wrist problems

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workinforwood

workinforwood

Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2007
Messages
8,173
Location
Eaton Rapids, Michigan, USA.
I've been experiencing wrist issues and pain lately. My left wrist is growing a big sist on it. My right one has pain in wrist on pinky side and sometimes pain shoots into elbow and pinky side of hand falls asleep. I think that is guyens syndrome, somethin like that and from reading around is a common issue from extended steering wheel use and vibrations and jolts from bumps in road. Been trucking 17 yrs.

I asked employer for special ortho driving gloves. They said not our problem..heck its prob caused by making pens! He also said maybe I should quit bitching and find new line of work. How nice that feels after 10 yrs here. And over a $20 expense.

I'm going to a specialist in a few weeks

I am also going to pay occupational health a visit. I read miosha employee rights second 11b says employer must provide safety devices. Its not specific but I interpret that to mean back brace or wrist or gloves etc.

I don't want to quit. Especially walk away with nothing.
 
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No good my friend. Amazing how some employers will push back so fast, guess that makes several people say o'well, and deal with it. Keep us informed and will say a few prayers that all will work out.
 
Jeff,

Too bad you don't drive for the trucking company that I work for - I know that we aren't perfect, but I know they treat our drivers way better than that. A complaint like that would immediately have occ health talking to you to figure out ANYTHING they could do to improve the situation.

Good luck - hopefully your occ health group is better than the first person you asked.

Dean
 
My wife says I need file a complaint about my bosses coments to hr dept too. I'm going to sleep in a bit so when I get back och will be open..my mind is angry but trying to stay calm and run ducks in proper order
 
wizard said:
Jeff, I don't know if you can drive with a wrist brace but that's what usually indicated for this. Doc
Click to expand...

I have a similar situation with my left wrist... I tend to do about 90% of my driving with my left hand... just a car and pick up... not heavy truck like Jeff, but for several years on extended driving trip,(by extended I mean about or over a half hour's drive..a trip to Knoxville from my house is 45-60 minutes and I'll feel it after about 1/2 an hour.) my left hand will go numb and tingle as if the circulation is cut off... my doctor suggested a wrist brace when I drive. My last boss also had similar problem wheeling his big Lincoln around town... his doctor told him same thing... only they put him in an elbow brace because he tended to rest his elbow on the arm rest or window ledge when he drove... he said it was a nerve in the elbow being pinched.... I'm thinking if I have a pinched nerve it's in the shoulder.... if I drop my elbow and lower the arm the numbness will go away... it's uncomfortable to drive that way for long, but I will alternate some now to keep the numbness from getting so intense.

I don't think pen turning will put enough stress on the arm/wrist to cause the damage/pain you describe... if I buck a few logs around the woodpile, I can sometimes get a little stiffness and soreness in the wrist, but I don't think it's related to the driving issue.

Good luck with your employer. I would think that an employer who has a good employee would want to try and keep that guy around... good employee's are getting harder to find.
 
Hey Jeff,

Where is your Union Stewart at and what is he doing about all this. What about your Union Safety man also. Remember Mi Compenation law requires you to file a job related injury report first, then allow the company to send you to their recommended doctor for the first 10 or 15 days for evaluation, treatment and whatever. Then after that if there is no improvement then you can seek your own doctor and they have to pick up the tab. The tab is and includes .... doctor exsp., medication, mileage to and from where ever, as long as it pertains to your treatment and care of the injury etc. But First make certain you file a job relate injury report. At least thats how it was when I work in MI for 32 years some 11 years ago. Good luck and take them to court if you have to.
 
Talk with your HR department about a potential work related injury / workers comp claim. Most HR departments handle the injury side of OSHA and employee relations. They will probably want you to see a spcific doctor or OCC.

When the HR Mgr asks if you have discussed the issue with your supervisor (most policies require supervisor as first notice), you have a prime opportunity to tell them about your experience when you first attempted to "notify the company" of a potential hazard. Either way, focus on correcting the injury first. You have plenty of time to deal appropriately with the supervisors attitude.

Your manager's response was a high risk move on his part. He has opened the company and himself up for significant liabilities, if your problem proves to be work related. Whether he realizes it or not, he represents your employer.

An OCC could tell you in a few minutes if there is a likelihood your job caused or agravated the problem.

Just my 2 cents. I have seen too many employers unknowingly held liable because of a manager's boneheaded response to an injury report.
 
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workinforwood said:
wizard said:
Jeff, I don't know if you can drive with a wrist brace but that's what usually indicated for this. Doc
Click to expand...

Going off just memory but I think all ups and fed ex drivers have osha gloves. Those are to absorb shock in palm of hands and wrist damage..watch next time u see one.
Click to expand...

My brother in law works for fed ex. And yes they supply them with special gloves. They also get special back support seat adapters when requested. Hate to hear about the problems your going through.

I was an OSHA safety coordinator for the last company I worked for. Your supervisor has really put the company in a hard spot. Especially if what he said was overheard. I don't have a clue about the cysts on your wrists, but please see a dr. Even if you have to pay out of pocket, your health is the most important.
 
Keep the existence of the following to yourself always ...

Get a pocket tape recorder. Practice, practice just to be sure your comments are heard. Get the supervisor to repeat the remark or at least something like it. Try to have someone else nearby that can overhear you talking. Just say 'Hello, ---' to them to show that you were aware of their presence. Continue talking to the supervisor ...

KEEP the information to yourself just in case you need it later. You might be amazed as to how things can change if there is evidence. Of course your presence at the workplace just went away really fast.

If no recording is possible, keep witnesses near by at all time if possible. Document how this cyst causes you pain at the workplace due to your specific duties. Pictures, pictures, pictures are also good at this point. Make a daily log of limitations experienced to date and keep this to yourself that you are doing all this.

- OR -

Seek the advice of a Workers Compensation attorney NOW. You have already been advised by the supervisor as to how the company feels toward you and your health! :eek:
 
I think the best that you can do is to buy a pair of those osha gloves first. Then fight about the rest later. If you lost the fight, wouldn't you buy them anyway?
All industries in the UK have to provide 'Approved PPE' ( Personal Protective Equipment) completely free of charge. There is nothing wrong with the basic stuff, but many places will allow you to upgrade at your cost.
In many cases, we often bitch and moan about the H&S rules we have, but it's instances like yours that should make us thankful that they are there:wink:

Take care
 
That was a great meeting. 11 min long...with head of HR and Osha in our company. Basically to sum it up, you have blue cross, use it. This has nothing to do with us or work here. We are not required to supply you with any extra equipment beyond what you already have. The comments by my boss about maybe I should find a new job are totally justified and not unreasonable. We are not sending you to our doctor. Go see a doctor on your own, leave us alone or find a new job. And yes, I recorded the entire meeting! Thank you Blackberry !!!
 
A new job for someone like me is really easy to find...like just a phone call away to darn near any trucking company out there. A job I like that's in my area and fits my schedule to a T ..not so easy. Besides...I'm not a pitbull..I'm the anti-christ when it comes to persistence and attitude. I'm number one on their hit list of people they wish they could get rid off because I don't bend over and take their crap, I do something about it. They tried to take 30 minutes pay from us for not taking a lunch and I called my lawyer and they hate me ever since. Now I'm just going to have to ride the wave, accumulate all this evidence, see what my specialist says on the 15th and those results will tell him how to proceed. They don't learn from the past at my work..they just have a system of denial set up. I like working here, and I'm not leaving empty handed, I'd rather fight to the death because that is who I am.
 
Actually they may have given you good (for you) advice, bad for them. Now you can find a doctor that is not partial to "their" policies. They bear the burden of proof that it is not work related, not you. Just keep in mind documentation is key. If it's not documented, by recording or written down, it didn't happen. "He said, she said" doesn't cut it. Your doctor doesn't need to know what you do on the side or what else you "think" may have caused it if you truly believe it's work related. Give him/her just the facts as it relates to what you do on the job.
 
Good luck. I'm in a crappy situation at work myself, but I've only got 4 days left. I've got all summer to try and find a different teaching position. If that is not possible, I'll get to be a stay at home dad while my wife goes back to work. (Not ideal, but better than unemployment.) Keep us updated on the fight.
 
Jeff, I worked in trucking management for over 40 years, and if your wrist complaint was not taken seriously, you've either talked to the wrong people or you work for a real crappy company. I'd recommend you talk to your safety and compliance people or HR. Untreated you condition can lead to Workmen's Comp claims and lost time, both very expensive to a company. Good luck and don't ignore it, as it probably won't heal it's self.
 
I've been to the top of the food chain, so the company is crappy. I'll have to have a professional give them a push in the proper direction. It's pretty serious to me. I have an appointment with a pretty serious doctor too, very high regards in this area, so I believe my work is going to have a tough go of talking their way out of this mess when it's all over.
 
"We all have the chose of what hill to take a stand on." And it seems you have chosen this hill in this battle. I admire your stance and agree totally with you Jeff. You go buddy. Keep us informed.
 
Jeff, the most important thing here is your health so you can provide for your family. Don't let pride get the better of you because bad news travels real fast. If you leave the company where you are now, I'm pretty sure your current boss will hit the bush telegragh and possibly make it VERY difficult for you to find a new job, locally at least.

Next thing you need to consider is starting at a new company with an existing health condition. If you walk in to an interview and confess you have 'bad hands' are you likely to get the job?

Take care buddy, you and I are both blessed / cursed with big egos and both of us are likely to do something dumb just to save our pride.:wink:
 
I can't even imagine all that your going through Jeff. Best of luck and I hope you find a good resolution to the issue. I pray for fast healing for you and relief.
 
workinforwood said:
...my mind is angry but trying to stay calm and run ducks in proper order
Click to expand...

That's all you can do. You've got good reason to be angry, but staying calm and persevering are the route to a solution. Reading your comments in this thread, it's clear you know that and are up for it. This is a fight worth fighting.
 
Jeff at least you have some on you can hold responsible. I sure hope your wrist and hand pain don't interfere with your blank production, although it seems as though they could possibly use that against you. Crap company's always look for the sacrificial goat. so go ahead and butt the snot out of them before they slit your throat.
 
Jeff:

I maybe out of line here, but, I have been a chiropractor for over 25 years and have seen this kind of thing many times. Employers can be a real pita to deal with and all the while your nerve problems will most likely worsen and become more permanent. Buy the gloves, (I'll get them for you at cost if you want) and stop the problem from getting worse. But, why take the chance of this thing growing into a bigger problem over a set of gloves.

I recognize it is a principle thing, but your health (and the ability to have a sense of touch) is priceless.

Sorry if I am out of line here, just my 2 cents.

Steve
 
Don't worry, I did buy the gloves a few days ago. I had to order them online, so don't have them till Tues probably, but of course I bought them. I'm not going to abuse my body and let it suffer while I fight the company.
 
My Qwi driving gloves have been helping a bit especially for left wrist. They definitely make steering wheel fell thicker and more comfortable. My right still hurts a lot especially in Karate chop position as is kina how hands are on wheel with pressure pushing on inside of wrist.

So finally saw specialist yesterday. I might have some wrist nerve damage but the real problem is actually my inside elbow! It appears I suffered a lifting injury. The main tendon is popping over my elbow and as that happens it rubs over the main nerve from me neck into my fingers. That nerve is the issue and a serious concern. If left as it is I will eventually lose complete control and feeling in right arm. So I am scheduled for nerve testing on tuesday and will find out july 11 what to do about it.
 
I am glad to hear that you found out the problem for your pain. Good luck with the follow up. I had never known about driving gloves helping and the company that I drove for-frowned upon us for wearing gloves, they were afraid it would accidents.
 
Jeff you'll really get a charge out of the nerve conduction test, they are fun , mine tickled like the devil when they did my feet to check for neuropathy. I laughed my butt off, now I have to wear suspenders
 
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