ED nurse with herniated disk needs advice in changing career...

ernursen · Jan 17, 2009

What about advice nursing? I work in a fast paced clinic with some amazing RNs who act as advice nurses, many of whom are old (not age wise..you know what I mean) ER nurses. As for me...I am going back to ER. But when I graduate with my RN...advice nursing seems cool enough to try out. :) Good luck. My prayers are with you. :)

Canadian Girl · Jan 17, 2009

Thanks for your great idea. I do love giving advice! I'll look into it. Take care and thanks for your prayers...

pink85 · Jan 17, 2009

Hi Canadian Girl.

I have a herniated disk in about the same spot and it WAS pushing on my sciatic nerve. I never knew pain could be that bad and i had 3 kids with no pain med! I ended up having steroid injections in my back and it really helped. I work on a very busy cardiac floor and i have minimal issues now. I had this injury in January of 08 and it took many months to get to the right doc with a treatment besides surgery, I think I spent 4 months doing nothing but sitting and sleeping in a recliner! Very depressing! Anyway, why do you think you have to give up your job? I know many nurses that have had back surgery and problems and have worked successfully afterwards. Is surgery your only option? I am like you, very active, hate to sit still! I would have died if I had to stop acute care! Granted some days are hard and I can be sore at the end of the day but usually after a good nights rest and some motrin I am good. I just try not to bend over to much if I don"t have to! I still help lifting and turning patients too. My co workers are very good and tell me not to, I and lucky and they are very supportive of me, but I am not one to sit by and watch. Plus, my damage is done! I had steroid injections in my back that helped me. It took three tries for it to work though. The third time he said he was going to inject the area above and below the herniation instead of just one and that did the trick. Eight months without major issues! Good luck to you and I hope it all works out. I hope you don't have to have surgery but I know I was at a point before that I was hurting so much that I wanted surgery so it could be over with. I hope everything works out foe the best.

Canadian Girl · Jan 17, 2009

Thanks Pink85. You're encouraging. I also injured my back (sliding a pt. up in bed) in Jan. 08. It got worse and worse until June 08 when I ended up in the ED on Dilaudid IV. Worse pain of my life (also worse than childbirth). Still dealing with paresthesias in both legs/perineal area when sitting. Nerve pain is returning. Would like to deal with this before I move back to Canada (as I'm working in a neuro specialty hospital). I've not had a neurosurg consult yet and would like to deal with it conservatively if possible. My back feels unstable so I'm not sure if I would exacerbate it even helping granny to the commode. Maybe I just need PT or something. Thanks!

pink85 · Jan 17, 2009

PT did nothing for me, but that was me. Just check out all of your options. I was dead set that I was going to be out of work for months to have surgery, have to quit my other job, etccc...... very, very depressed, cried a lot. I am sure that one day I will have to have surgey but for now I am pretty good. That pain is horrible. I actually understood how people could od on pain meds. I am grateful to be the 90% pain free that I am. I actually started working out with my trainer again this week. It has been a year. I would get so mad b/c 2 docs I had been to kept trying to tell me that if I strengthened my core I would prevent injury. Well, I worked twice a week, every week with a personal trainer and we did work on my 'core'! I would get so frustrated! Especially when you know better. Keep your head up and remember it is a temporary situation. You will get beter and get back to doing what you love!

Yin Yang · Jan 17, 2009

I've had a similar situation. I herniated L4-L5 in Oct. 2006, and have several others bulging at 1-2 mm. I literally could not walk, or even roll myself over in bed for weeks (couldn't even get on or off the potty). After much intensive physical therapy, consistent use of muscle relaxers at night, intermittent support from my TENS unit, and a neurologist who brilliantly put me on Cymbalta for the neuropathic pain from the sciatica (I swear there is nothing like sciatic pain in this or any other world), I am starting in the ED on Monday. Throughout nursing school, I was fearful I would re-injure myself, but I just made it a point to always get help for lifting patients and such. Take the time you need to let the disc scar in. Once it does, the sciatic is often all that is left to deal with and TENS and meds (including the steroid injections) can make a world of difference. Get into physical therapy ASAP though. It really makes a difference. Hang in there and I'll keep my thoughts with you.

Yang

pink85 · Jan 17, 2009

Yes! That sciatic pain is a killer!!!!!!!!!! No way to sugar coat that one! That pain can not even be described. I had no idea how bad that pain was that people would be talking about! Glad you are doing better yang. The steroid injections is what really helped me!

Yin Yang · Jan 17, 2009

Yes! That sciatic pain is a killer!!!!!!!!!! No way to sugar coat that one! That pain can not even be described. I had no idea how bad that pain was that people would be talking about! Glad you are doing better yang. The steroid injections is what really helped me!

I had a horrible epidural experience when I had my daughter, so I was terrified of the steroid injection. I managed to not get it, but I did physical therapy 2 hours a day sometimes 4 days a week. I used a pilates based PT that really did make a difference. I was terrified that my school would find out because it happened after I had made my application, but before I got accepted. I had always poo-poohed the people who complained about chronic sciatic/back pain too. It's not to say that I don't have it at all anymore, but I can live life (I parasailed and even zip-lined through the jungle last week while on my cruise :yeah: ). I tried to go off the Cymbalta because it has other side effects, but I could tell a huge difference in my level of pain, and my tolerance for activity. I'm back on it, and probably won't try to wean off again. My first neuro wanted to put me on neurontin, but the 2nd one said Cymbalta is even better, and it has been a Godsend. Did you have just pain, or weird feelings too? I had like a bubbling sensation that would go up my leg - it was so crazy at times. I'm glad you managed to get past yours as well.

Yang

pink85 · Jan 17, 2009

I am not on any med at this time but some days my back will feel very exhausted. Like it can't hold my body up anymore. I only get that when I try and do distance walking though. I will tell you the injections are different than an epidural, different area. I was realy nervous about it. Not a fan of things being stuck in my back that is why I never had an epidural when in labor! However desperate people do desperate things! LOL! My only advice.... Don't go horseback riding! NOT good for the back with a back injury!!!!! I will say my days for that are over! LOL!

Canadian Girl · Jan 17, 2009

Thank you. That is so funny, I also started working with a personal trainer this week, first time since last January. BTW, I did have an epidural steroid injection in June and it took most of my pain away, but it is coming back. Thanks for your words, they mean a lot to me! Take care

zeppzepp2009 · Nov 11, 2009

I know this is an old thread but I wanted to ask those of you that went the epidural route a couple of questions. Did you go to pain management Dr's for the injections? I have been trying to find a Dr that does them with no luck. Also whats the cost like? Lastly how long did they last and how well did they work? Thanks!