What injuries or illnesses of yours has been the result of being a nurse?

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For example, back injuries, hypertension, etc?

I have back pain issues, i get the shooting pain down both my legs often at night when i'm lying down. I'm not sure if it's work related but it does tend to flare up after i've done any lifting at work. I should really see someone about it...

Other than this i've been pretty lucky.

I would have an MRI of you lumbar spine if I were you, that was one of my first serious symptoms before my back gave out on me for good,no more lifting EVER again, now disabled.
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DDD, DJD,spine and knees, autoimmune disorder flareups D/T stress.:grn:

Oh, you reminded me- I also get work-related autoimmune disorder flares, due to stress, and strain on joints.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
for example, back injuries, hypertension, etc?

the back injury i suffered a year and a half ago moving a 200 kg patient was directly related to work.

hypertension -- probably.

dh's ulcerative colitis was a work-related injury. he got a face full of projectile diarrhea while cleaning up an incontinent patient. turns out the patient had c. diff. the c. diff triggered uc -- i didn't realize how awful an illness that could be! he nearly died before we got that all worked out, diagnosed and treated! he missed 3 months of work and our bills piled up and savings evaporated.

and the fact that we don't have our own child is work related. after having cervical ca and several cryosurgeries and a lasar cone, i had a narrow window of opportunity to get pregnant. dh got stuck with a dirty needle from an hiv+, hep c+ patient right when we were trying to get pregnant. (patient's husband grabbed his arm as he was drawing blood, causing the injury.) and that was the end of that. kinda hard to conceive using condoms!

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

Well...lemme see.

I have insomnia, but I was an insomniac before I became a nurse.

I have plantar fasciitis, but so do all the other women in my family, only one of whom is a nurse.

I have depression, but that's an old leftover from postpartum.

So I really can't blam anything on work. But I'm young yet...;)

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Lots of headaches, maybe migraine but don't know yet.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Only.

Hmm..

I've caught just about every cold that the staff shares..(you know somebody got it from a patient), I got MRSA, my back hurts like hell all the time after work...

Thats all I can think of right now...

I think its just the nature of the job.

Computer programmers can get carpal tunnel from typing so much.

Construction workers risk things falling on them or them falling/slipping..

Every job has its risks - we just gotta deal with it :)

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Specializes in SICU.

I also meant to point out that NURSING is the occupation with the highest incidence of musculoskeletal-related injuries. :(

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Rotator cuff tendinitis, chronic, started with an acute injury as a PCA and now exacerbates if I lift patients at all, Depression, chronic sleep deprivation, burnout, and I blame my leg fracture partially on work because I was 2 days behind on sleep when it happened.

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Specializes in subacute/ltc.

Let's see....

Injury to C3-C4 (Not sure if that counts, was still a social worker at the time but sustained injury on the med-surg floor while answering the phone!:selfbonk:)c

The normal bumps, bruises, scratches, slaps, kicks and unexpected punches from rendering care to little ol' ladies that weigh their age. :sstrs:

The serious bit....full blown panic attacks prior to work from knowing the 60 residents would be lucky to have 3 aides on 3-11, one of whom invariably would be pulled to the other unit where only 1 aide was present.....wondering if we would have supplies for enteral feedings, caths, and wound care. And my all time favorite....are they gonna ask me again to adminster insulin with a tb syringe. (And no I did not and somehow a box of insulin syringes magically appeared after I made it clear I would call all the physicians whose residents required coverage and request they call in scripts for the syringes to the local pharmacy,

which I would pay for and pick-up)

:ys!!!:

And with all due respect to those in the armed forces and police officers everywhere.....There are times when I think we should receive hazardous duty pay!

keep safe

Tres

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Specializes in Med Surg, Peds, OB, L/D, Ortho.

Well, let's see.....multiple back injuries, depression, anxiety, migraines, every cold or gi bug that is going around, rotator cuff injuries, and let's not forget......chronic hep c.............sigh. My only child now wants to be a nurse and I can't stop her...God love her.

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Specializes in LTC/rehab, ED, med-surg.

Thanks SICU Queen, I was about to point that out. Nurses are unfortunately at a greater risk for injury than other professions...nearly 40% of nurses sustain serious back injury at some point in their career.

Me:

back problems (herniated disc, slipped L4-5)

depression (nursing school related, genetically predisposed)

headaches

...and I'm only 22. Trying to take better care of myself to prevent further injury. This is the only body I've got! :rolleyes:

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Hmmm . . I thought folks who worked in the woods had higher rates of injuries to their bones and muscles.

My husband is a logger - I'll have to look that up.

steph

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