A Nurse with Back PainHave had back pain since I was 20. I am a nurse.Unrelenting back pain after a minor rear end collision. Had steroid injection which helped. Diagnosed in meantime with fibromyalgia. I am 54 mind you. Nurse in the OR most all of my life. (First Assist for many of those years) I finished with the series of 3 injections and the second one lasted the longest. I fell on the sidewalk at work, my heel got caught in a wedge and down I went. My legs bowed out with an external eversion of both ankles. I was so miserable after that fall. I decided to have the surgery for my L4-L5 bulging disc and the severe weakness in bilateral legs. Also had L5-S1 involvement. Terrible weakness in my legs, like they would collapse at any time. Taking a lot of meds, pain meds etc. After surgery My MD started me to PT about 5 weeks. He wanted to start me at 4 wks, I said no. I was back at work 6 hour days, doing therapy (I sit at work). About 2 months into therapy I started having this severe burning in my big toe, unrelenting... especially at night. Right away he stopped my therapy and put me on Lyrica, when I could not stand the pain. Then it became worse and worse.My Long Term Disability Ins. is denying me now due to the pre-existing back complaints. I had not had the radiculitis or numbness until after the fall. I did get some relief after about a year suffering through a medical, pharmaceutical haze..from a chiropractor. She started doing adjustments on me and then lumbar decompression. I was taking 1800 mg Neurontin/day. (the side effects made me nuts) I actually got down to 3/day (900 mg) when I was going regularly twice a week. Now I am back up to 4 (1200) mg, I cannot afford the chiro without insurance which I lost 4 months into my LTD. The COBRA broke me. 32 years as a nurse - whadda ya get? A broken down body! - Sue - always the Nurse.P.S. I tried both the Lyrica and Neurontin. The Neurontin is cheaper, but I have to take 1/2 Xanax or 1/2 benadryl for the syncope. It also bothers my eyes. Not to mention some of the other side effects, depression, thoughts of suicide etc. A Nurse with Back Pain to Lower Back Pain 8/26/09 |
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