This is a really difficult thing for me to do... To put myself out there asking for help, but here I am. Around July of 2021 I started noticing that my hands were failing me at work. First, I was dropping various light weight items at work and at home for no reason. Then pain and numbing set in shortly there after, and light weight turned into being unable to carry heavier items without shooting pain. December of 2021, both my wrists and hands were hurting so badly everyday that I knew I needed to get medical care. My primary care physician decided it wasn't an issue. Fast forward to 2022, and still working through the pain, I was diagnosed with bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome in May. Basically I'm in a lot of pain every day and night. I would (and still do) wake up in the middle of the night with both wrists in searing pain. In October of last year my wrists were so bad that I needed to step away from my job as executive chef at a hotel in Seattle, and take medical leave.
The property and I thought it was a slam dunk case: take my leave, see the doctor, get surgery, recover, and get back to work around 16 weeks later doing what I do best of making great tasting food! With my luck this was not the case. The workers comp claim, as it is a work related injury, was partially approved but not for bilateral carpal tunnel. It was approved for De Quervain's tenosynovitis which is tendinitis of the thumb, and unfortunately for me as a chef, both my thumbs were affected. I've seen around 14 different doctors, surgeons and specialists throughout this process so far getting care in Washington State and Vermont. I've been going to occupational therapy twice a week, massage therapy, mental health counseling, functional capacity evaluations, EMG testing, meetings with multiple orthopedic surgeons, injections and bi-weekly doctor visits. Yet still my symptoms have not lessened much. I can't cook for myself at home, I can't lift weights, I can't really do much with my hands before the pain starts setting in. Even typing this out has taken me a long time. I wear wrist braces most of the day with thumb spicas to prevent my thumbs and wrists from bending in any way. I just sit at home and go for walks when I am not bed ridden with depression.
By mid January of this year my PMLA ran out and the state was asking my job to bring me back to work in a limited capacity. As I couldn't cook, the temporary job was on the front of the house side managing the restaurant floor as an hourly employee. With doctor's restrictions in place I was back to work by mid February. I literally couldn't do much besides great guests, seat guests, communicate with the staff, run the point of sale units, and input invoices into our company's network. I was greatful to have any kind of routine again! Recently, it was in my best interest to leave the establishment and focus on my recovery, whilst allowing the hotel find an executive chef that can be there for the team. I had just scheduled surgery for my right wrist for both diagnoses and was excited to finally have a timeline of getting back to cooking in a kitchen later this year. This is what I am passionate about and love!
Then came another curveball. The state is refusing to pay for carpal tunnel surgery of either wrist. My surgeon and I pressed them to approve but they still have said no as of today. I have multiple doctors and therapists stating I show symptoms of bilateral carpal tunnel but they still will not acknowledge this diagnoses. I am covered for the thumb tendon release but am now scrambling to find money to pay for the carpal tunnel aspect of the two surgeries I need over the course of the next couple months. My first surgery for my right wrist is April 7th and the next for my left is hopefully sometime in May. My recovery time is about 12 weeks per wrist for a full recovery.
I would greatly appreciate any help please. I know this is such a big ask. I live alone, and I am trying to fly either my mom or another family member out to help me for a little bit. Anything helps me cover my costs. I apologize for this being so long, but I wanted to be transparent and thorough in asking for assistance. I just want to get back to cooking as soon as possible.
Thank you and much love.
Jay
***UPDATE***
First surgery went really well! Both procedures were done in about 45 minutes, and my recovery at the hospital was less than 3hrs. Dr. Kegel and his staff were phenomenal!! My mom flew in to help me for a few days, which I am super grateful for.
