Little background... last Saturday I started having EXCRUCIATING pain in my lower back, going down into the backs of my thighs. Starting taking Diclofenac and that helped. On Tuesday, the pain went to my buttocks and that area, and it felt like I had been kicked by a horse. Tuesday evening I started having vague numbness. By Wednesday afternoon I was numb EVERYWHERE in my mid-section; buttocks, genital area..
Well, went to my doc yesterday, finally.. know I probably should have gone sooner. But, he seemed to think I would be fine. But, last night after doing a little Googling... I realized that my symptoms were very alarming and I'd really better get to an ER, stat. Went to the ER and was diagnosed with a HUGE bulging disk in, I think my L5/S1.
I have an appointment with a neurosurgeon on Tuesday. Looks like back surgery is in my immediate future...
My question is basically... have any of you had problems like this? Were you able to continue working as a nurse, especially in an environment such as Med/Surge, or even LTC?
Do a little research and you will find almost EVERYONE will have some degree of "bulging disk" somewhere in thier lumbar spine at some point in thier life if they do any kind of a physicaly demanding job. Most "bulging disk" problems can be resolved with strengthing ROM exercises- PT/OT. I would consider surgical intervention only as a last option. Remember- most people, if they got an MRI when they had an pesistant episode of "low back pain" could find some degree of disk bulging. - Before MRIs you rested it for a few days or a week and then started getting some exercise to "loosen up" and strengthen the muscles before you went back to work. Please look into all your options before you let someone get out the knife!
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
i too had a herniated disk (l5/s1). i ended up having back surgery and was on disability for 6 months, but it is now two years later and i've been back to the icu for a year and a half. it was a tough 6 months, but i'm out the other side of it, and am pleased to tell you that there is life (and a nursing career) after a back injury. i wish you the very best of luck!
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
do a little research and you will find almost everyone will have some degree of "bulging disk" somewhere in thier lumbar spine at some point in thier life if they do any kind of a physicaly demanding job. most "bulging disk" problems can be resolved with strengthing rom exercises- pt/ot. i would consider surgical intervention only as a last option. remember- most people, if they got an mri when they had an pesistant episode of "low back pain" could find some degree of disk bulging. - before mris you rested it for a few days or a week and then started getting some exercise to "loosen up" and strengthen the muscles before you went back to work. please look into all your options before you let someone get out the knife!
i'd leave the diagnosis and treatment options to the appropriate medical provider, but i'm thinking that given her symptoms, she may very well be a candidate for surgery. i had the surgery and was scared to death before hand. believe it or not (and i wouldn't have!) the surgery was no big deal. (now the csf leak afterward was a week of pure misery, but that's a rare complication and i'm fine now!)
I can relate, I have a bad back, bulging L4L5, desiccated discs. I was doing Jazzercise 4x a week and put on heels one Saturday night felt my L hip swivel a little....next thing i know 24 hours later I am rolling around on my living room floor pain lower back, left hip, left leg. Did the chiro thing went to chiro on thursday and ended up in the ER 2 hours later because of the pain. went to ortho 4 days later for follow up and mri showed nerve damage, no more chiro for awhile..went for pain management 3 epidural shots later and I am pain free...1st: L4 didn't help, 2nd: L4/L5 was like a miracle, and 3rd L5/S1 really no change...did go back to the chiro for decompression and no twisting adjustments....I took disablility from work for 10 weeks but back full time 3 12's in a row, and working out 3 times a week, treadmill etc...Just be careful and good luck
i'd leave the diagnosis and treatment options to the appropriate medical provider, but i'm thinking that given her symptoms, she may very well be a candidate for surgery. i had the surgery and was scared to death before hand. believe it or not (and i wouldn't have!) the surgery was no big deal. (now the csf leak afterward was a week of pure misery, but that's a rare complication and i'm fine now!)
not offering medical advise- just practical experience that says there are any number of options for lower back strain. if anyone wants to have surgery -go for it- not my back, but i believe the question was is this/could this end my nursing care?. it can , but there are so many options for resolving this health problem that anyone owes it to themselves to be informed before they undertake a proceedure that is one-way. you can't undo surgery. mostly i wanted to convey tha many nurses have had this problem and only in extreme cases does it become a career ending diagnosis.
suanna
1,549 Posts
Do a little research and you will find almost EVERYONE will have some degree of "bulging disk" somewhere in thier lumbar spine at some point in thier life if they do any kind of a physicaly demanding job. Most "bulging disk" problems can be resolved with strengthing ROM exercises- PT/OT. I would consider surgical intervention only as a last option. Remember- most people, if they got an MRI when they had an pesistant episode of "low back pain" could find some degree of disk bulging. - Before MRIs you rested it for a few days or a week and then started getting some exercise to "loosen up" and strengthen the muscles before you went back to work. Please look into all your options before you let someone get out the knife!