry right now and scared and upset.

There is no way I can go back to typing 110 words per minute for 30 hours a week. Just slowly typing this post is hurting my wrists.

Basically all I can do now is look for some minimum wage job, and one that doesn't involve repetitive movements like a cashier or something.

All of my training and skill sets revolve around computer use.

It pisses me off because clearly something is worse, something is different in my wrists than before. ARG

Bombadil's Post @ tinyurl.com/7rusos & tinyurl.com/a3369h

My Response to him in the above links & Below:

Sorry to here you bad news

But your Surgeons Stupid, Mid Carpal Instability can only truely be spotted through Physical Tests/Examinations of The Hands/Wrists & Wrist Arthroscopy,

X-Rays are \"POINTLESS\", Even for Hyper Mobility Syndrome.

Have you got E-Mail, I'll show you what My Surgeons said & what Marks and Spencer Plc's Surgeons said.

Carpal Instability (Musculoskeletal) - 13-01-2006 - Medical Journal Attached @ tinyurl.com/9755pt

Mid Carpal Instability Medical Journals @ tinyurl.com/9os559

Mid Carpal Instability gets worse with time & Repetive tasks/jobs & Manual Labour Jobs

Hyper Mobility Snydrome I know less about, But it also gets worse & you can also still get Mid Carpal Instability even if you had an Pre-Exsting Condition such as Hyper Mobility

Did your Hands/Wrists, Ever Click, Pop, Snap, Clunk, Or Causes you any problems before the injury, accidnet, or event???...>>> If The Answer is no, Then its unlikely you had Hyper Mobility Syndrome or MCI before,

The same is to be said if you had Hyper Mobility Syndrome You would know you already had it, As the Instability/Pain comes by the light injuries, accidnets, such as hold a kettle & having had no trauma, injury, or accident, to the effected limb ever, Or always getting Instability/Pain through tiny accidnets/injuries to your body or effeted limbs, I.E. loosing your footing on a pavement & spraining your ankle or leg, Or always getting sprians, strains, after almost doing nothing, Then that's likey to be Hyper Mobility Sydrome.

If you've never had any problems with your joints at all & had falls, injuries, accidents, in The Past without Any Strains, Sprains, Pain, Instability, Clickiing/Poping Joints, Then your unlikely to have ever suffered from Hyper Mobility Syndrome in the first place,

& The reason due to you Instability/Pain is likely to be Injuries, Accidents, Trauma, Or Repetitive Tasks/Motions were recorded in Wrist Instability Book of 1997 & other Medical Journals.

Also Some Doctors, Consultants, Hospitals, Etc, Say you can Score 0 (Zero) In The Hyper Mobility Syndrome Tests & Still Have Hyper Mobility Syndrome,

Where as Other Doctors, Consultants, Hospitals, Etc, Say You Have to Score 3 (Three) Or More In The Hyper Mobility Syndrome Tests, To Have Hyper Mobility Syndrome.

The Beighton Score @ tinyurl.com/3k97ak

& The Beighton Score - The New Diagnostic Criteria for HMS @ http://tinyurl.com/6u7ke3<br><br>Post edited by: Scott_1984, at: 2009/01/08 21:46

Hypermobility/Hypermobility Syndrome Chat @ tinyurl.com/86pqrk

Thank you so much for your replies Scott.

I looked at the Beighton score, and I actually don't have any of those criteria. I asked the doctor today if he thinks I have hypermobility syndrome or just hypermobile wrists, and he said that he had not yet tested me to see if I have hypermobility syndrome, but that he thinks I have hypermobility just in my wrists (carpal hypermobility).

I don't remember my wrists cracking and clunking like this before my injury.

The doctor diagnosed me as having \"chronic RSI and carpal hypermobility\". I asked him what is causing my RSI and he said he doesn't know.

The only test he did were X-rays and also he took my wrists in his hands and moved them around (which really hurt).

I realized today that this doctor never diagnosed me as having wrist instability/carpal instability. That is what a physiotherapist told me, and is also what workers comp thinks I have. I'm not sure how they got that opinion.

I am thinking of just giving up, but do you think I should try to find another doctor and get a third opinion?

Right now if I make a tight fist I feel a \"clunk/pop\" in my wrist, and the same thing happens if I just turn my wrists or anything.

Is it possible for a repetitive strain injury (RSI) to cause carpal/wrist instability?

The doctor told me today that it is only possible to get carpal instability from a traumatic injury (like falling on your wrists or something), not from typing on a keyboard.

Would it be possible for repetitive typing to cause carpal instability?