I have recently acquired a work injury.I have a herniated disc at c4,c5,and c6....and a bent c spine from a pt falling square on top of my head/neck shoulders as he passed out.I tried to hold him up and my back "gave way " and i fell to the floor as he slammed down atop my head/neck all lovely apx 200 lbs of him.

My question is:It is now 5-6 weeks after this and my neck and the shoulder muscles are still clenched around my cspine .....and have exerted so much force from the trauma it has actually pulled the c spine out of alignment.Do you guys have any suggestions other than heat,ice ,c traction and trigger point injections that might help?anything i could suggest to my dr?I am 33 what do you think my chances are of my c spine going back "into " alignment when the muscles release.....because theyve been contracted up since a few hrs after the injury?

And also what will this do to my career?I mean in all aspects of nsg you have to move and I cant be a desk job kinda nurse....i love interaction with my patients as a regular staff nurse.

also the dr said something about some kind of epidural injections.....do you guys have any idea what kinda drug that might be?because I know cortisone causes avascular necrosis .......and I dont want to add that to my list of problems!!!!!The constant tension in my neck is killing me...!!!!!!!any advice would be sooooooo much appreciated.

1) Neurosurgeon

2) xrays

3) MRI

4) CAT scan

5) workers comp claim

6) physical therapy

7) acupuncture and anything else that helps

sjoe.........been there done that.Got the doc(wcompdr)

got the xray got the mri showing nerve impingement done the w/comp claim and endured their crap to go along with it....and have done the PT and lidocaine injections.Now my 1st 2 fingers a numband hand feels cold all the time....I have heard something about botox?I keep thinking if the muscles will release then maybe the numbness will go away.

So I can assume that the neurosurgeon recommended a fusion? Watchful waiting? Something else?

You need to keep your docs on top of this or they will forget about you, in my experience, and reasonably so, since most of these kinds of problems resolve themselves. If yours is not doing so, then push for a resolution, then push some more, is about all I can say.

SJoe.......push for a resolution?I have emailed the dr numerous times........have emailed hr/risk mgmt numerous times BEGGING BEGGING them "hey please help me ...my neck muscles are getting tighter and tighter...more aND more guarding......and now I have a numb hand due to the continued muscle guarding has caused a cyclical spasm that has induced MORE guarding.I asked for a second opinion and they told the doc who was hateful to me at the last visit.I left hysterical after he jabbed lidocaine into my neck because he was angry at me.they keep wanting me to mouth the words "I am 100% ok now"......and I cant do it because I am having excruciating muscle spasms/guarding that hasnt let up in 6 weeks!!!!!now he wants me to have epidural injections in my c5/c6 space.I want the disc out of there!!!I cant sleep,pain is shooting out my fingertips.....and I hired an attorney because NO ONE THERE IS LISTENING TO ME and my NECK IS NOT GETTING BETTER!!!!!it is so easy for everyone to keep saying "lets try the conservative tx first......."........ive been trying the conservative tx ............and guess what?????I am still having contracted muscles all the time......and I am loosing my mind due to the pain.

But no......they dont want to do a fusion......they see the words "workers comp" on my chart and thats all she wrote........they start thinking REAL CONSERVATIVE then.If this were an average person with a work injury....they'd already had that disc out.......they'd be recovered WITH NORMAL NECK MUSCLES..and no contractures...no numbness ...and sleeping ...and no pain.

I dont know much about these epidural injections do you ?????

You are experiencing the good ole American healthcare system. Your doctors lose interest because you have become a time consuming patient and are cutting into their ability to make more money, also these types of injuries breed lawsuits against the doctors and they run from you. I went through simlar things with my wife (also a nurse) when she was injured on the job. You are a high risk patient for a lawsuit. Has your employer started houning you about when you will get off workers comp and get back to work? Have you been subjected to the suspiciousness of the HR police yet?

Sorry to be so doom and gloom. I feel for you!! Have you tried a chiropractor? Many time these guys can really help but sometimes they can't. It is an alternative to consider. My wife found them very helpful in her case, and so has my mother.

We found that you have to use tact and balance your pushing the doctors with keeping your case in front of them and not becoming a pest. Also, if you show signs of lawsuit (like hiring an attorney) they will drop you like a hot potato.

I hope things work out for you...I must be selfish-I have gotten to the point now where I can over-ride my instinct to grab out to try and stop a patient from falling..

"and I hired an attorney because NO ONE THERE IS LISTENING TO ME "

Surprise! Your attorney, if experienced in this field, will be able to refer you to a neurosurgeon who will evaluate you (and your medical records), and give a neutral opinion about the most suitable treatment for you (an opinion which INCLUDES your present feelings, fears, and pain). From that, you and your attorney can determine whether a lawsuit or other legal intervention is indicated.

"If this were an average person with a work injury....they'd already had that disc out.......they'd be recovered WITH NORMAL NECK MUSCLES..and no contractures...no numbness ...and sleeping ...and no pain. "

That would be a very IDEAL case, not the usual one. Having the disc(s) removed is not necessarily the best thing to do (particularly over the long run), it depends on individual circumstances. Which is a good reason for having a neutral evaluation done.

"I dont know much about these epidural injections do you ?????"

Nope. I never had one myself for this problem. I wouldn't expect the relief to be other than very temporary, but perhaps someone more experienced in ortho/neuro can give more experience-based feedback.

Again, I hope people reading this thread will keep your experience in mind before agreeing to "work short," do overtime when they are already tired, or deal with heavy/awkward patients alone because it would "take too long" to get help. 90% of nurses experience back problems at some time or other. Employers can NOT be depended on to help out or be of much use when injuries occur.

amen sjoe!!!!!

for anyone reading...please learn from my facilities mistakes!!!!if you are not receiving "adequate " care then go elsewhere.We only have one neck,one c spine, one back, one t spine,....and when their is an injury such as mine there PROBABLY(im still hoping though) is no REAL cure.This will mean I am going to have a weight restriction....no lifting grandkids,...no disneyworld rides,...it leads to a sedeantary lifestyle....and alot of pain.........guys take care of that back!!!!!!I did not have a "lifting " injury.....I was just in the wrong place when a pt passed out(in front of him).........I had the esi today......and no relief ........just lots of pain and no way to obtain comfort.