I'm new!

   Hey WASM , Welcome to the Chronic Pain Forum , sorry you have to be here but very glad you found us , the folks here are some of the best people I've ever met . They care sincerely and will support you thru thick and thin , they did this for me and I've made friendships here I treasure . Wow it sounds like you really got a raw deal with your employer , I hope you seek legal advice , they shouldn't get away with treating a person so shabbily . Nursing is an honorable profession , its about helping people and that speaks very well of you , I hope your able to heal and feel better and that the doctors can help you too . Reach out here whenever your feeling unsure and let us support you thru your rough times , we've all had them and we know how it feels and we'll help you . Welcome again , stay stong and look foreward to getting to know you friend . Mikel 

    Gosh WASM , Thats so hurtful to be treated like that , I'm really sorry . I woild advise you not to tell your doctors from now on about how this happened , they sometimes stick together . I would try to get a lawyer and use HIS doctor so you can get a fair diagnosis , its obvious thr place you worked is doing something wrong concerning its employees and probably has more to hide . This is a tough situation for you , maybe you could talk to a pain therapist , I do every week . They can help guide you thru this emotionally , you sound understandably upset . You have rights though , excercise them to care for you and maybe  tell only folks you trust about this for now and no one from your job . Best of luck and keep posting , we'll help you along my friend . Mikel

  Dear Was RN,

     Good evening. My name is Dani. It is ever so nice to meet you. I am so glad you decided to post an introduction so that we could get a chance to know you better. As you can see, we have a wonderful group here. The Healing Well community is a wonderful place for friendship, knowledge and support.

     I am terribly sorry to hear of all the trouble your back injuries have caused with the hospital. I do hope you know that seeking legal assistance is well within your rights. At this point, you might want to get everything regarding your injury, medical tests, doctor statements and your place of employments "response". It would be a good idea to ask that your place of employment make their stance known via written statements and correspondence so that there is a "record" of sorts. Here is a good place to start to get your medical needs back on track...

~~> http://www.patientadvocate.org/

     Again, it is very nice to meet you. I look forward to knowing you better as time goes by. Stay strong!

*hugg*
  dani

Hi wasrn,

Welcome to our family nice to meet you.

Stacy

Hi WasRN...just a quick note to welcome you to the forums. I'm so sorry your employer is treating you like this. I am on disability from work and have had the complete opposite response. My employer has bent over backwards for me - what a relief!

I hope that you are able to get the help you need to force your employer into doing the right thing. I'm not exactly sure how that's going to pan out, but I'll keep you in my prayers for an excellent outcome for you.

Glad you're here, enjoy the forums!

Hugs,
Pam

Wasrn

Welcome to Healing Well Chronic Pain Forum! I am super sorry for all that you have had to go through! May I ask what type of medical insurance did your hospital job give you? Do you have long and short term disability with your job? I would think you would have some kind of recourse to your situation. Is there a state nusrsing association that you might consult for advice and help? Unfortunately so many hospitals treat their employees, like dirt, and try to take advantage of their employees situation. Please do not let them do that to you! I am also an RN and am on disability, and they did not want to give me my long term disability, but they would not let me work either. Well I persevered and finally got it. I think I would definitely be checking with a workmans comp lawyer ASAP. I am not certain that I understand why they are concerned about what doctors you see??? It sounds like they are trying to cover their back sides! Was there adequate help available for caring for that patient? I think I would thoroughly document, every thing that occurred that led up to your injury. But definitely get some legal advice. What is with them not answering your calls????? Have they given you adequate medical treatment??? It just about sounds like they are posturing, for the posibility workmans comp suit or something. I would encourage for you to be a little wary and seek help!
Please keep us informed on how things work out for you!

Again I Welcome YOU! I do wish you all the best!

White Beard

And a big thank you to each and every one of you.  I had posted a reply, but for some reason my computer stopped working for a few minutes and I ended up losing my post.

So let me try again.  The place where I work(ed) does not subscribe to the State Work. Comp. insurance; they have their own, "in-house" deal, which means you must see their own doctors, use their facility, use their pharmacy, etc. etc.

I did have long term and short term disability, but I was informed I could not collect from either one because it's a work-related injury, and the long term/short  term insurance they offer covers only non-work related injuries.

No, I do not feel I received adequate medical care; if I had I don't think I'd be in this pickle today.  As soon as the doctor mentioned the very high probability of nerve compression/damage, that's when they put everything on hold and after several weeks they got back to me telling me that their "expert" doctor (Someone I've never seen or heard of before) said it's no big deal, I can deal with the pain using OTC meds, and I can return to full-time RN duties with no restrictions whatsoever.

My own doctor warned me to NOT do that. He said that if I'd be foolish enough to go back and then extend the injury, it'd be entirely my fault; in essence, by returning to work I'd be agreeing with them, that there's nothing wrong with my back... nope, it ain't going to happen.

was turned down for disability, but apparently most people get turned down the first time, so I'm appealing.  The letter of denial states that although my medical condition is severe, they don't expect it to last over 12 months (I'm already at 7 months with no relief in sight).  They also said that in spite of having requested my medical records from the hospital (I gave them permission, of course), their request was ignored... surprise, surprise!

We work short-staff on an ongoing basis.  The night I got hurt it was just me and another young nurse caring for this large patient, no equipment available to help us do our job more safely.  However, some months ago a nurse told me the hospital finally bought a lift for the Intensive Care Dept. but - listen to this - it has a max weigh capacity of 180-190 lbs!  It wouldn't have done us a bit of good with a 400+ lbs patient

well, sorry for this long post, I do lean on verbosity.

Thank you all again for your support, advice, and the warm welcome

WasRn, have you consulted with an atty in this matter, not trying to be nosy just helpful. When they don't subscribe to state comp, what they will usually get is what is called an OA policy, Occupational Accident. If this is that type of coverage you are really limited like you say in their drs and such. When you went to work there did they tell you they did not carry comp and had this type of ins? Do you have a booklet from this company that tells you your rights? Do you even know the name of the company? Sorry, I know too many questions. I have dealt with this OA policies before and you should be able to get an atty to help you out.

I have also dealt with STD and LTD and if you have your booklets from them you may want to discuss this with an atty as well. I know people will bad mouth attys, well guess what, cases such as yours, if the insurance companies did what they are suppose to do people would not have to get attys involved. But, how many times have you ever seen one do the right thing? I guess thats why I loved my work so much was getting to help people with their cases and getting them what they were entitled to and deserved, that was very rewarding.

Anyway, just wanted to ask about the above.

Thank you, Straydog and White Beard. I realize that I'll probably sound like a jaded person for typing this, but these days I trust very few (if any) organizations, including JCAHO. They're supposed to conduct "surprise" visits, but in some 20 yrs. I have yet to witness such surprise visits. They give hospitals -well, the hospitals where I worked - at least a month's notice. Then you see all the managers scurrying around, making sure charting is up to par, looking in cabinets to see if there are any "forbidden" stashes; for example,the cupboard under the sink must be empty, no cleaning products, nothing. They give orders to keep all floors clean and shiny, temporarily increase staffing... all in all, they do some house-cleaning, lol After the inspection, it's business as usual. Oh, listen to this, because you may know more about it than I do...

The hospital requires nursing staff to check patients' charts for a variety of errors. I'm not talking about checking orders for the past 24 hrs. (something we all do). No, I'm talking about going through the entire chart to make sure that nursing, medical and other health professionals signed their orders/notes. We're supposed to check charts and report if prohibited abbreviations were used; for example, you're supposed to write "every day" instead of "QD", you're supposed to write "morphine sulfate" instead of MSO4, etc. Then you fill out the report, give it to your manager, and the "guilty" nurse gets counseled (they don't counsel other professionals, I guess they just let them know - if that!).
Many of us complained about it. We feel that we should not be watchdogs, the chart police. We feel that doctors, physical therapists, nurses, etc. have their own license and they take responsibility for their own charting. But management said that we are the ones who must conduct chart audits because "It's a JCAHO requirement"; is it? I find it hard to believe, but I very well could be wrong.

I did contact an attorney fairly recently; the attorney has past experience with this hospital (actually it's a chain of hospitals) and has very little use for them. They strive to look spotless in the eye of the communities, the patients/families, etc., and then there is so much dirt beneath the shiny, polished exterior. The attorney said there is more than enough for a class action suit, but most employees are afraid to speak up, scared of losing their job. I cannot speak for other health professionals, but when it comes to nursing it's not as if it's difficult to find another employer. But then I can also see that for many the attitude is a mixture of apathy and hopelessness (why go somewhere else? It's going to be more of the same...) I don't think that way, but I'm in the minority. More than one doctor tried to persuade us to fight back; most of them see what we deal with on a daily basis. We're really stuck between patients, administrators, doctors, etc. etc., in a constant balancing act - no wonder most new nurses leave the profession in less than 5 years!

Regarding the long term and short term disability, it's offered and administered by the hospital, so they make the rules. Found out the occupational injury plan booklet they give to injured employees isn't exactly like the "big one" (expanded version) they keep at their headquarters. So if you read that you're covered for work-related injuries, even if you have a pre-existing condition, their "Big Book" (which they never mention and I've never seen) apparently says otherwise! This is definately stuff for an attorney.

Sorry it took me a bit to answer, today was one bad day for my back; now the other side is hurting, probably because I try to compensate and it's all getting even more messed up; my leg gave out twice today and I can feel it's beginning to tingle now, and the back is beginning to give me that deep, gnawing pain, so I'd better take something. Would like to mention the freaky spasms I experienced, but I really have to go; the pain is getting worse really fast. Thank you all.

Hello

just wanted to give you all an update. Well, more than an update this is a request for some encouragement or proverbial kick in the butt.  I am going to see the neurosurgeon tomorrow, I am nervous.  Neurosurgeons are interested in opening you up, for the most part! One thing I know: I don't want to have ESI.

I also heard from my employer that they want me to see their IME.  What a joke to call them "Independent" when they really work for them, not us    I've never been to an IME; what should I expect?

One other thing.  If I type here some of the more pertinent MRI results, could some of you tell me if you have/had the same problem and what was done about it? Thank you.... Here it goes:

"MRI of the lumbar spine:  The lumbar vertebrae are intact.  They have normal height and normal alignment.  No significant marrow signal abnormality.  Conus has a normal appearance and it is normally located.

T12-L1: There is a large posterior right paracentral subligamentous disk protrusion that completely effaces the ventral CSF (cerebral spinal fluid) and abuts the ventral aspect of the distal cord, slightly deforming the ventral cord margin and producing moderate canal stenosis.

L1-L2: Relatively broad-based posterior subligamentous disk protrusion. Mild facet arthropathy.  Complete effacement of ventral CSF with only minimal posterior CSF maintained.  Moderate to severe canal stenosis.

L2-L3: Small to moderate-sized posterior central subligamentous disk protrusion and mild facet arthropathy and enlargement of the posterior elements. There is moderate canal stenosis with compromise of both lateral recesses."

This is a summary of the MRI report.  It also mentions a minimal posterior disk bulging and severe arthropathy at the L4-L5, and mild canal stenosis at L3-L4.

Yesterday I had what I call "a good day", and felt hopeful, so to speak.  Then a shifted my weight on the right leg to put something in the kitchen cabinet and suddenly a felt a shooting pain, like lightening, go from my hip, butt, down my leg; also felt it on the outside of my lower leg.  I just leaned over the sink for several minutes, tried to take a few steps but was limping because of this stupid pain; eventually it went away.  Now - and pardon my nurse "humor" - can you imagine if this happened at work while there's a code blue pending?  The poor patient would have all the time to die 'cause I wouldn't be able to get there fast!

I have so many questions, I hope I will not exasperate the neurosurgeon tomorrow.

Some of my questions are: they say laying flat is the best position, but if I do, it hurts. I lean over the carts (that really makes me feel like a misfit!).  Some of the most mundate chores cause pain, things like standing at the sink, leaning a bit over while brushing my teeth, sweeping floors is hell.  I can sweep a small room and I start feeling the pain, so I tell myself to keep sweeping (I try to convince my head that I need to "toughen up").  The more I sweep and the deeper, more insistant the gnawing gets and I just have to quit.

Also, why is it easier for me to bend down a little but not straighten up?  Which disk problem would be causing it? The T12 or the L4-5?

And which disc problem would cause pain that starts at the top of my right hip and moves to the front, in the groin area?  It's a sharp, burning pain, and when it hits the groin it is next to impossible to walk.

Sorry for the long post.  Will let you know what the neurosurgeon tells me tomorrow. Thanks for listening!

Hello again,

I can't answer many of your questions, but the pain you are talking about sounds like L4-L5 to me. I had/have a problem with that one and with L5-S1 (where my fusion was done). I don't mean to scare you but the results sound like you may get the surgery recommendation very quicky.

Good luck with whatever you decide and I hope you pain will improve soon. Please be VERY careful with trying to push yourself too hard because there could be even more damage if you are not careful.

All my best!

A big thank you to each and every one of you; I am so grateful to have found you, really am.

Ok, one more question; should I tell the neurosurgeon about my bladder problem?  It started weeks after the injury and I never said a word because I was (and still am) embarrassed.  Eventually I told the female physical therapist assistant.  I'm sure she said something to the physical therapist, because he brought it up at the following appt.  Oh, if the floor would have just opened up and swallowed me!  I must have turned red as a beet.  He told me there was nothing to be embarrassed about, and he urged me to tell the doctor because "it's serious".  Of course I took my sweet time confiding in the doc, I was hoping it'd get better and go away.  When I did tell him, he said "You need to see a neurosurgeon".

So how am I going to find the nerve to tell the neurosurgeon that I pee my pants?  A close friend of mine asked me when it happens.  Well, if I knew I perhaps could do something about it (like run to the bathroom, lol).  It's not stress incontinence - you know, brought on by coughing, sneezing, etc - but now I wear pads and change them at least twice a day, and I think it may be getting worse... used to change once daily.  Look, I am glad no-one can see me here, or I'd never, ever be able to mention this.

 

Do you think it's possible that something higher up in my back could also be out of wack?  I'm asking because a distant relative of mine is very good friends with a doctor - forget her specialty - she's the type of doctor who performs EMGs, NCV studies, she also leads refresher courses for doctors, physiatrists and surgeons - she knows her stuff. 

Anyway, she read my report and said I'd better forget about nursing.  She said "No more pushing, no more pulling, no more lifting..."  Wonderful, and what am I supposed to do with my life now?  Nursing is all I know and I do miss it (don't miss the politics of it, the management BS and so on).  But what has me worried is that she said "chances are" I may have caused injuries higher up in my spine and that if I were to have an MRI of the cervical, it'd probably show something amiss.  Oh, joy    Yes, I am having pain in my neck, especially on the right side, sometimes it goes down my right arm but it stops at the biceps level. Then I occasionally feel a burning sensation and a feeling of something crawling at the base of my neck (posterior), but I think it's all probably due to my trying to compensate for the lower back....... or am I in denial?

Please tell me if I'm becoming a nuisance, ok?