Work Injury, need advice

Nurses Disabilities

Published

Hello, just looking for some advice on how to go about following through with a work injury.

I was wiping down a stretcher between patients and felt a "stab" directly into my lumbar spine. The pain worsened over the next hour or two, and when I would move certain ways, it would cause me to involuntarily "groan" or "gasp" out loud.

I told my manager, she sent me to employee health, they sent me to the ER. Treated me for a generic back injury, but the Doc felt it was probably a herniated disc.

I've been "resting" it for two days now, taking valium and percocet, icing it as well. It doesn't seem to be getting any better. I'm really not feeling it a muscle pain, really feels like an injury to my spine with intermittent spinal "pressure".

Anyhow, other than following up with my PMD, he'll probably order an MRI, where do I go from here? Work will NOT willingly cover a comp injury out of the "goodness of their hearts", and I, more than anyone else, can't believe this happened just washing a stretcher, but it did.

I would appreciate any suggestions on how to proceed. I've never been in this position before - potentially facing a long term injury.

Thanks

Blessings

I had my first at work injury recently and filed as worker's comp and am now regretting it after all the reading I've done here. I don't want to lose my job, but I'm not a nurse yet, and all I want to do is get better. I'm def scared for my job (I also work in healthcare), but I know that if I have to work a crap job till I can get my CNA it's something. I never want to be in this kind of mess again. Good luck to all of you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med surg, Critical Care, LTC.

My employer let me go May 15, stating "they couldn't comply with my work restrictions any longer", they posted my job, and I was done. Problem is, I'm still having pain. I've see two different psychiatrists, I'm in PT, Tens unit, etc... my back isn't getting better. I've had two pain blocks with minimal results - maybe five days of ability to perform some minor house work or walking any distance. I'm on unemployment and getting workmans comp, but these won't last forever, I've been looking for jobs diligently, I've had several interviews but no offers. I'm well qualified for the positions I'm applying for - but they always ask "why did you leave your last employer?" I don't want to say "I was fired without qualifying it. So I explain about my back injury, briefly, and I assure them that "I wouldn't be applying for this position if I felt I couldn't handle it" - truth is, I'm not sure I can.

I have good days and bad days. Two nights ago I was trying to wash my dishes and wipe down my counters, after approx five minutes of work, it felt like I was being stabbed by a hot poker in my spine, right back and buttocks - I forced myself to "work past the pain" while crying like a baby, it hurt so bad!!

How the heck am I going to find ANY job if it hurts to wash dishes, do laundry, vacuum, shave my legs! I'm not sure what to say to prospective employers when they ask "why did you leave your last employer" without telling them about my back, they also need to know any restrictions I have - basically I just tell them "no lifting".

Most of the jobs have been either desk work like Case Management or clinic type work. I can sit for long periods with some stiffness upon standing - but when I just BRUSH MY TEETH - I inadvertently lean forward just enough, to cause pain - standing still is a no no, walking any real distance is a no no, lifting over ten lbs is a no no, I'm LOST and feeling hopeless - any more suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

By the way, Zaniflex does work well for me to, but it makes me so groggy, I only take it at HS. I take Lyrica, but I can't really tell if it is working. Lidocain patches do nothing. Tens helps a bit, but lately, not so much.

Blessings

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CCU, OR.

Contact a workman's comp attorney fro a free consult. They'll decide if your case has merit(sounds like it does), and start picking up all the bits and pieces. It sounds to me as if you have a case.

It sounds to me that something is causing you a great deal of untreated sciatic pain. You may have muscle swelling that impinges on the nerve, you may have nerve root issues, you may need surgery....

Go look at a site callled WING USA. It's about work injured nurses-and other health care workers. It may supply you with information that can help your attorneys with your case.

I'm in a situation that started Spetember 2006. I've gotten better for a short period of time, and have been in pain most of it.

BTW- go see a pain specialist. Ask that W/C send you to a pain specialist. Your pain is uncontrolled, and documented as such, so ask for that help. You are entitled to treatment for a job inury.

As for bedside nursing, well, that may not be realistic. However, you might be in a position to get vocational rehabilitation in the form of a college education. There are social work positions that get you close to patients, without lifting, etc. Check into that as well.

Good luck

Excuse typos- took some pain meds and am having trouble typing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi, I am just wondering how are you cope now. Did you find a job at last?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment