I'm at That Age...

[popkin16]

...where I don't bounce back or shake off injuries like I used to.

I did something to my arm. I worked a shift, went home, and when I tried to go to bed that night I discovered that it hurt to lay on that arm and I couldn't put weight on it without it aching. I figured I pulled a muscle and it'd clear up in a few days. After a week with no improvement, I decided I'd go to urgent care to have it checked out. First, they asked about heart attach symptoms - any jaw/chest pains, nausea, etc? I said no. Any tingling or numbness? No. They figured I strained a muscle, and recommended light work for 7 days. If there's no improvement I should come back.

The pain is still there, and it's been another week. Only this time my arm/thumb keeps tingling on and off throughout the day D: It was getting better, and then I walked by this pole that had a fire extinguisher on it and I banged my bad arm into the fire extinguisher, and now the tingling is worse/more frequent.

My next day off is Wednesday, so I'll be going in then. They said something about sending me for imaging if the pain persists/worsens, so I figure that'll at least happen. I confess I'm worried about how this is going to play out. I didn't report an "incident" at work that may have caused my injury (because I don't remember a specific moment where I can say, "Ah, I definitely injured it then!") so work might just be like, "Okay, take time off from work to heal up." If I definitely injured it at work, they'd put me in another part of the store to answer phones or whatever, but I have no proof it happened at work, so I suspect they'll send me home...and it could be an unpaid leave. That makes me nervous.

There's conflicting information out there about leaves and pay. Some websites that discuss Walmart leaves say if you're a full-time associate who has been at Walmart for longer than a year, you get short-term disability automatically. Other places say you have to opt in, and yet other places say opting in is just for the enhanced short term disability. I will be opting in, but 'open enrollment' happens once a year, and it starts October 11th. To be honest, I would kind of love it if Walmart sent me home, because I could use the mental health break, but I know I'll stress about money and I don't want to screw my associates over. One of our team leads, Crystal, quit recently and the other is on vacation, leaving only me. But I am also tired of not sleeping well because my arm hurts or feeling the tingles.

I'm going to go in and be seen on Wednesday, and if they recommend I do light duty, I'll go speak to my people lead. He might just say to take time off work. Either way, I'll play this one by ear.

I've never had an injury persist like this. I'm usually pretty careful and heal up just fine.

Comments

[timespirt]

Sounds like a pinched nerve. Feel better hon and take it easy. You will find that when you hurt something you tend to keep banging it and hurting it again. It's Murphy's Law. Try moist heat and a heating pad.

"HUGS"

[tarlanx]

That was my thought too.

[popkin16]

That's what I think it is, too! I'm going to submit my note for light work only tomorrow - fingers crossed work doesn't screw me over...

[popkin16]

Thank you *HUGS* I talked to the doctor about the tingling and she's not too concerned just yet - she thinks it'll go away as the injury heals. I just have to take it easy and not bang it again *crosses fingers*

[timespirt]

"HUGS" wishing you a speedy recovery.

[popkin16]

I'm seeing some definite improvement! It's - neither the pain nor the tingles - have gone away completely, but some improvement is better than none~

[elayna]

That’s so stressful! I hope it does heal up soon. *hugs*

[popkin16]

Thank you so much *HUGS*

[mific]

Oh man, that sounds crappy. Tylenol and rest it as much as you can? I hope it's just a strain of some kind and that it does clear up as soon as possible. *hugs*

[popkin16]

I'm going to submit more paperwork tomorrow for light work only, but I have no idea how work is going to respond. Fingers crossed it all works out okay, and I get the chance to heal up stress free!!

[melagan]

If it is a pinched nerve (and it sounds like it might be) see if any of these slow, gentle exercises help.

https://youtu.be/CqTPtMhtAwU?si=asMAUN2kEgWX6Mup

[popkin16]

Thank you!! I'll try them right away!

[runpunkrun]

I know those tingles and they are no fun. I hope you get some answers and relief soon. <3<3<3

[popkin16]

They said they aren't too concerned about the tingles because there's no muscle weakness or numbness. She repeated that I need to do LIGHT WORK ONLY, alternate heat and cold, and take ibuprofen. I'm going to submit the doctor's note tomorrow that I'm supposed to take it easy, but tbh I have no idea how work is going to respond (tell me to stay in my area and just supervise, send me to a different department, or tell me to go home for the duration). Fingers crossed it all works out ok!

[runpunkrun]

Fingers crossed!!

[popkin16]

I'm seeing some improvement :D It's not gone completely, but I'll take anything!

[runpunkrun]

That's good news! <3

[trillingstar]

Oh, no :( It does sound like a pinched nerve. They are exasperating bc you have to actually rest the limb in question and like, who has time for that :p I found that letting a pillow take the full weight of my arm so as to keep it lightly elevated (like, in line with the rest of my body and not in a 'down' or lower position at my side) was particularly helpful. Twenty minutes hot or cold and that pillow rest while I was lying down. I hope it heals soon, and you're able to get some respite while on paid leave. *gentle hug*

[popkin16]

It does! The doctor said they're not too concerned about the tingles just now because there's no muscle weakness or numbness. She thinks the tingles will go away once the injury heals, but I have to REST. I'm extremely nervous about how work is going to respond to the doctor's note (tell me to stay in my area and just supervise, send me to a different department, or tell me to go home for the duration. TBH staying in my own area but not doing anything is going to be SO. HARD. I hope they tell me to go home lol. But also I'm the only team lead/department manager for my department right now, so I suspect that's what they'll go with). I'm very nervous about it.

Your pillow idea is GENIUS. I have a heating pad that I've been using religiously and it really helps. I'll combine it with your pillow idea tonight!!

*hugs*

[esteefee]

That sucks, buddy. I hope they give you some time off to rest it up. Definitely get a referral to an orthopedic surgeon.

In the meantime, I've found this stuff really, really helps with nerve pain:
Voltaren it's a gel you rub on the joint or the painful point and it reduces inflammation. Highly recommend. em_kellesvig can vouch for its effectiveness since us old broads have a lot of nerve pain.

[popkin16]

Thank you ♥ The doc isn't concerned because there's no muscle weakness/numbness, and she suspects it'll go away if I rest the arm. But that's the trick - I don't know how work is going to respond to my doctor's note. I won't be fired, obviously, but they may tell me to just say in my area and supervise my associates, and that's not going to be easy.

I am buying some voltaren tomorrow! Thank you so much for the recommendation!!

[esteefee]

oy that's the worst. how are you supposed to "stay in your area" and basically feel like you're letting everyone down? even tho you're injured and shouldn't be making it worse. :(

good luck with the Voltaren.

[popkin16]

YOU GET IT! I'm not one of those people who is happy standing around doing nothing, tbh. Like, I'm very lazy at home, but if I'm at work I prefer to Do Something. I'm not sure I'll be able to help myself from jumping in if I see people struggling :(

Thank you! I'll let you know if it works for me too :D

[esteefee]

hoo boy do I get it, buddy. but I hope you can let yourself heal.

[popkin16]

Just wanted to drop in and say I've been using Voltaren and it's helping! Between that and resting my arm up, there's some definite improvement! Though the pain and the tingles haven't gone away completely.

[esteefee]

I'm glad your arm is improving, buddy. Keep up the good work!

[runpunkrun]

Hold on, something that helps nerve pain??? I've seen commercials for it, but I was like, yeah right.

[esteefee]

it really does. pricey, though. also make sure to wash your hands after applying or to keep kitties from licking because it's toxic for pets.

[runpunkrun]

Ahh, very good to know. Thank you!