I found out a week ago that I had ddd and get the pleasure of having PT for 8wks 2-3 days a week. My doctor won't tell me how bad my back is or if I hurt it working. I just got a job as a cna about two months ago and I thought I was doing fine when all of a sudden I hurt my back trying to save a patient from falling by twisting wrong. Needless to say it started work comp bs that was a run around. Comp doc said it was all in my head and put me back to work. Within a week I hurt it again, but this time I didn't tell anybody. I went to orthpedic group and they ordered mri. The next day they call me and tell me I have ddd and the doc was gonna put me on 10# lifting max. My employers wouldn't let me work so I had to use 4 days of sick leave to heal. I called my doc after 4 days were up begging for them to take me off light duty because my job was constantly calling asking my status which was begining to make me have panic attacks and started feeling depressed which I have been fighting both for two years now. Thinking my job was gonna fire me if I didn't come back to work soon. My mistake for thinking of my job first my boyfriend second and of course me last. I've only been to work for five days and everynight my back pain seems to get worse tonight I'm up at 2:30 feeling like knives are stabbing and twisting around in my back. It makes it hard to sit, stand,lay, or anything. I need meds that arent over the counter. I can't see my spinal doc until Pt is over which is around March. I don't think I can wait that long think I might do something worse just to make the pain go away. If You read all of this thank you it means alot.
Kara1623
Welcome to Spine-Health. You'll find a lot of information throughout the site and the members of the forum are very helpful, knowledgeable and supportive. This is a good place to vent.
I'm interested about your MRI. We all (not just here, everyone) has DDD to one degree or another, it's just a matter of it's symptomatic or not. There may be a 60-year-old with DDD that has no symptoms, whereas you might have a 23-year-old who does. So that, in and of itself, is not necessarily a diagnosis.
What else does your MRI say? What else does your doctor say? Are there any bone spurs (osteophytes) or bulging/herniated discs in your lumbar spine? There's also the possibility of spondylosis, stenosis, facet joint problems, etc.
I'm sorry that you're in so much pain and that you aren't able to find any relief, but hope the PT helps. There are many nurses on this site - it's a very tough job and so hard on the lower back with all the lifting and twisting that's necessary.
So if you have more going on that DDD, please tell us and we might be able to help you more.
Take care and please keep us posted.
Cathie
~ October 21, 2008 - ACDF, 3-level (C4/5, 5/6 6/7), with hardware and eight screws. All fused and hardware is stable.
~ January 6, 2010 - TLIF at L4/5, two rods and four pedicle screws.
~ July 2010 - New CT and MRI on cervical shows further problems above fusion at C2/3 and worst at C3/4.
I am in no way affiliated with the medical profession. Any recommendations I make are based on my personal experiences only, so do not take my comments as medical rules.
Sorry about the pain and all else you are going through.
I am not sure why you can not call your spinal doc before March. Usually if anything comes up..ie pain, or fall,..can call doc for earlier appointment.
But I had a little similiar, where as, when my whole spinal situation began, I thought free of pain meant I could go back to the lifting, twisting, etc.. way of work and life.
But I was wrong. The pain was managed, but the spine still injured. So the pain was a reminder to not do the more harmful activities.
As Cath said, you need to know more specifically what is up with your spine.
And I would encourage you to take care of yourself first...on that list you had.
If you don't take care and injure your way out of your job...you may get a get well card..but they will not give you a second thought once you've been replaced.
Sorry, but that's most businesses.
But mostly you only have one spine. We need to take care of it the sooner the better. The longer you stress it...the more it will scream at you later.
Please let us know how you are doing. You aren't alone in this painful and confusing situation. Vent anytime!
My profile lists my spinal issues and other conditions that I navigate around daily.
Doing my best to be getting around and hanging on to this ride called life!
I don't know what kind DDD I have The Doc assistant is the one who told me my dx was DDD and told me the doc wanted me to do 8 weeks of therapy then he will see me again in March. I keep trying to do my nurseing job but I work in the dementia unit where I get hit often where I just pray if they're gonna fight they will hit me anywhere else but the back. I know that's a pretty messed up way of thinking but I'm afraid if I hurt my back worse I won't be able to keep the job that I love so much. I do knw I need to be more careful especially since I don't know how bad my spine is. I do know I don't have a herinated disc. I think I might call the doc again and try to get an appt, so I can know once if for all what I really have. Plus the pain has moved into my side of my neck is swollen.
Kara1623
Welcome to spine health! Please do take care, especially if you are still trying to work...be careful. I too hurt my back over a year and a half ago, doing a patient transfer. I attempted to try to work for awhile after, and made matters much worse.
What area of your back did you have the MRI on?
Hoping that you are able to get into the doctor sooner, and get some answers.
back injury May 2010
DDD,abutment both l5 nerve roots and s1 nerve root.herniated disc L5/S1 bulging discs L3-L5,osteophytes,degenerative facets,stenosis and coccydynia
discectomy/laminectomy L4/L5 L5/S1 July 2011- unsuccessful
ADR L5/S1 February 6 2012
Hey ouch yea I finally talked to my charge nurse who is awesome at my job and she told me I need to take care of myself because I'm making myself worse and putting residents at risk for having to much pride about losing my job or something like that. I'm gonna look at other available postions and see I can handle some of them and apply.
Kara1623
Ok It's 5:00AM haven't been to sleep yet I'm so stressed out right now that I'm thinking I'm losing my mind. I knw I can't go on like this being in pain and bringing stress home from work with me. I have been working as a cna for about a month and it's way too hard for me. Having to lift patients and having to learn how to do my job is very stressful for me mentally and physcially. I don't know what to do I'm literally in tears. I don't know what to do I think I might have to quite my job, but I don't want to because I love taking care of people. I have ddd but this isn't what this post is about. Can you lose your short time memory with a spine disease just curious? I hate to be a complainer but damn why me whenever I take two steps foward in life I get 4 steps back. I hate being depressed
Kara1623
It hurts when you worked hard to be able to do a job and have issues like you are having. Stress and pain can take a toll on the body on top of the back issues. Stress and chronic pain can cause depression or make it worse, as can certain meds. They can also affect your short term memory.
KarenD
KarenD
ACDF 4 Level C3-C7
5/2/11
Laminectomy and discectomy, L4-L5
1/26/12
It sure has put a toll on me being in this condition and on monday I'm gonna have to H&R Dept about trying to find different department to work in. I just can't do what I use to be able to do not without the risk of hurting myself worse. I just pray God will give me an answer on what to do with my back because I'm struggling to keep afloat. The Docs didn't prescribe me any meds just told me to take alieve & other over the counter meds that don't seem to be doing crap for me.
Kara1623
I hope all works out for you with HR. Try to stay hopeful to have another position that you don't need to heve physical movements of residents.
And keep having good communication about your pain. Let him know how things are or are not working for you.
Good luck!
My profile lists my spinal issues and other conditions that I navigate around daily.
Doing my best to be getting around and hanging on to this ride called life!
Hey I want to share happy news I Just got through a 16hr shift of lifting
Kara1623