Will severe spinal stenosis prevent me from nursing?

[Butterfly0328]

Hi everyone, I have been working so hard to get all my pre-reqs done in order to apply to a nursing program. After this semester I only have Micro to take. BUT, I just found out a couple of weeks ago that I have severe central spinal stenosis in my lumbar L4-5 through L5-S1. I have been getting steroid injections and have just started the nerve blocks. I am so depressed because nursing has been my dream for as long as I can remember. This would be my second career. I refuse to give it up. I have spent the past 2 years completing these classes (as I also work full time) and I am so very close to applying. Have any of you faced the same situation? Any words of advice would be great. Thanks so much.

[aspiringnurse1979]

On 4/6/2011 at 7:14 AM, *Posh* said:

Yes! Three years ago, I started having severe back pain and was dx w/ spinal stenosis, ruptured disks and degenerative disk disease in L4,5 - S1. I developed arthritis and bone spurs. I had numbness in several toes and severe leg pain from the nerve compression. I had to stop bedside nursing for a year and take a desk job that I despised. My doctor tried to talk me into getting out of nursing all together and take disability. After PT didn't work, I was sent to a pain specialist. He was excellant! I recieved 3 steroid injections in two months. Two months after that, I had a diagnostic nerve block. A week after the nerve block, I had a facet rhizotomy. That was last September. It worked so well that I quit my job a year to the date I was hired and went back to the hospital in October. I don't take any narcotics or muscle relaxers. I take Aleve for the occasional back ache after a 12 hour shift. I take care of myself with daily stretching and I ask for help with moving patients if I think I may need it. I said all this to say that it can be done. The worst thing you can do is sit at a desk or home health (not home care). Don't be afraid to be your own advocate and communicate with your doc. Good luck!

Hi Posh, After the successful injections, was everything fine every since, since 2011 I guess? Or did you have any more problems? 

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

On 4/6/2011 at 8:35 AM, Faeriewand said:

I was thinking Psych nursing but I think they do "takedowns." I don't know too much about that specialty so perhaps someone else could elaborate. I just loved my psych rotation. ? Good luck in your nursing career!

Psych nursing is not as physically demanding as a acute bedside nursing. But there is still an element of physicality andrisk for injury. I've only been hurt twice in 20 years of psych nursing. That no withstanding psych patients are manipulative and demanding and you can't just blow them off as "Difficult"  

It very much like playing a game of mental chess in order to get the preferred outcome. I love it and can't imagine any other kind of nursing but it's not for the faint of heart. 

hppy