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

Nurses Stress 101

Published

Hi Guys, I’m a 25 year old nurse . I’ve worked in the operating room for 2 years and now I’m in the ICU.  I’ve always had joint pain because of a few injuries in my early 20’s but over time developed chronic fatigue . After getting covid , I’ve been more tired that ever . I’ve just started in the ICU and though I’m tired I’m doing pretty okay but I’m on day shift . I want to succeed so bad and do well. I want to study on my days off but my body is always so exhausted . It’s like charging a phone and for long periods of times only to return and find that it’s still at 60%. 
 

Does anyone else deal with chronic fatigue as a nurse ? How do you deal with it ? It’s so draining and I feel like I reserve all my energy for work only and nothing else . I try to eat well , and I want to work out but I’m so exhausted all the time .

Specializes in Operating Room.
On 11/11/2020 at 6:27 PM, guineapignurse said:

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.

I’ve been going to PT for years now but now I go once a week . On my days off I foam roll and stretch . I do 15 minute total body workouts that don’t require squatting or jumping . Tylenol doesn’t really work for me but I do take large doses when the neck pain and headaches are unbearable. My body didn’t hurt as bad in the OR but in the ICU after I get off of work my entire body is right and painful  because of my rotated pelvis . One side is chronically tight. My goal is CRNA school and I’ve only been in the ICU for a few months just trying to push through to get my 2-3 years experience . Thank you for your advice . I’m going to check bio freeze out . 

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nursing.

At 25 I could leap buildings literally and take a jet to Asia and back in the same weekend for a wedding and not have jet lag. At 25, I don't care who you are, your body is at peak. To have all those catastrophic health issues at so young is very sad but just does not sound like the usual...Do you have any other health concerns underlying like chronic obesity or family history of not being of a super strong constitution or something? I just find it hard to believe a normal 25 year old's body is not going to Spring back in short time with your body circulating its cocktail of vitality increasing hormones as a young guy typically would have.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nursing.

I recommend you get a full blood work panel complete with range of all your hormones esp FSH, testosterone, and LTH

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
14 minutes ago, MDBoy said:

At 25 I could leap buildings literally and take a jet to Asia and back in the same weekend for a wedding and not have jet lag. At 25, I don't care who you are, your body is at peak. To have all those catastrophic health issues at so young is very sad but just does not sound like the usual...Do you have any other health concerns underlying like chronic obesity or family history of not being of a super strong constitution or something? I just find it hard to believe a normal 25 year old's body is not going to Spring back in short time with your body circulating its cocktail of vitality increasing hormones as a young guy typically would have.

Yes and No - I felt old when I was in my late teens. My body is an auto-immune nightmare as the result of intense violent child abuse. There is evidence based reasearch to indicate that adverse childhood events (Both Physical and mental) can contribute to auto immune disfunctions. I spent my 20s, 30s and 40s trying to figure out why, inspite of a healthy diet and exercise, I was so sick. Only in my 50s have  I met a physician who decided to adopt a Sherlock Holmes approach and act colaboratively with me to find solutions. While I still face many challenges I am in my best health ever but that is also because I have refused to be told that my symptoms were "Somatic" or "All in my head." The biggest way I cope is to know my limits. I work and play when I feel well and sleep and rest when I am tired. 

Good luck to the OP 

Hppy

 

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, Pre-Op, PACU.
On 11/16/2020 at 9:13 AM, hppygr8ful said:

Yes and No - I felt old when I was in my late teens. My body is an auto-immune nightmare as the result of intense violent child abuse. There is evidence based reasearch to indicate that adverse childhood events (Both Physical and mental) can contribute to auto immune disfunctions. I spent my 20s, 30s and 40s trying to figure out why, inspite of a healthy diet and exercise, I was so sick. Only in my 50s have  I met a physician who decided to adopt a Sherlock Holmes approach and act colaboratively with me to find solutions. While I still face many challenges I am in my best health ever but that is also because I have refused to be told that my symptoms were "Somatic" or "All in my head." The biggest way I cope is to know my limits. I work and play when I feel well and sleep and rest when I am tired. 

Good luck to the OP 

Hppy

 

This is very true - being young doesn’t exempt a person from anything.....cancer, diabetes, autoimmune issues, genetic conditions, etc. I had really severe, disabling issues as a child. I am actually doing better as an adult (obviously....working as a nurse).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Operating Room.
21 minutes ago, speedynurse said:

This is very true - being young doesn’t exempt a person from anything.....cancer, diabetes, autoimmune issues, genetic conditions, etc. I had really severe, disabling issues as a child. I am actually doing better as an adult (obviously....working as a nurse).

Unfortunately a lot of people don’t understand that health issues and joint pain can hit you at any age . It can be extremely disabling and it can hinder how you live your life . I’m taking it easy and not giving up even though my joint pain can be so bad . For energy I tried something called intramax it’s like 82.00 don’t buy it on amazon and it has really been helping me with my energy levels . I also foam roll and stretch on my days off .  I don’t think I can do bedside for more than another 4 years . Hopefully with 2 years of ICU I can get into CRNA school and that way nursing can be less challenging on my body . 

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in geriatric.

I hope you are feeling better by now. I'm my honest opinion in sounds more that your fatigue could be related from your body recuperating from COVID plus the physical and emotional demands of your work and the mental stress that you are putting in trying to do your best.  I will recommend to  take one day at a time and give yourself time to feel 100% better.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Operating Room.

Covid made it worse but I’ve been like this since I was 20. I have some injuries and a rotated pelvis and chronic joint pain the wear and tear probably just makes me so exhausted because my joints are tired of being tight . I’ve done a lot of research on the psoas if it’s tightened and shortened it can put your body in constant fight or flight mode stressing your adrenal glands . If I can find someone to release it maybe my body can slowly recover 

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment