any nurses out there with back injuries

Nurses Disabilities

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Hi there fellow nurses with disabilities!!! Wow, I am SO happy to have our own forum for us to get together and chat about how we are adjusting in our own ways. So thanks Brian for adding this forum for us!!!

I was wondering if there are any nurses out there with serious back injuries/chronic pain? I have herniations in my lumbar spine at L2-3; L3-4; L4-5; and L5-S1. I have all 4 with annular tears (or however you spell it). My pain is mostly caused by the severe dessication and the chemical irritation constantly by the nucleus bathing those nerves. I feel like there's a knife in my back, and someone's twisting it, and that its on fire. (And that's just the normal feeling). If I stand, it gets worse. If I sit, it gets worse. If I bend, twist, pick up my children (I HAVE to sometimes). It is hard for me to walk (I'm now with a walker most of the time), it is hard for me to do laundry, and other household chores. I also have osteoporosis in my lumbar spine and hips, which causes pain. I am filled with arthritis. So, my dx list also includes: DDD, DJD, OA, OP, SLE, Severe Asthma, Metabolic Syndrome, PCOS, Endometrial Ca (under chemo now),severe migraines, intractable back pain. And other things I don't remember right now. I also have anxiety, depression and PTSD due to some bad things in my past.

I am unable to work due to the cancer, but before that, I was only working one day a week due to the severe pain. I was just about on my way out of work when I had cancer, and that was the deciding factor. I have two kids, and I am a single mom.

I don't know if I'll ever be able to be a nurse again, and that saddens me. I've been encouraged to apply for SSDI, but that is a long waiting game, and I am so young I know I will have to fight long and hard. I am just 30. I get no child support, but that's a whole other thread. I get no assistance, I was denied. I have used up what I had in savings and 401k. So I don't know what I'm going to do. I almost wish I could quit chemo and get a job, but who am I kidding? I know I will be a bad employee, because I have such pain when I work and I can barely walk. Who will hire me?? Plus, I take morphine every 6 hours for pain, and that also makes me ineligible to work. I even tried looking for some telephone triage and/or desk jobs, but what little is out there all require a BSN, which I don't have. I am between a rock and a hard place.

Anyway, I just wanted to reach out to see if there are any other nurses who suffer from serious back injuries and how you cope if you do work. I really need to have benefits, my children have multiple medical needs and my health also is not the greatest. I really feel like a rotten mother for not being able to support them like they deserve.

I hate that our profession just thinks those of us with disabilities are disposable. My mind is still there, and that decade plus of knowledge is still there. I wish I could find someway to use it so I could support my kiddos. Our economy is HORRIBLE right now. Why does the "healing profession" not help us to "heal"? Are we not worthy once we are injured???

Anyways, I will stop griping now. It's late and I can't sleep due to the pain. It's been a particularly rough day and my pain is hovering at a 8. No way can I sleep with this. I usually get no more than 3 to 4 hours of sleep a night. I would love to hear from some other nurses who either have back injuries or any other injuries/disabilities that restrict them from working and how you cope. I am at the end of my rope here.

Specializes in Utilization Management.

I started a poll on back injuries awhile back. Here's the link.

https://allnurses.com/forums/f118/do-you-have-bad-back-nursing-108249.html

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Specializes in rehab-med/surg-ICU-ER-cath lab.

Good luck to all of you - I know it sounds so lame to say - I wish I had a majical disc wand!

Totally unrelated - Hoozdo, is that a Schipperke in your picture? Lost mine in a divorce and still miss her so much. I hope it is one as they are such a comfort when you're dragging.

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Specializes in icu, er, transplant, case management, ps.
Welcome to the back pain thread Donna!

I suggest you file for SSD now. If they award it - then they just deduct what you get from LTD from your benefits. The sooner you get SSD the better because you would then be able to get Medicare Part A and Part B and eliminate those huge Cobra payments. I believe there is a 6 month waiting period to get Medicare once you are approved for SSD. I could be wrong and it is longer though.

To be eligible for Medicare you have to be unable to work for twenty four months. Since most applications for SSDI take eighteen months, hence you wait only an additional six months. Opt for the fee for service. You will have co-payments that are slightly larger but you will not have the restrictions you have with HMO Medicare.

Woody:balloons:

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Specializes in L&D, PP, NSY, Med-Surg, Management, Psyc.

Thanks Hoozdo for the advice. I have one question though. While I was surfing the other day I found a site called Allsup inc. They are a company that assists you in getting SSD and have a 97% success rate. Has anyone heard of it or even used them???? Seems like a great deal that they handle all the paperwork and stuff.

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Specializes in ICU, Research, Corrections.
Thanks Hoozdo for the advice. I have one question though. While I was surfing the other day I found a site called Allsup inc. They are a company that assists you in getting SSD and have a 97% success rate. Has anyone heard of it or even used them???? Seems like a great deal that they handle all the paperwork and stuff.

Well, it's not really a great deal because they will take part of your SSD payment for the services they provide.

About 10 years ago I applied for SSD for end stage liver disease. I got it on the first application. I had my transplant, changed careers to nursing, and have been happily working ever since. The key to getting SSD is to throughly fill out the paper work, throw in every dx you can think of that applies. If you should get denied, THEN I would think about retaining an SSD lawyer or service that you are talking about.

It is not hard to apply for SSD, but is time-consuming.

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Specializes in ICU, Research, Corrections.
Good luck to all of you - I know it sounds so lame to say - I wish I had a majical disc wand!

Totally unrelated - Hoozdo, is that a Schipperke in your picture? Lost mine in a divorce and still miss her so much. I hope it is one as they are such a comfort when you're dragging.

I got her from the Humane Society when she was a puppy. She looked like a chow mix - the cutest little teddy bear of a dog. She grew up to have short hair and sort of a Corgie body style, LOL. Since I have no children, my animals are my children. Two humane society dogs, and 4 humane society cats. And one husband, LOL.

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Specializes in icu, er, transplant, case management, ps.
Thanks Hoozdo for the advice. I have one question though. While I was surfing the other day I found a site called Allsup inc. They are a company that assists you in getting SSD and have a 97% success rate. Has anyone heard of it or even used them???? Seems like a great deal that they handle all the paperwork and stuff.

I've never heard of them. But I have a feeling they will take as much of your back award as they legally can. You can fill out the papers yourself. You need to get every doctor treating you to say that you will be unable to work for at least twelve months. And getting supporting documents from them. If after your first two attempts, if turned down, get an attorney that specializes in social security disability appeals. He will usually do the trick for you.

Woody:balloons:

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Rehab nurse, my heart goes out to you. My issues are tiny mites compared to yours. Have you looked around where you live for disability rights support groups or legal assistance? Is there a law school in your area which has a legal rights clinic? Have you checked with your state or county for assistance? If anyone deserves help, it's you. I hear from women who are disabled with scoliosis, for example, that it is nearly impossible to get SSDI. It seems you have multiple medical issues that should make it easier to get it, but I could be wrong. How are you surviving right now?

{{{{{{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

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I am really sorry to hear that you are having such a difficult time. I also injured my back. I have not been able to work in 7 years. Life was very difficult and things seemed to just get worse for a while. I can relate to a lot of what you said. My health went to pot and I was in so much pain. I am doing great now, and I look back and don't know how I lived with all that pain. I forgot what it was like to not have pain. I had an Artificial Disc Replacement at L4-5 in November of 2006. My disc was torn to the inter annulus. This surgery has been a major success. I am going to the doc this week and he will hopefully release me to return to work. I know that they were not doing this surgery on multiple levels, but it would be worth checking into. Make sure you get a doc that has been doing it more than a couple of years. I know you know this. My doctor is Dr. Isaza, he is wonderful.

I would apply for Social Security Disability as soon as possible. I know it is a long process, but it is well worth it. I am young as well and I fought for it and got it. The medical part saved me. It has been so long since I received it. I did all kinds of research myself and brought articles and documentation to the hearing. My attorney did not win it for me. The judge told me he would not have awarded me it, if it would not have been for the articles and documentation. The sad part about being injured is you have to make sure that you are taken care of. Usually, others will not do it for you, even when you are paying them. I don't know what state you live in, but I would check into your Medicaid system, welfare system, food stamps, etc. These all can be a big help if you can actually get them. Also if you are taking medications you can contact the drug company that makes the medication you are on, and ask for patient assistance. I got some of my medications for free this way. Also you can check out http://www.nursinghouse.org they help disabled nurses. I was not able to get help from them due to Workman's Comp, but they are supposed to help you with your bills.

I know that you might not want to hear this but the only way that I got through my ordeal was with the help of God. Now I look at my trails and can see the good that came about because of them. I know for a fact that I would not have the relationship that I have with God if I had not been through this ordeal. So for me it was a blessing in disguise. I had to rely on Christ so much everyday. I used my time to study His word, and I believe that God in returned blessed me with healing. God healed many of my health problems even the doctors will agree. I prayed and many people prayed for many years and I finally received answered prayer. It was in God's timing. His will is not for everyone to be healed, but in my case it was. Now I have to tell my story to bring Him the glory. I will pray for you. If you need anything please contact me. Thank you and God Bless You

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Specializes in L&D, PP, NSY, Med-Surg, Management, Psyc.

Thanks for sharing your story with me. It really helps to know Im not totally alone. I have one question though. WHen you referred to taking documentation to the hearing for SS ..what documentation are you referring to? THANKS AGAIN!!

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Specializes in ICU, Research, Corrections.
Thanks for sharing your story with me. It really helps to know Im not totally alone. I have one question though. WHen you referred to taking documentation to the hearing for SS ..what documentation are you referring to? THANKS AGAIN!!

Initially there is no hearing for SSD. You apply on paper and very thoroughly and methodically fill out the paper work. You are either approved or denied.

Once denied, you have a hearing. You don't have to wait for a heaing to include documenation. You can use it in when you initially apply. The paperwork should include any medical abstracts, evidence based pratice research, or other documentation about your condition.

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I found articles on my particular back problem, which was a torn annulus. I found articles on the Artificial Disc Replacement, which at the time was not being done in the US. I found articles that actually explained how sitting, standing, walking with a torn annulus causes increased pain. I don't remember the articles I found, but it really proves that you are limited to work, because anytime you are bearing weight on the lower back your pain increases. You can try looking under articles produced by Dr. Charles Aprill. He was located in New Orleans, but I don't know if he is still in New Orleans post Katrina. Anyway he might have some articles to this affect. I have moved several times since I had my hearing so I don't know what happen to the articles. Someone replied that you could put your documentation with the application, which is probably a good idea. My attorney did not even want to give the judge the articles, but I insisted on it. And yes in my state they almost always deny you the 1st time, but make sure you appeal. Make sure also that when you appeal you send it certified mail. I didn't and they claimed they didn't get my appeal, so I had to reapply. I hope all goes well for you and if you need anything else please let me know. Try to have a blessed day.

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