I and another nurse were cleaning my very large, vent-dependent patient who had a bed full of runny poop... and I strained my back while we were trying to hold him over (he was fighting). At first I thought it was simply another pulled back like the many I've had over the years, so I took some Advil and went about my way.
Forward one week.
I am limping, and my left leg has shooting pains down the back. My left groin hurts something awful, and I am unable to SIT for more than 10 or so minutes or I start having excruciating pain in my groin and down my leg. Also, my left arm and shoulder hurt as well.
I filed an incident report (my first one for a personal reason) and went to see our orthopedic PA as required by my hospital's Employee Health Nurse. He diagnosed me with "left hip flexor strain/sprain" and "acute-on-chronic lumbar back pain", told me I was on restricted duty for five weeks (which means I get to do paperwork), and set me up for PT twice a week.
No xrays, no MRIs, no nothing.
Should I insist on diagnostic testing? I know that I've had back strains before, and I do currently suffer with back spasms after working a shift, but this leg and arm stuff is completely new to me and it HURTS. There is no way on earth that I'll be able to care for anyone like this if it doesn't get better! I'm also worried that he didn't ever really address the arm, nor the shooting pain down the back of my leg, which both seem like nerve issues to me. He said he was more concerned with the groin pain. I am wondering if this is because my back was hurting before this incident? He asked me if my back had hurt previously, and I told him that any nurse that came to him and said their back never hurt was a LIAR, and yes, of course my back has hurt previously.
This is all Worker's Comp, of course. (I will be collecting my hourly rate of pay because I'm going in to do paperwork kinda stuff. My hospital has a "Transitional Workforce" for people on WC/restricted duty, so that my unit's budget doesn't pay for me while I'm out.) Does my progression through this so far seem accurate? Normal?
I'm so upset about this, and worried as all heck. I am scared that I won't get better... and I also want to make sure that I'm treated appropriately and get the diagnostic testing that I need.
Thanks for any advice, and for reading. I sure did need to vent!!