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Why does the medical field shy away from toxic neuropathy?
Neuropathy | Last Active: Oct 28 2:08pm | Replies (27)Comment receiving replies
@fairwinds24
Employers, workers compensation, etc. don’t want to open up a Pandora’s box with your claim as others may have similar claims and they don’t want to be liable. They deny claims hooping you go away but you need to keep pursuing and appealing with the help of a lawyer.
It would be good to get some specialized bloodwork now to check for toxins. Have you had a neurologist test you for small fiber neuropathy using a skin punch biopsy? Have you had EMG/nerve conduction studies? Have you had a MRI of your cervical spine to see if the numbness in your hand is tied to your neck?
Did your employer have you take job specific training, especially safety/PPE necessary for your work to keep you safe? Did you complete all required training? Can you prove that proper PPE was not provided to workers (like face mask/eye shield, chemical handling gloves, skin covering in cases of splashes, access to areas to rinse eyes/face, hands, etc. in case of exposure? Did you report the poor gloves made available to supervision/leadership or call a reporting line and take good notes of the details (dates/times/names/what discussed)?
Have you ruled out other causes of neuropathy (have you had extensive bloodwork done by your primary doctor or neurologist to check for vitamin deficiencies or toxicities or diabetes)?
Replies to "@fairwinds24 Employers, workers compensation, etc. don’t want to open up a Pandora’s box with your claim..."
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Nerve test done on a referral from hand surgeon who practices in the very building i worked at. In fact saw him daily as the exam rooms were on my floor of designated duties. I got the medical report before doing a follow up with hand surgeon, and it was diagnosed as carpal tunnel syndrome. I had brought up what i knew to be the cause to his nurse at the initial visit, and also with the nerve test doctor. The medical report was not very accurate about various things and had to get an amendment done. At the follow up with hand surgeon it was like he did not know what it was, provided no treatments, and basically showed me the hallway and also he would not return a request for a letter of causation to the state workers comp ombudsman.
Since this all began i have done many hours of research on the topic surrounding toxic neuropathy and it appears to be like the stepchild. My string of medical provider visits started with a dermatologist who called it contact dermatitis possibly from a chemical at work which was spot on. Allergy and asthma patch testing labeled it as a caustic/ irritant dermatitis. Hematologist called it a form of leukocytosis after blood test with high WBC. Four blood test were done over the course of last summer and all were high WBC with the final one done by the hematologist coming in as more acceptable. From there it went on to a nerve test in jan/24.
Employer was Aramark, who is contracted by Baylor, Scott, and White here in waco, tx to do cleaning and linen services. Very limited training and almost no supervision in the use of the chemicals on application and disposal of. The very gloves the EVS personnel used were the same thin gloves the doctors and nurses use. In fact, the emplyer did not stock the gloves themselves in the supplies inventory, we basically grabbed a box from the orthopedics medical supply rooms when needed with no questions ask. 3 mil in the palm and 4 mil in the fingers and says right on the box gloves are intended as a biological barrier and not intended for use agaist chemicals. That as a fact puts a lot of cost savings to employer, clinic when you issue 4 cent a pair gloves to cleaning personnel instead of what should be apprx $ 1.00 +/-.
Need to get busy on things. Thank you for your time and feel free to comment.