Battling back injury

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I injured my back doing nothing in particular. I have made it very clear btw that i am not blaming my work fornyhis injury. I run and have a young child. It was a progressive tightening and stiffness in my lower back that turned into sharp stabbing/spasming pain. After about 4 days and it only getting worse, even after a couple chiropractor visits, I went to the docs. Drags were done and my spine is fine, it's just bad back spasms/tightness. I called the nursing office yesterday and asked if it were possible to be put on light duty. They transferred me to employee health and the NP I spoke with told me she wanted the note my doc wrote excusing me from work (because I mentioned it) and she said I need to go back to my doctor and get a note saying when I can return to work. This message was given to me by the NPs secretary and I told her I felt good enough to work and the doc wrote the note in case I wasn't feeling up to working. I left the NP a message saying I felt ok to come in and didn't want to start this process. I also notified the charge nurse the night before my shift to ask for a lighter patient load if possible. I showed up for work this morning with a back support hidden under my scrubs. I got a call 30mins into my shift from the NP at employee health telling me I had to give her the note and go home for the day. Obviously my supervisor wasn't happy having to call in another nurse to work my shift and she said I didn't go by policy because I should have called her. I understand what I started now and kinda wish I kept my mouth shut. I'm not back to work for a few days so I plan on making a doc appointment to get a note to return to work. I'm worried my back pain is still bad but am worried I need to go back to work. My supervisor specifically said my doctor needs to write ok back to work without restrictions. What if I need light work for a while? I work on a step-down floor and it's very heavy. Any advice? Tia!

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Specializes in ER, Trauma.

Hospital I worked at had a policy of no light duty except if a workmans comp case. Too much risk for employers when you talk about back injuries. They treat you like you have the plague. Sorry to bring bad news, but I've been out of work a year and a half now for back pain that turned out to be a rare immune disorder. Could do light duty but nobody will let me in the door. Stuck with SS Disability. Get all eyes and t's crossed in writing from your doctor. In a sane world, you handled it the best way possible. Good health and a long happy career.

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Hospital I worked at had a policy of no light duty except if a workmans comp case. Too much risk for employers when you talk about back injuries. They treat you like you have the plague. Sorry to bring bad news, but I've been out of work a year and a half now for back pain that turned out to be a rare immune disorder. Could do light duty but nobody will let me in the door. Stuck with SS Disability. Get all eyes and t's crossed in writing from your doctor. In a sane world, you handled it the best way possible. Good health and a long happy career.

Yep- same here. I did have a WC back injury about 25 years ago...ended up with foot drop, bulging discs going central and left... I was off work for a few months altogether. It was horrible. But, with PT and 10 days in traction (back when this was common- lol), I got through it with no lasting damage.

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Specializes in NVRN, ICU, Critical Care.

stop running!, try yoga [a light hatha style at first, then try bikram(amazing for low back issues!!)], a chiro is only as good as there massage therapist so go treat yourself to a (knowledgeable) massage therapist for your back. hope you feel better

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Your employer does not have to accommodate you with a light-duty assignment. Had you injured yourself at work, it would be a different story. If you can't work to your normal capacity, they have the right to not let you work until you can. There is too much of a risk that you could injure yourself further, even if you are on light duty, and then it would become a workman's comp case. They are not going to take that risk.

6 years ago I injured my shoulder at work. It was not improving after 2 months of physical therapy and light duty, so I had a scope and they ended up repairing some torn cartilage. I was off for 3 or 4 weeks post op, and then came back on light duty for several months. I actually worked in the HIM department during that time. In total, it was 9 months from the time of the injury until I was back to full duty.

A couple of years ago, I suffered a stress fracture in my proximal tibia, right under my knee. I was non-weight-bearing for a week, then was gradually allowed to bear weight. Obviously I would have needed light duty, and work would not let me do that (which I understood, I didn't hurt myself there). I ended up being off for a total of 8 weeks, until the fracture was completely healed.

I'm telling you these stories to show you the difference between a work injury and a non-work injury. If you need to wear a back support, you are not ready to work yet. Your employer is covering their own butt, and with good reason. There are plenty of people that would try to turn that type of injury in to a work-related one, and milk it for all it's worth. Get that note from your doctor, when you truly feel good enough to not need restrictions.

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I found acupuncture to help with the pain and yoga for the long term...some swear by pilates. Heal fast and well, and try to enjoy your unexpected down time. Try to find the hidden good in the bad experience. (Ducking as you throw something at me!) :)

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Specializes in neuro med, telemetry, icu, pacu.

tell me that you had an MRI.... sounds like a pinched spinal root to me... you need a micro surgeon who can spot in impinged spinal root....

forget PT.... pay for the MRI out of pocket.. you are too young for this kind of debilitation...............

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Our hospital system will not give light duty unless it is work related. I knew a nurse who was injured at work and said workers comp denied her because they felt she was an excessive runner, marathons, and were blaming the running, even though it was a definite injury from work. She eventually recovered and became an NP. I'm sure she's much happier now!

If your back is hurting, check out PT, massage, ultrasound, that helped me when I had a back injury from work. Also try to get some muscle relaxants from the doctor, Valium is probably the best but they usually offer flexeril or zanaflex instead. Stretching exercises and low back exercises do help! soaking in a hot tub or whirlpool if you have, heating pad also helps the spasms.

Good luck! May you have a speedy recovery!

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