I am M[25] and for over a month now I’ve been having severe hand pain at night and in the mornings. Its probably the most painful sensation I have experienced and its dramatically reducing my sleep quality and affecting my work. I can’t even take a nap during the day because 30 minutes in, I start to feel a sharp pain. I’m not sleeping on the hand, tried a brace, tried prescription-strength pain killers but nothing helps. I’ve been trying to
Week 1: I didn’t do anything hoping the pain was temporary and would go away Week 2: I contacted my PCP and scheduled an appointment for the following week Week 3: My PCP suggested getting an X-Ray. My insurance has to approve this request so I have to wait a few days Week 4: I get my X-Ray and schedule my follow up appointment for the next week Week 5: My PCP says the X-Ray shows nothing and refers me to a Rheumatologist. Of course, insurance has to approve this so I have to wait another week. Week 6: My referral gets approved and I schedule an appointment with the rheumatologist but the next open slot is in 1.5 weeks.
This is where I am now, meanwhile my pain is getting worse, I’m averaging 4 hours of sleep a night, and the pain is now noticeable during the day too. I feel like there will be another 1-2 months until I find out whats going on. The rheumatologist might suggest a MRI which I have to wait for approval, then wait for results, then schedule the follow up, etc, etc… Is the process supposed to be this long? This is the first time in my life I’ve had anything this severe. Am I going about it the wrong way? I am really afraid I’m going to eventually lose functionality of my hand with how bad its getting with each passing day and how long I have to wait for each step.
submitted by /u/Spaceman776
[link] [comments]
I am M[25] and for over a month now I’ve been having severe hand pain at night and in the mornings. Its probably the most painful sensation I have experienced and its dramatically reducing my sleep quality and affecting my work. I can’t even take a nap during the day because 30 minutes in, I start to feel a sharp pain. I’m not sleeping on the hand, tried a brace, tried prescription-strength pain killers but nothing helps. I’ve been trying to
Week 1: I didn’t do anything hoping the pain was temporary and would go away Week 2: I contacted my PCP and scheduled an appointment for the following week Week 3: My PCP suggested getting an X-Ray. My insurance has to approve this request so I have to wait a few days Week 4: I get my X-Ray and schedule my follow up appointment for the next week Week 5: My PCP says the X-Ray shows nothing and refers me to a Rheumatologist. Of course, insurance has to approve this so I have to wait another week. Week 6: My referral gets approved and I schedule an appointment with the rheumatologist but the next open slot is in 1.5 weeks.
This is where I am now, meanwhile my pain is getting worse, I’m averaging 4 hours of sleep a night, and the pain is now noticeable during the day too. I feel like there will be another 1-2 months until I find out whats going on. The rheumatologist might suggest a MRI which I have to wait for approval, then wait for results, then schedule the follow up, etc, etc… Is the process supposed to be this long? This is the first time in my life I’ve had anything this severe. Am I going about it the wrong way? I am really afraid I’m going to eventually lose functionality of my hand with how bad its getting with each passing day and how long I have to wait for each step.
submitted by /u/Spaceman776 [link] [comments]Read Morer/HealthInsurance