Hi Dr. Corenman:)
Wow! you’ve done such a great job of answering all these questions,
you’ve inspired me to ask one about my own condition which is almost identical to the man’s above. I’m a nurse(LVN) of 14yrs.and on 6/21/12,when repositioning a pt upward,I was pulling the large pt(about 150-200#)upward in an electric bed on wheels.The pt was coughing/having trouble breathing and had slid downward towards the foot of the bed and i was pulling pt up to the top of bed so i could then elevate the HOB and help her breathe easier. I do repostion all my pts primarily on my own while families sleep during night hours, every 2-3hrs x 13hrs. This was 4am.
The bed rolled over the carpeted floor abruptly as I tugged my pt upward in bed(i am standing at the head of bed doing this) and the bed pinned me between it and the wall at the waist level. When I had pulled the pt up- the bed was unlocked so it rolled. Then my back started to pain, but not unbearably just pangs in my lower back. later that day after my “nap” at home,I could not get up out of bed because my back hurt in the worst way, my husband had to help me out of bed. I took tylenol and it helped with the pain but on my next night’s assignment i kept having nerve pain in both sides of my lower back that radiated down my legs that would come and go. I had dull achy nerve pain also seated in my car on the drive home and when I bent to pick up my son’s toothbrush at home, I had a shooting pain at the bottom of my back . I called company nurse and I’ve been on disabilty since then and have nerve pain every day.
The work comp Dr.labeled it a lumbar sprain.
I went to 3 weeks of therapy to strengthen my core, the pain worsened with a machine that would slide upward with your pushing against gravity with your legs and body weight.I hurt worse after each therapy. On my last week of therapy, 3rd week@ 3X a week I had the constant nerve pain at my back and after that the therapist tried to straighten and push on my scoliosis I had sharp knife like stabbing pain at the center of back after.Also, On the drive to therapy I started having leg pain in right leg from behind the knee to my great toe and across the top of my foot. I immediatly told the work comp Dr. of my s/s and he ordered an MRI(i was taken off the weight machine that day, but did core exercises).
Finally on 8/26/12 my MRI was done and showed the following:
(I bet you get these a lot):)
At least a left L5-S1 spondylolysis, possibly bilateral spondylolysis, with minimal spondylolisthesis. Broad based disc protrusion noted without attenuation of thecal sac or neural impingement.At T12-L1, a broad based right posterior central disc protrusion mildly attenuates the right half of the thecal sac. Upper sacrum in near horizontal plane and exaggerated lumbar lordosis contribute to unusal mechanical stresses and low back pain.I also have L3-4 bulging,L4-5 bulging and intraosseous hemangioma within T12 on the right.
I am currently having pain levels (while Typing) at level 5 on 1-10 scale.The pain has improved since the injury and comes and goes as I take mobic and flexeril prn. My Dr, ordered my return to work with no restrictions yesterday, but I am still getting frequent nerve and lower back pain.He also ordered a referral to see a specialist of my choice for continued back pain.I am brave and need to work. I have ordered a lumbar back support. should I go for it and get back to work using a brace, turning and lifting heavy patients for 13 hour shifts, or should I insist on seeing a specialist first( This is third specialist the 1st two didnt bother reading my MRI & didnt care how much pain I was in. Once I start working at my job they close my case until I am reinjured again. Thanks! for your time, Dr.Corenman.
