Hi all,

I'm having what I think may be my final followup session with my neurosurgeon this Thursday, and I have put together a list of questions, requests for tests, and concerns to bring up during my appt.

This appt. is supposed to be my final evaluation of my abilities before I return to work. My company is expecting me back in a couple weeks, and in their minds I will be returning to a 45 hour work week, of graphic design and computer work.

This is not even close to possible. I can't use my right hand, last two fingers are always numb, tingling and painful, along with the pain in my shoulder, levator muscle and scalene and traps. I can't sit at a computer for more then 15 mins let alone do anything with my hand. My fine motor skills are gone in my hand.

Mentally I am prepared for being done with my career as a graphic designer, and I am prepared to be retrained and look for other areas to work in, but I want to get my point across to my doctor and have the proper paperwork filled out.

I think I have TOS, and would like very much to be tested for that, and I also am having issues below my fusion (I'm fused C5, C6, C7) and my PT backs me up on this and wrote a letter to my neuro.

I'm looking for advice on how to bring up all these issues, how to get my concerns across that I'm not just looking for more time off work, I really have a lot of pain and problems and want answers and options.

Any advice on the approach I should take? Basically whatever he puts on my worker's comp functional abilities form dictates my future. I'm stressing myself out about the appt because of this.

Any suggestions or input is appreciated, I know lots of others have been through this before.

Thank you so much!!
Cathie