[jstewart3]

Hi all,

I am a new graduate. Start working isn the SICU at a large local hospital in a few weeks (I feel scared to death!)

My question/concern is this: About a year ago I ruptured a disk in my back - big and extremely painful, especially sitting in class 8 hours a day. I had two spine surgeons adivise me that there were no surgical options available at this time. They also said to lose weight and get in the best shape of my life. I have lost 50 pounds in the last year (obviously it was excrutiating) The thing I am concened witn is taking pain medication and muscle relaxers. I have been tryingin to greatly decrease my time frame and am looking int some other alterniatives. WHat are most hospitals policy on this? I assume one can do no patient care under the use of pain medsications - I don't feel high at all, but I understand the rationale. What about using them at home when I don't have to be at work that day?
will this effect me ? I don't even drink alcohol, and there were times when I couldn't even sit on the toilet without screamig. Things are looking up from losing weight, but also have alot of fear with the job...I was 3 years into my nursing program and my doc did what he could to keep me from having to drop out.
Thanks to him and GOd I made it and witn honors.

Any advice, or encoragement will be greatly appreciated...also, NSAIDS are not availbale for me I had weight loss surgery to help my situation, so I lost alot of good options for pain control.

Thank you and i sincerely appreciate any words of wisdom ps: I have been on 4 loratab a day (down to 2-3) and 4 soma per day, but also streching them out. Looking into slow release ulram, but not having much results.


thank you for sharing your experience, strength and hope



jillianna

[TazziRN]

As long as you list them at the time of your drug screen and you do not work under the influence, you will be fine. Beyond that, we can't really give you advice.

[okay]

http://include.nurse.com/apps/pbcs.d...D=200770815004

I did a qucik search at nurse.com and found the above article. I think the article just acknowledges chronic pain and leaves the weighing of your duty to public safety and dealing with pain management in your hands, best of wishes.

I thought the article established pretty well that chronic pain management is an actual surfaced issue since many nurses continue working past retirement (for the love of the people I suppose).

From the National Library of Medicines there is coverage on back pain as a "Health Topic" with many links to resources. So again ou are not alone in the arena of back pain. Take Care. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/backpain.html

[sharrie]

The questions that you ask can only really be answered by your BON.

It would be inappropriate for us to give you advice on this as we don't have the knowledge of how your BON would deal with your situation.

Good luck