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In the Work Place. How's your back holding up?

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  • In the Work Place. How's your back holding up?

    HEllo again. It's me the one that had the broken harrington rod that dropped inside of me that wound up poking out of butt. Well its been almost 2 years now and now My back isn't holding up working in a hospital now. We went to a new PC format and I'm literally on my feet all day now and bending and reaching over for lots of things. After 2 days of 12 hour shifts, My lower back cant handle it any more. I'm am so sore when I wake up in the morning now. It stinks knowing that I have to find a different line of work now to save my back. It feels like no one give a damn at work and I work in a trauna center. Calling for help on the floor is a joke now. This job is killing by back now. I get the inpression tha I'm on the outs at work. Is anyone having the same problem. Who do I turn for help. I am exremely worried now. My days of physical labor are coming to an end now. Its great knowing that one cares anymore. Spinal curvitures can ruin a persons social status so easily.I'm the greatest example ,believe me. What I found out from other health care professionals about the attitudes of Doctors and Orthopedic surgeons when it comes to spinal curvitures is appalling. They dont care and shun away from it. There's too much liabilty today. Does anyone have any ideas or some guidance. My ship is starting to sink and I'm the only one plugging up the holes. A word of warning to all people with spinal curvitures. Look years ahead and make sure you dont wear yourself out. The potential is strong. It can sneak up on you when least expected. It can devastate you. Be very careful in what line of work you get into. All you moms and dads out there guide your kids with spinal curvitures carefully when it comes to getting out in the work place. This can ruin things when least expected. Looking for a new line of work is going to be very difficult for me.There are no support groups in my area which dosent surprise me. Praying to the lord has been worthless to for a long time now. I thank HIM for the lousy life given to me. God and his son aren't there anymore. They have abandoned us. My Email is Chewa500@aol.com. Greg Brown Longwood Florida.

  • #2
    Greg...

    There is no need for you to become totally disabled. I think you need to get a second opinion from a scoliosis specialist who routinely treats people with prior scoliosis fusions. You might want to check out these surgeons:

    Anthony Moreno, Clearwater
    Harry Shufflebarger, Miami
    Richard Hynes, Melbourne
    Nate Lebwohl, Miami
    Grady McBride, Orlando

    The only surgeons I know who have done a lot of revisions are Drs. Moreno and Schufflebarger, but the other 3 may also have done a lot.

    Don't give up. There's almost always hope for living a pain free (or at least much reduced pain) life.

    Regards,
    Linda
    Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
    Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation

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    • #3
      Greg,

      You said that you work 12 hr shifts in a hospital, but you don't really mention what capacity you work. I am a nurse, and I work 12 hrs shifts also. I have never worked the floor, but I did work in surgery for 20+ years. I just recently decided that working in the OR moving pts, positioning them while they are asleep, holding them down when they are waking up, and holding dead weight limbs while I am prepping, was WAAY too much for me.

      Like you, I decided that the medical professions are very UNEMPATHETIC as far as when one of their own is hurt. Admin's bottom line is: when are you coming back to work?

      However, I knew that there had to be something out there I could do. I now work in the Pre-Admission dept at a Surgical Hospital. We have pts that stay up to 5 days, but the only ones that are admitted are the ones that we have done surgery on. I do the pre-op assessments, EKGs, blood draws and pre-op teaching. Sometimes I am on the phone all day long, and others I am seeing patients and running my butt off. I will be the first to admit that there are times when I have worked 2 days in a row that I am laying around the next day. When I have to work 3 shifts in a row-you can bet that I am on the couch the next day. However, working the 12's gives me recoup time, and allows me to have some semblance of "normal" life. Sometimes I even get 5 days off in a row--WOO HOO!

      The reason I was so long "winded" about the facility where I work is because I am sure you can find something similar in your area. This is the type of facility that insurance companies are beginning to love-because it is still a specialized care, but you don't typically have medical pts (like pneumonia).

      I am also looking at a re-op sometime in the near future, as I have "flat-back" syndrome. I will be able to return to work sooner after my surgery d/t the type of job that I have right now.

      Anyway, just a thought...

      Mary
      Last edited by SpringLilly; 10-08-2006, 12:34 PM. Reason: spellin!! LOL
      A/P Repair 12/93
      Scottish Rite Instrumentation
      Fusion T9-S1

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      • #4
        work all day??

        I am a 64 year old nurse-anesthetist (stand all day--rarely get a chance to sit)and my back is holding up just fine 4 years after my revision.---no pain but my legs get tired(age).

        There IS help out there.


        I am so grateful I CAN still work.
        Original scoliosis surgery 1956 T-4 to L-2 ~100 degree thoracic (triple)curves at age 14. NO hardware-lost correction.
        Anterior/posterior revision T-4 to Sacrum in 2002, age 60, by Dr. Boachie-Adjei @Hospital for Special Surgery, NY = 50% correction

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        • #5
          disabled and fine about it

          HI Craig,
          YOu vent well. Now take that anger and march yourself in a new direction. First, change your job. Stop abusing the health you have at this time. Continued abuse will only lead to further destruction. Stop blaming others and step up and demand the care and help you deserve. You are turning against yourself and perhaps your coworkers are just following suit because they don't understand how to help you out of your hell.
          I know what you mean about professionals turning a blind eye because of the liability focus. But keep searching for a good doctor. There are no guarantees in anything. BUt it's YOUR responsibility to look out for YOU. I know how hard it is to find someone you can trust. THe very first question 8 out of 10 spinal specialists ask is: "Are there any lawsuits involved in your case?" [that's a good clue that you're in the wrong office].
          I liked the way you told it like it is out there for those who get no respect. But think of this, this agony and suffering we share amongst our breed, it makes us special. Strong beyond rods and fusions. Find a cure for your agony ASAP, but I hope you never forget to keep praying for a better world.
          Jeralyn is Queen!

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          • #6
            The office of vocational rehab through your department of labor can help make your work place less painful for you. If it turns out that you need to change professions, they will help you. I was a teacher but am no longer able to work fulltime. I can't be on my feet all day, passing out papers has become extremely panful (I am getting treatments to try to help the problems). Go talk to VR and see what they can do for you.
            T12- L5 fusion 1975 - Rochester, NY
            2002 removal of bottom of rod and extra fusion
            3/1/11 C5-C6 disc replacement
            Daughter - T7 - L3 fusion 2004

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            • #7
              I have horrible pain in my back the whole time I am working, because my curves are so bad. When the pain is just unbearable, I have to sit down in a chair.

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              • #8
                Dealing with back pain at work

                Hello to all!
                New to the forum.
                I retired from teaching over 3 years ago due to severe back pain. I was very limited in what I was required to do on the job. I made the difficult decision to retire from teaching after 16 years and applied for an office job.
                Once they discovered that I had cronic back pain due to Scoliosis my boss purchased an Obus Form chair. I'm finding that I am not in as much pain as I used to be when I was working in the daycare however the limited movement does have it's negative side as well.
                I have to make it a point to take a break from sitting for prolonged periods to avoid getting stiff.
                "Whether one believes in a religion or not, and whether one believes in rebirth or not, there isn't anyone who doesn't appreciate kindness and compassion."
                Dalai Lama

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