Have you gone through a period where you really try to rest (driving, cooking, computer, holding a book, carrying anything, etc.)? If so, has that changed your pain at all?

The things that help me are diaphragmatic breathing (though lying on the floor will initially ramp up my pain but then it usually calms down after 5 or 10 minutes), and ice to the back of my neck (sometimes for several hours, even though that's apparently not how one is supposed to use ice). I haven't had much luck with anything else.

Do you know if, by chance, you have cervical ribs?

Yes, when I was recovering from the wrist surgery I did have total rest and my pain was minimal.

I'm not sure about the cervical ribs, I just got the x-rays today and I'm seeing the dr on friday. Can't wait!

I do not have pain in my neck, it's just the arm and I feel like my neck muscles are very tense. I always assumed it was stress.

I do fit the "profile" so to speak, 5.9", 136 lbs and my posture is not that great. Old school habit, always hated being the tallest in class.

[my neck muscles are very tense]

Those are probably spasms, spasms can be at varying levels/stages -
mildly uncomfortable, very uncomfortable & limiting, or severe (rock hard and seized up). been there , not fun at all...

A good doc, PT, DC should be able to tell by just feeling those muscles if they are in spasms.
If spasms there is usually trigger points also.. have to treat the trigger points to fully resolve the spasms.
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread125577.html

So much info...I woke up in the middle of an anxiety attack last night...not because of the info but because I feel overwhelmed by all this and my future.

I can't wait for tomorrow's app, at least I will have a definite answer and a plan of attack.

OMG, I'm having a meltdown...my dr's office called to tell me my dr has an emergency surgery and they rescheduled me for wednesday. So I won't know for sure until then? How am I supposed to sleep?

I'm sorry you are going through this. I know how hard it is to be at the mercy of other people's schedules.

I found this one of the hardest things to adjust to. I was used to planning and executing projects. I thought I could get others to do things on schedule. It took me a while to truly understand that I didn't have control over anyone else.

I know it is hard to wait for doctor appointments. But you may go in there and not get an answer right away. Try to rest and not aggravate your symptoms. Do whatever you can to calm yourself between now and Wednesday. Ultimately, that will be the best thing for your wellbeing.

Take care,
Kelly

The pain in my hands has already been amplified by the stress, now they hurt up to my shoulders.

I'm frustrated because my HR department is also so slow to respond to my inquiries, I just don't like other people handling my life. Pacing around the house feeling helpless.

I also really need to find out if WC is approved or not because I need to apply for disability through my employer if it hasn't. Already lost 3 months because of an incompetent dr, I feel like every day counts.

Can you go forward with applying for disability through your employer, while waiting to hear back about WC? It usually takes so long for these processes, maybe it's best to just apply for everything and let your employer sort it out.

I remember very well the feeling of helplessness dealing with WC, Social Security and my LTD insurer. It was awful. It took 4 and ½ years to get SSDI and 5 years or so to settle WC. I hated feeling like I was at the mercy of so many systems.

I wanted to apply for the LTD but I have one simple question that the HR department is unable to answer for me.

About a month ago I had an attempt to go back to work, only lasted 3 days but I am not sure if that has reset my elimination period. I did not have STD.

Do you have a work comp atty on your side?
It may get even more complicated if you end up having to prove TOS, I suggest researching & interviewing quite a few to find a very competent one..

I just picked one out of the yellow pages, and he wasn't very organized at all..
made a lot of statements/promises - messed up some things and didn't follow thru on his promises.
Basically he got his % of my small settlement and see ya later..

Luckily I didn't have extreme pain and was able to mostly recover.