Surgical leave... I just need some love and support from other nurses!

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Specializes in ER.

I just need some kudos and some positive reinforcement, because I feel like nobody understands my frustration!!

I'm 24 yrs old. Been a nurse for a year now. I feel like my shoulder is like, allergic to my job

I worked for 3 months with the worst shoulder pain I could even imagine. Esp into my collarbone. I mean, seriously intense. Just kinda popped up one day, and wouldn't. The biggest frustration is that it only bothered me at work! (ER nurse, btw..) I work Fri-Sun, MISERABLE, and it would be fine during the week. Go back to work, miserable again, ect...

So after many, MANY visits to the Ortho doc, completely normal MRIs of my shoulder and neck, PT for over a month, it just wasn't getting better, so 6 weeks ago, I had surgery and I ended up having a rotator cuff repair, the end of my collar bone clipped off, and a tendon repair. (Also, it taught me a lesson in imaging studies - MRIs are not always right, and sometimes all that crap just doesn't show on them!)

If you have every had rotator cuff surgery, the recovery is miserable itself. Ugh.

Anyways, Friday was my first day back and I'm on light duty, and after being there about an hr, to my horror, I started having the SAME PAIN!!! That horrible, aching of my collar bone. Ughghghghghghggh. I just want to cry!!!! I just can't even begin to explain all my frustrations. I have only been a nurse a year! I just want to be able to raise my arm after being at work an hour. :( !!!!! I miss being able to take care of patients and work a code and do anything other than think about how bad my !#$@$#% shoulder hurts!!

I'm not looking for a diagnosis (although I would probably sell my first born to whoever fixes my problem), but just need a little positive love. :(

Thanks for listening to my rant.

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Specializes in LTC.

I'm sorry you are having so much trouble with your shoulder. Is there anyway you can take a less physically demanding job until the problem is fixed. We only get one body and we must take care of it. Hope you feel better. :hug:

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I understand. I have an embarASSing issue ;) that has required several interventions... colonoscopy, outpatient repair, colonoscopy, outpatient repair...I'm only 32. Fortunately have been able to get away with only doing FMLA once and have been able to schedule vacation... not really painful as much as embarassing. It sucks. I feel for you.

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Specializes in Med surg, LTC, Administration.

Stress goes to our weakest point, do you like your job or are you sticking with it, because you feel you have too? You need to be honest with yourself right now. Nothing is worth, putting health in jeopardy. At 24 years old, you have another 40 years, assuming, you work to retirement age, which could realistically stretch to 50 if current trends continue. If you feel it is psychological, you must start looking into another field of nursing. If it is the repetitive motions of this particular job that is causing injury and or pain, you must start looking into a different field of nursing. Your body is yelling at you, begging you to listen to it. Regardless if physical or mental, listen to your body and do not ignore it, your issues will not magically disappear. In fact, they could become debilitating and ultimately defeat you. Maybe you just need more time to heal, again, listen to your body. To continue on with something, that is causing pain, stress and injury, expecting a different result, is, insanity. ( yes, I read that somewhere :)). Nurses need to listen closely to their bodies, they are amazing and sometimes have much more wisdom than we give them credit for. Peace!

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I'm sorry you're having to go through this. Personally I like to find a positive side to bad situations (makes them easier to handle), and that is you have now been a patient and can empathize with those you treat. Wishing you the best and a speedy recovery!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Here is a big hug, Kay. ((((((((((HUG)))))))))) :)

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

I'm sending you a big hug too, and being careful to not squeeze your shoulder! I hope it gets better soon.

I used to have tremendous pain when ever I tried or actually raised my left arm. It didn't hurt at all otherwise. Nothing could be found to be wrong with my shoulder, but still it hurt. After a longggg time it stopped.

I wonder if you do some sort of movement at work that you don't do at home, and maybe you've injured something by the movement. Also, maybe, your surgery isn't completely healed and with time you'll feel all better. I surely hope so!

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Sending you big hugs!! For what it's worth, I started having severe shoulder pain a little over a year ago. After tons of tests and meds and useless crap, I was finally diagnosed with fibromyalgia. The pain is still the worst in my shoulder at random moments. Just throwing it out there, not sure if you have any of the other symptoms. I was told it generally causes pain in the muscles but will settle in the joints in some people, i.e. me. Hope you feel better!!!!

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Specializes in ER.

Thanks everybody for the wonderful responses. I went to bed so upset last night! It was nice to wake up to some words of encouragement (which is exactly what I needed) and some stories of how other people deal.

I have thought about it being mental in nature. I'm at my job because I want to put in a reasonable amount of time because they did hire me as a new grad. Its not by any means my dream job, but it's not bad. I enjoy learning all the things I do. But the learning has almost halted since all this started because it's all I can do just to go through the motions! (yes, I know this isn't perfect nurse behavior, but I'm being honest and I don't need any judgement.) Like, who can work a code and concentrate on meds if when you go reach for them, it feels like you've been struck by lightning?

*sigh* Maybe this is God telling me, GET A DANG JOB IN PEDS ALREADY!! Haha

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Specializes in PCCN.

aawww, I feel for you. I have something similar, but not as severe as yours. Have had ortho suggest clipping the collar bone too, but right now,after two cortisone shots, its doing ok. But both my knees are crap, and i have had surgery on both, with some continued pain . Just got second cortisone in knee last week. Its slightly better.

Maybe you might want a second opinion, or, do what I did- ask for a referral to pain management doctor. That has helped me.

I hope you feel better soon.

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Specializes in ICU, Cardiac.

Hugs to you! I had shoulder surgery 6 years ago after a patient tried to remove my arm. I was out of work for almost 7 months though with the recovery. Shoulder surgery recovery is the most painful thing I have experienced in my life and I have had three kids.

Unfortunately, the injury was never completely fixed and I still have pain to this day. The level of pain varies though. There can be times where it's just a slight ache and others where it hurts to move my arm at all. This past week I had a patient that was quite large and helping them sit up just set off my shoulder pain intensely. Thankfully, it has calmed back down.

Good news though, I can still work as a critical care nurse, I can still turn people, I can still function well.

It will get better and you will learn to live with it if it flares back up.

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