Nursing injuries

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jan 29, 2008

I'm also a rehab nurse, and hating it. I work on a busy, fast-paced rehab unit with rapid patient turnover.

I suffered from chronic sciatic pain that was so severe that it limited my ability to walk. I'd attempt to walk a few steps, but the fiery pain would travel down the posterior aspect of my right leg. I was afflicted with sciatica for 2 years, but chiropractic took care of the pain and enabled me to return to a somewhat normal life.

Fiona59 · Jan 29, 2008

Torn crusciate ligaments due to a family member getting in our way while we were repositioning her father. Off work for three weeks. I work in acute care.

Families, thanks to the media, feel it is their mandate to stand at the bedside and monitor our care. They forget that they are our workspace and look stunned when asked to move so that we may have room to work. I am just as entitled to a safe workplace as they are.

woody62, RN · Jan 30, 2008

I suffered a herniation, at L4-5 on the right side, in March of 1988. It took me until May to get authorization from the insurance company to see a neurosurgeon, who performed a myelogram on me, that demonstrated the herniation. He received permission to perform a percutanous discectomy, which I underwent with success. Success until four days following the surgery when I suffered a reherniation, at the same level. It took until the end of November to get a second opinion and authorization for the surgery. I never returned to gainful employment because I was hit by a big rig, at the end of January 1989, returning from a doctor's appointment. I have been permanently disabled ever since then. I seriously doubt I could return to gainful employment. I am limited in lifting, in my ability to stand for long periods or to walk more then one block without severe pain and spasms.

My herniation was the result of lifting a old gentleman who weigh 100 pounds. But I believe that the herniation resulted from several low back strains, which strained and/or tore the fiberaous bands in my back. And he just was the last insult to the repeated injuries. Injuries that resulted because of insufficent staff to move patients safely.

Woody:balloons:

crone57 · Jan 31, 2008

Thanks so much for these responses and if anyone else has a story, please share it. I am currently involved in a workmens comp claim and in doing so, feel like I have somehow become satan.....I find it very discouraging to work on the same unit for several years and to find the level of concern only to be when am I coming back to work? At this point, I don't see myself ever being able to be a floor nurse again.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jan 31, 2008

I find it very discouraging to work on the same unit for several years and to find the level of concern only to be when am I coming back to work?

Unfortunately, their only concern is when you're planning to return to work. To them, we're simply warm bodies who are there to fill the current holes in staffing. They couldn't care less about the daily pains, aggravations, emotional rollercoasters, and afflictions that you experience. This is the honest truth.

crissrn27, RN · Jan 31, 2008

I've been a nurse for almost 9 years. I have ddd, djd in hips, recent herniation of L4-5, and L5-s1 (can't prove this was at work, but that is what the neuro believes). Daily pain, which actually is a little better now (injury was in oct.). Oh, and I'm 28 y/o. Probably won't be able to go back to full time floor nursing (I was in L and D), for a while. Have been cleared to short hours PRN, or non-floor nursing.

I'm sorry you are having this trouble, I know it is not a fun thing to be faced with a life altering change like that. I am so dreading doing anything but L and D, but I need full time income. So I will probably return to LTC, in a management position, but I know I won't be as happy as I was in L and D, or nursery. So I know how you feel! Hoping you a speedy recovery!