Anyone else with a bad back?

RE: Anyone else with a bad back?

Emmie141 — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 20:20:06 GMT

I'm in a similar position (although on mat leave) but still suffering at home as can't take meds at the mo.

I had an accident in 2008 and have internal fixations between L4 and S1, since then I've not been able to work full time as it can get so bad. Arthritis has developed there and the pregnancies have weakened the sacro-iliac joint, caused sciatica and spd. It's horrendous and I'm seriously considering a career change once this baby is born!

When at work, people try to be sympathetic but in a busy hospital which is often short on staff for one reason or another, it's difficult and you feel like a burden. I help out with insurance forms so I can sit down for a while but when on consults, there's often no one around to just call to lift the animals for you. In theatre or prep too, you just kind of have to get on with it and deal with the pain when you stop.

Other than changing to something non clinical, I don't see how it can be improved unfortunately.

RE: Anyone else with a bad back?

nikki84 — Sat, 15 Oct 2016 21:00:37 GMT

I have an awful back too so totally sympathise with everyone above!

I injured my back in 2011 in a work related issue where I was literally knocked flying by a large dog. Initially I thought I had hurt my ankle but by the next morning I could barely move, standing was difficult. My GP said I had torn ligaments in my lumbar region and prescribed me Tramadol and said I needed to be on strict lifting restrictions.

Fast forward to 2014 where I had moved on to a new clinic with far fewer staff. The team are lovely and are really helpful, but I do more lifting etc now and I feel the back pain all the time.

The pain has gradually been getting unbearable and I was eventually referred to a physio by my GP earlier this year. I have been diagnosed (finally) with a sacro-iliac joint dysfunction as well as piriformis syndrome which causes severe sciatic pain in my right leg.
Standing for long periods is extremely uncomfortable and I often end up standing just on my left foot to take the pain out of my right leg.
Lifting is awkward and I always try to restrict myself but it's not always possible and I am my own worst enemy!

It's an awful situation to be in as I look perfectly fine on the outside, meanwhile, I have constant pains from my pelvis down my leg into my foot. I can't walk for long periods without needing to sit down and take my shoes off as my feet will swell.
Living on meds is no fun either and I dread to think what they do to my liver and kidneys!

I found that making everyone aware at work of the issues I have helped as they were very sympathetic, especially when I'm taking Tramadol and laying on the orthopaedic mattress!
I have a lot of paperwork to do so I do find this is a nice thing to do to get away from things.
It's all about being sensible and saying no - but we all know how hard that can be!

RE: Anyone else with a bad back?

Rachael_24 — Tue, 04 Oct 2016 13:11:51 GMT

I feel your pain! (Literally)

I have a focal neuropathy of my sciatic nerve ever since a work based accident a few years ago. I take pain killers regularly including gabapentin. The pain never completely goes but I have good and bad days. I've had mostly good days for the last year but I did fare up my symptoms recently when lifting a heavy load in work.

As other people have said it is really difficult for anyone to understand what it is actually like to live with chronic pain. It is miserable and depressing and most of all frustrating. You feel guilty when you don't want to lift heavy loads in work but I've learnt the hard way that you have to put your health first. You just need to be sensible about things. Use trolleys to move heavy loads rather than carrying, get someone to help lift so you aren't taking all the weight alone and try to sit down occasionally to write notes etc.

Take care of yourself!

RE: Anyone else with a bad back?

fiona eldridge — Mon, 03 Oct 2016 15:52:03 GMT

It's true what Arlo says.. the only person that can look after your back is you. Lots of people learn the hard way. We're our own worse enemies. I sometimes find myself doing what I shouldn't... for whatever reason, but most of the time I'm now sensible. Unless you've suffered with your back you don't really understand how it is to live with that pain day in and out... its not forever. they will find a way of treating you and relieving that pain. It's difficult to see a light at the end of the tunnel sometimes, but it is there. xx

RE: Anyone else with a bad back?

Arlo Guthrie — Mon, 03 Oct 2016 07:47:30 GMT

[quote user="Yvette Morrison"]I can't take nsaids due to another med I'm on so going the pain clinic in December to see what else they can do until they operate. [/quote]

[quote user="Yvette Morrison"]I'm not at that stage just yet thinking I can continue but that's just because of how much pain I am in daily. [/quote]

My god - poor you; pain is SO debilitating. Dunno about you, but it makes me grumpy too

[quote user="Yvette Morrison"]I would love to wear a sign saying had back, although I doubt very much that anyone would actually pay attention to it.[/quote]

Well, I was thinking it's perhaps as useful to help one's own self-discipline about lifting as anything else. Even if nobody looks at it, you can just point to it when the situation arises.

RE: Anyone else with a bad back?

Yvette Boffey — Sun, 02 Oct 2016 20:31:03 GMT

[quote user="Sal the 1st"]

have you tried acupuncture?

[/quote]

I haven't tried acupuncture due to money and also the time to actually go. Trying to juggle work, my son who's also not well, medical appointments etc, there's physically no time to go.

Unfortunately I can't even use the topical nsaids so looking forward to seeing what I can actually use when I go the pain clinic.

RE: Anyone else with a bad back?

Sal the 1st — Sun, 02 Oct 2016 10:48:48 GMT

have you tried acupuncture? - it worked quite well for me. I have to be very careful with nsaids after a previous ulcer but can use the topical variety

RE: Anyone else with a bad back?

Yvette Boffey — Sat, 01 Oct 2016 21:46:29 GMT

I would love to wear a sign saying had back, although I doubt very much that anyone would actually pay attention to it. I can't take nsaids due to another med I'm on so going the pain clinic in December to see what else they can do until they operate.

I do find it very frustrating and I'm sure other people do but you are all right in saying we have to look after ourselves and not lift when we have problems already.

It's refreshing to know that even with surgeries etc that you are able to still continue vet nursing. I'm not at that stage just yet thinking I can continue but that's just because of how much pain I am in daily.

RE: Anyone else with a bad back?

Sal the 1st — Fri, 30 Sep 2016 01:54:34 GMT

[quote user="bonjovitrace"]

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]If I was working in practice, I'd be tempted to buy myself a badge saying 'Bad Back' or 'No Lifting' or something. [/quote]

I may just try this. Thanks.

[/quote]

I used to say to the nurses I worked with - if you don't watch my back I can't watch yours (meaning if I was out of action as HN with my back there was nobody fighting their corner in some of the 'vet' meetings)

I know all about L4/5 - I call them hell 4/5

RE: Anyone else with a bad back?

fiona eldridge — Thu, 29 Sep 2016 17:44:27 GMT

ohhhhh the back..... I learnt the hard way also.... spent far too many years waiting for help to lift a dog then getting bored/impatient and doing it myself.... and then... 2009 had sciatica and discovered a popped l4/5 disc. Surgery for discectomy. Then after recovering from that... 2011... Sciatica again. Remaining disc had popped out with L5/S1 also. Many months of meds and rest and far far too many meds until they both finally exploded causing untold amounts of pain and had to have L4/5 L5/S1 fusion. 3 months of recovery.....

On the plus side, I'm now doing very well. Yes I'm unable to lift anything heavier than 10kg... well I more don't want to. However in my work life I'm no longer ridiculous. I say NO. I never offer to lift clients dogs. I'll work on the floor if need be, and I always make sure I'm prepared with someone to help me so I don't get put into situations where I'd have to lift a dog or anything heavy. I make the most of my male colleagues!!! haha! Harsh but hell.. they're stronger than me!

So.... there is a light at the end of the tunnel. You just have to learn to say NO and delegate heavy lifting. Don't be shy. It's your back at the end of the day.. You've only got the one.

I'm now 40 and still vet nursing. At the time of surgeries I went through doubting ever being able to work as a vet nurse again... but you get there. Lots of luck to you for recovery. xxx

RE: Anyone else with a bad back?

bonjovitrace — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 10:04:50 GMT

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]If I was working in practice, I'd be tempted to buy myself a badge saying 'Bad Back' or 'No Lifting' or something. [/quote]

I may just try this. Thanks.

RE: Anyone else with a bad back?

bonjovitrace — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 10:00:35 GMT

I'm not on any meds as it's not a chronic pain, it's only if I lift I have an issue. My colleagues are very sympathetic but I can sometimes see they're frustrated as we are only a small team. I work for a charity and I don't mean to stereotype but the bulk of our patients are overweight or large breed bull breed dogs. I have physio exercises and stretches to do plus special inserts for my shoes. I had 8 days off work recently and didn't have one single pain. I'm 36 and feel like an old lady. If I crouch down or get on the floor, I do need a surface to pull myself up on. I moved an oxygen cylinder a few weeks ago and god did I suffer after, so I have learnt my lesson not to lift anything. If I am in consults, I just do as much as I can on the floor or ask the owner to lift.

RE: Anyone else with a bad back?

Arlo Guthrie — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 07:59:06 GMT

[quote user="bonjovitrace"]Does anyone else have back issues and how do you cope in practice?[/quote]

Well, I'm not in practice, so can't offer advice there, but I can bore you into oblivion about back issues / back pain! Two fusions when I was a young man. Then about a month ago, I carried my unconscious 12 year old daughter from one end of the house to another, slipping a disc on the way, leaving me with shouty lower back pain and sciatica.

[quote user="Yvette Morrison"]Need surgery but need to build up my muscles first supporting my spine.[/quote]

My doc said he was in two minds as to whether I needed immediate surgery. He said that often, the extruded part of the disc shrivelled and disintegrated, relieving symptoms, so to take it easy for a month and see how it went (and if I felt any numbness in my backside in the meantime, to get straight into hospital).

About a three weeks later, and I'm relieved to say the pain has gone.

My advice, don't lift anything heavier than a banana. EVER. No exceptions.

[quote user="Yvette Morrison"]You can't risk doing something that will make it worse because someone won't or can't help.[/quote]

Absolutely, and it is so easy to think to oneself: 'It doesn't hurt at the moment, I'll be fine'. That was my mistake. Stopping lifting stuff requires some self-discipline, not least because you have to get into the habit of asking other people to do it (which is hard when you're not in pain at the moment you want to lift something). But it is essential.

If I was working in practice, I'd be tempted to buy myself a badge saying 'Bad Back' or 'No Lifting' or something.

RE: Anyone else with a bad back?

Yvette Boffey — Sun, 25 Sep 2016 20:45:07 GMT

Are you any kind of meds like pain killers or nsaids? I have a disc problem in my lower back and have done since teens. 13 years later I'm suffering massively at the moment. Need surgery but need to build up my muscles first supporting my spine.

I have to take pain killers throughout the day. People in work know I have a bad back and really do help out with knowing that I can't lift etc. It's more difficult when on consults thought and you're struggling in front of the client!

I'd be interested to know how everyone else manages because I'm 29 and already thinking I'm not going to be able to do this job for much longer.

I think you need to explain to staff members that you do need the support and help when doing things. You can't risk doing something that will make it worse because someone won't or can't help.