Help! Chronic shoulder pain, studying to be RN

[MelanieS]

Hello everyone, I'm doing my pre-nursing courses right now, along with working as a cashier at Walmart. For the past few years I have had chronic shoulder pain, and was diagnosed with Bursitis/Tendonitis last year. I haven't been able to do in clinic physical therapy due to financial issues. But I do have stretches and exercises that I do at home, and right before work. They have me on Flexaril and Relafen for pain and swelling. I also have had a few Cortison injections here and there when the pain gets really bad. I have good days and bad days, but there's not a day that I don't hurt. I also have decreased range of motion.

Now onto my delimma. I have ALWAYS wanted to be a nurse. I am in school right now, and so excited that i'm making my dream come true (sorry if that sounds corny). But i'm VERY nervous that I won't be able to handle being a nurse physically. I'm so scared that I won't be able to hack it, and won't be able to work.

Does anyone here deal with a chronic pain condition but still actively working as a nurse? How do you get through the pain so you can do your job? Any pointers on pain relief? Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks everyone.

[ghillbert, MSN, NP]

I've also got chronic shoulder bursitis/tendonitis. It tends to be sporadic though - most of the time it's okay, and then if I overuse I get an acute problem and can't do a thing with it.

The stretches are hard to keep with, but really make a huge difference. The other thing that really helped is something called SAMe which you can get at Costco - good for joints. I don't take anything for pain unless I get an acute attack.

I couldn't work on the floor when it's flared up - however now I work in a non-lifting position, I would probably be okay. There are various areas of nursing, I wouldn't rule out a whole career because of your shoulder, you may just have to work around it.

PS: I've been nursing for ~15yrs

[Be_Moore]

I also have transient chronic bursitis/tendonitis in my shoulder (which I actually got from doing nursing. Good times). It sucks really badly on a flare up, but I can still do my job (and I still work in a lifting position). You should be fine.

[ghillbert, MSN, NP]

Oh PS: Would it be worth getting surgery to relieve the problem if it's so bad you have to take painkillers daily?

[inforn43]

Help!

I worked as a CNA for 20 years before becoming a nurse. When I got my first nursing job I immediately injured my left shoulder.

It was not caused by lifting one patient but was something that got worse and worse over about three months until I was in excruciating 9/10 pain with movement and 5/10 constant pain. I was lucky and was hired at an office job where I didn't have to lift patients although I had no insurance it eventually cleared up and I was basically pain free. Then, the economy went bad. That company went out of business and I had a really hard time finding another job. I finally got a job at an assisted living and as soon as I lifted a patient it started in my right shoulder. I am at the point now where I am in constant pain I can't work at all and even four Vicodin a day do nothing for my pain. Has anyone ever experienced something like this?

[DookieMeisterRN]

I also have transient chronic bursitis/tendonitis in my shoulder (which I actually got from doing nursing. Good times). It sucks really badly on a flare up, but I can still do my job (and I still work in a lifting position). You should be fine.

. I really think it unwise to tell the OP she will be fine. If you cannot lift it will be extremely hard to get even past the interview process. Most positions (even for newborns) require you to be able to lift 50 lbs. In reality there are probably quite a few nursing jobs without lifting but it may be hard getting in with limitations.Have you considered medical assisting if therapy/surgery isn't an option?