How do you deal with chronic fatigue and joint pain as a nurse

speedynurse, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Oct 14, 2020

Have you gone to your physician? Chronic fatigue and joint pain can be from all kinds of causes.

ORtoICU · Oct 14, 2020

3 minutes ago, speedynurse said:

Have you gone to your physician? Chronic fatigue and joint pain can be from all kinds of causes.

I’ve been ruled out for everything including lupus . I’ve been too many doctors throughout the years . Only my iron is slightly low which I’ve already corrected. My joint pain is from my twisted pelvis , so I’m unequally balanced and one side compensates more . It still doesn’t explain the fatigue , besides having covid a few days ago .

I also wanted to hear from fellow other nurses who have chronic fatigues or autoimmune disease, and how they deal with it while working as nurses ?

speedynurse, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Oct 14, 2020

I have these issues but it’s from some fairly severe underlying medical issues. I actually had to change jobs (due to several reasons, not just health issues) but this new job has been wonderful for me and my health - day hours, Very little lifting/basically no CPR/transporting/etc. I tried all kinds of things to try to increase my quality of life while attempting to work in the ED and honestly I was miserable because I was so physically exhausted, always sick and in pain. Moving over to the surgical side of nursing was best choice I ever made! I haven’t looked back. The biggest thing that helped me as a nurse was a job change....probably not what you wanted to hear but it was the best thing I could have ever done....even if I stumbled on it by incident.

allnurses Guide · Oct 14, 2020

1 hour ago, ORtoICU said:

I also wanted to hear from fellow other nurses who have chronic fatigues or autoimmune disease, and how they deal with it while working as nurses ?

?️ Yeah that's me - I have to say that I feels for you. I have had chronic pain since I was in my early teens (a lovely party favor from my physically abusive mother). I also have Diebetes type 2, Inflamatory bowel disease and fibromyalgia. I stepped away from the acute care bedside some years ago and went back to Psych where I run an acute crises unit for adolescents 13-17. All are ambulatory so no lifting but there are days when I am so positively tired I can't even find the energy to eat. Practicing good self care and finding balance is key. You may not be able to exercise but do take time to practice relaxation and diet. I avoid complex and simple carbohydrates as a general rule, eat lots of green vegetables listen to music, work in my garden and just sit in the back yard and listen to music while I wait for the dog to return the ball in a never ending game of fetch.

If I am reading your post right you are still recovering from Covid and that can take a long while. While I haven't had Covid I had a pretty bad post surgical infection a couple of years ago that took eleven weeks to resolve and another 6 months to fully recover from. I went on in termittant FMLA so that I could take time off when I needed to to for appointments or just to spend a day in bed watching Judge Judy and Dr. Phil.

Per TOS I will give the disclaimer that what I say next is not medical advice just what works for me.

Be gentle with yourself - try starting your day with a bit of gentle stretching. Also take a big glass of water right when you wake up. You can have coffee later but remember Coffee stimulates production of the stress hormone cortisol which in turn contributes to chronic fatigue. Try to get at least 6 good hours of sleep every sleep period. Accomplish this by turning off all white screens at least 1 hour before you sleep and use the bedroom for sleep or sex only. These days I'd probably take sleep over sex but that's a personal story.

Check in with your physician frequently - My personal physician is great. In these crazy Covid times He still checks in with me about every two weeks. We have been tweeking my pain management protocols for a few months with the goal of getting off the low dose opiode that I have been on for years and are having some positive success. A good doctor collaborates with you on the results you want to see.

Any way I have probably rambled on more than you need to hear but at 25 I was practically an invalid, now at 57 I am starting to live my best life ever. We have a healty living group in the break room if you want to stop by ad check us out.

Hppy

ORtoICU · Oct 14, 2020

30 minutes ago, hppygr8ful said:

?️ Yeah that's me - I have to say that I feels for you. I have had chronic pain since I was in my early teens (a lovely party favor from my physically abusive mother). I also have Diebetes type 2, Inflamatory bowel disease and fibromyalgia. I stepped away from the acute care bedside some years ago and went back to Psych where I run an acute crises unit for adolescents 13-17. All are ambulatory so no lifting but there are days when I am so positively tired I can't even find the energy to eat. Practicing good self care and finding balance is key. You may not be able to exercise but do take time to practice relaxation and diet. I avoid complex and simple carbohydrates as a general rule, eat lots of green vegetables listen to music, work in my garden and just sit in the back yard and listen to music while I wait for the dog to return the ball in a never ending game of fetch.

If I am reading your post right you are still recovering from Covid and that can take a long while. While I haven't had Covid I had a pretty bad post surgical infection a couple of years ago that took eleven weeks to resolve and another 6 months to fully recover from. I went on in termittant FMLA so that I could take time off when I needed to to for appointments or just to spend a day in bed watching Judge Judy and Dr. Phil.

Per TOS I will give the disclaimer that what I say next is not medical advice just what works for me.

Be gentle with yourself - try starting your day with a bit of gentle stretching. Also take a big glass of water right when you wake up. You can have coffee later but remember Coffee stimulates production of the stress hormone cortisol which in turn contributes to chronic fatigue. Try to get at least 6 good hours of sleep every sleep period. Accomplish this by turning off all white screens at least 1 hour before you sleep and use the bedroom for sleep or sex only. These days I'd probably take sleep over sex but that's a personal story.

Check in with your physician frequently - My personal physician is great. In these crazy Covid times He still checks in with me about every two weeks. We have been tweeking my pain management protocols for a few months with the goal of getting off the low dose opiode that I have been on for years and are having some positive success. A good doctor collaborates with you on the results you want to see.

Any way I have probably rambled on more than you need to hear but at 25 I was practically an invalid, now at 57 I am starting to live my best life ever. We have a healty living group in the break room if you want to stop by ad check us out.

Hppy

Wow thank you so much for responding . It’s hard to find people going through the same things . Your inspiring ! How can I find the break room ?

ORtoICU · Oct 14, 2020

1 hour ago, speedynurse said:

I have these issues but it’s from some fairly severe underlying medical issues. I actually had to change jobs (due to several reasons, not just health issues) but this new job has been wonderful for me and my health - day hours, Very little lifting/basically no CPR/transporting/etc. I tried all kinds of things to try to increase my quality of life while attempting to work in the ED and honestly I was miserable because I was so physically exhausted, always sick and in pain. Moving over to the surgical side of nursing was best choice I ever made! I haven’t looked back. The biggest thing that helped me as a nurse was a job change....probably not what you wanted to hear but it was the best thing I could have ever done....even if I stumbled on it by incident.

Your completely right and no it’s exactly what I needed to hear because it helps me to know others have experienced similar things to me . I was in the OR but transferred to ICU . OR was easier for me because I worked an evening shift . I want to go to CRNA school. Most days I just sleep on my days off . I’m so tired and my eyes feel so heavy . I take vitamins and see many doctors but they can’t give me an answer . The fatigue and joint injuries all really started when I was 21, but I never gave up. I just want to live a normal life . It’s like my 20’s have passed me by and I’ve done nothing because the pain and fatigue has held me back . It affects my memory and how I learn . If I go out to drink Out late , and have Even 1 drink , I’m literally sleeping the whole day . It’s not normal but I won’t give up .

ORtoICU · Oct 14, 2020

37 minutes ago, hppygr8ful said:

?️ Yeah that's me - I have to say that I feels for you. I have had chronic pain since I was in my early teens (a lovely party favor from my physically abusive mother). I also have Diebetes type 2, Inflamatory bowel disease and fibromyalgia. I stepped away from the acute care bedside some years ago and went back to Psych where I run an acute crises unit for adolescents 13-17. All are ambulatory so no lifting but there are days when I am so positively tired I can't even find the energy to eat. Practicing good self care and finding balance is key. You may not be able to exercise but do take time to practice relaxation and diet. I avoid complex and simple carbohydrates as a general rule, eat lots of green vegetables listen to music, work in my garden and just sit in the back yard and listen to music while I wait for the dog to return the ball in a never ending game of fetch.

If I am reading your post right you are still recovering from Covid and that can take a long while. While I haven't had Covid I had a pretty bad post surgical infection a couple of years ago that took eleven weeks to resolve and another 6 months to fully recover from. I went on in termittant FMLA so that I could take time off when I needed to to for appointments or just to spend a day in bed watching Judge Judy and Dr. Phil.

Per TOS I will give the disclaimer that what I say next is not medical advice just what works for me.

Be gentle with yourself - try starting your day with a bit of gentle stretching. Also take a big glass of water right when you wake up. You can have coffee later but remember Coffee stimulates production of the stress hormone cortisol which in turn contributes to chronic fatigue. Try to get at least 6 good hours of sleep every sleep period. Accomplish this by turning off all white screens at least 1 hour before you sleep and use the bedroom for sleep or sex only. These days I'd probably take sleep over sex but that's a personal story.

Check in with your physician frequently - My personal physician is great. In these crazy Covid times He still checks in with me about every two weeks. We have been tweeking my pain management protocols for a few months with the goal of getting off the low dose opiode that I have been on for years and are having some positive success. A good doctor collaborates with you on the results you want to see.

Any way I have probably rambled on more than you need to hear but at 25 I was practically an invalid, now at 57 I am starting to live my best life ever. We have a healty living group in the break room if you want to stop by ad check us out.

Hppy

It’s taking so long to heal from covid . I got it back in April . I was trying clinical body somatic but it did nothing for me . I’ve been in PT for years and what worked is the myofscial release but I get tight quickly . I can sleep 8 hours and still be exhausted . I’m trying to cut out carbs but the stress draws me to them . They are my guilty pleasure . I try drinking coffee but it gives me a poop attack and then I end up becoming more tired than before . I’m trying to find a good doctor but it’s hard . There is a lack of holistic providers around me . I’m not going to give up because my goal is to feel good . For years I’ve been depressed because of this and now more so because I’m fatigued , but I know I can’t give up . I know I have so much to offer as a nurse, my body is just holding me back . Sorry for the rant . It’s hard to talk about these things with friends and family . They just say I’m young and that I’ll be OK , or that I’m too young to have these issues .

speedynurse, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Oct 14, 2020

I have had my health issues since childhood and for the longest time as a nurse, I was convinced I could do everything that other nurses could do. Until I physically crashed and missed tons of work. Sometimes it takes awhile to find the right doctors, treatment adjustments, job changes, and lifestyle changes. I know a job change has helped tremendously in decreasing my absentee days. I also filed intermittent FMLA for those occasional days that I truly cannot make it through a shift. I have also had to make adjustments - I found a job schedule that worked better for me (no more night shifts), I cancel plans with friends or family when I need to to rest (even if no one understands - I know my body better than anyone else and know what it takes to hold down a job), and even made housing changes to make things easier for me. I have also found dietary changes have helped me....I eat often at work (Between patient cases) and follow somewhat of a ketogenic/paleo style diet because that is simply what works best for me. Massage helps, lots of rest, and meal prep so I don’t get stuck eating food that makes pain and fatigue worse. Nursing is hard on the body and with health issues it makes it harder but not impossible. What I had to learn the hard way was to stop comparing myself to others because that wasn’t fair to me and only made me feel like a failure.

allnurses Guide · Oct 14, 2020

10 hours ago, ORtoICU said:

I’m trying to find a good doctor but it’s hard . There is a lack of holistic providers around me .

My physician is not a holistic doctor just a general family practice doctor who is willing to work with me, hold my proverbial hand, and humor my whims..."

Hppy

amoLucia · Oct 14, 2020

Hppy - sounds like Marcus Welby! They're a gem when you find them!

guineapignurse, BSN, RN · Nov 11, 2020

I have hypermobility syndrome and it might even be EDS type 3 I just don’t know enough of my family medical history for that to be determined. I usually take it easy on my days off like today I did a chair yoga class and went grocery shopping so that I have energy on my days to work. I also make sure to get 8 or 9 hours of sleep and keep my caffeine intake to early morning hours and try to stay hydrated with water but I’m almost chronically dehydrated. I also have a regular yoga practice when I’m not injured and I make sure to go gor walks in my days off. Self care is what works for me as well as alternating Tylenol and ibuprofen PRN when the pain us too bad to tolerate. I also find biofreeze helpful. Just some suggestions that work for me.