Bad Back

Creature, I can sympathize totally with you! Years ago when I was a CNA, I ended up with 3 bulging discs in my low back and 3 in my neck. I never had surgery, but went thru almost everything else you can imagine. Was off work for almost a year! I can no longer do lifting/bending for patient care, so I became a Health Unit Coordinator and figured out I'm a pretty darned good one! Have the respect of the doctors and nurses I work with and get to still have patient interaction since I work on a peds floor and get to spend fun time with babies and toddlers when their parents need a break!

I never had much to do with Workman's Comp, since I couldn't prove that being a CNA actually screwed up my back. It was a gradual onset kind of thing. Anyway... you asked about the chronic pain too, so I'll tell you what worked for me. PT, TENS, water therapy, biofeedback, steriod injections, etc. All of these either didn't work, or didn't work for long. I was in my very early 30s and taking narcs daily for pain control. Finally my Physical Med MD suggested acupuncture. I figured I had nothing to lose and totally did not believe it would do anything. Luckily, it worked!! It was gradual... sort of like chiropractic. Had to go 3x a week to start, then tapered off. The results were gradual too, but in a few months I was able to back off to only taking ibuprofen, and was relieved of enough pain to actually do the exercises to strengthen my back/abs. End result was that I am able to do most things I would have been doing anyway, including bowling on a league and competetively. Even had a second job as a lane server in a bowling alley for 10 years!! I still have pain, but it's nothing I can't live with... take narcs maybe once every month or so when I really abuse my back. I had plans to be a nurse, but figured out that I really like my job now. It is a mostly sitting job, but I move around alot... never actually sit for too long. :)

Good luck to you and I truly hope you find something that works for you! Back pain is the worst.. colors everything in your life, affects everything you do!

I'm not in the same boat but can understand the frustration and chronic pain. My dad had to change careers after having two back surgeries. I cannot fathom why anyone wouldn't believe that a nurse would have a back problem, as if anyone wants to fake this and go through all the crap you're going through.

If you miss patient care, what about doing NICU nursing? You'll be able to change positions frequently (more so than a desk job) and the strain on your back would be less with patient care.

I feel for you too. My family is riddled with bad backs. My aunt, mother, father, 3 of 4 sisters, 1 of 2 brothers, grand parents (all) have a bad back. Those of us fortunate few who aren't too bad off are generally the ones who are more health conscious. that is to say we eat healthier, sleep regularly, and undergo chiropractic spinal maintenance. I was in an MVA in 99 and had a very minor bulge of c5/6. as a result, i had sharp pain btwn shoulder blades. I underwent chiropractic care (weekly at first, then monthly as maintenance) and it's 100% improved. I still have pain if I have head forward for a long time (reading, typing, etc.). I'm such a believer that I became a chiropractor and went directly into school that summer and graduated this summer! Now I get adjusted weekly because I have a trade off w/ a local chiro here in IL.

Have you given it a try? There are some good chiropractors, some great ones, and then some who are ... well ... just there. If you need a referral, there are recognitions etc. that I can search for if given a zip code. My good friend, who is also a doctor of chiropractic in MO, is married to a nurse. All I can say is that the ambidexterity and upper body strain you go through puts you at a very high risk for back problems. Her only problem now being a nurse is finding a job that treats her like she deserves. Let me know if you have other questions :)

BEST OF LUCK

Dr. Rbrice

Thanks Greg and Jenny for the advice. I live in a small rural town and the hospital jobs are very limited. We don't even actually have an ICU. We have a monitor bed unit which the med/surg nurses take care of. When I worked nights I was charge nurse for the med/surg and LTC floors plus I covered ER. So I'm actually lucky this job came up. I know if I moved away I could probably find a job with hands on care that I could do, but I don't want to move. I guess it's just one of those things you have to accept. I am seriously going to look into accupuncture. I have been going to massage once a week and that helps. I'll let you know how it goes. I'll try anything. I've done the steroid injections, meds, TENS, PT numerous times, etc. Thanks again.

Thanks to the Doctor rbrice and congrats on graduating. I have always been afraid to go to a chiropractor since I had the lumbar fusion because of the hardware. I don't want to be any worse off you know, but if I knew of a really good one I would consider it. I live in the Upper Pennisula of Michigan so if you know of any good ones there let me know. Thanks for the advice and concern. What are your thoughts on a combination of chiropractic, acupuncture and massage?

I was a Worker's Compensation RN case manager for years. I take no offense! I can tell you a few things about the system. First off, you need to get to know your state laws. They differ widely. In my state, you'd not be able to lose your job over an on the job injury...they'd have to find work for you or "perm total" you out and pay you disability for life OR re-train you for a similarly paying job. However, some states are terrible and offer very little worker protection.

I do know that a lot of WC case managers hate working with injured RNs because in many areas, there aren't a lot of similar pay job options. Also, nurses are so vulnerable to injury. Employers never/rarely want to offer light duty...many hospitals would tell us "unless the nurse is 100% we don't want her back".

Best wishes to you. Personally, I'd contact your state Dept of Labor (or whatever they call it) and make sure you are getting everything from the WC carrier that you are entitled to.