ushope777
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9 February 2020 - 8:11pm

Anyone know about back injuries?

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Hello Everyone!

My life has been really busy and crazy with too many stressful events happening to me from Oct to Dec of last year. One event is that one of my students attacked me, and I hurt my back very bad. Before you say anything, my students are "special ed," so I cannot do anything about it except continue to teach him. My mother and brother have bad backs and I always prided myself in having such a strong back. If I got a little ache here and there, I could heal with exercises within a day or two.

I have been in physical therapy now since the second week in Nov, plus the chiropractor. The sciatica is better, thank goodness, but I have this very painful ache and spasm in the middle of my back, that feels like it goes around the front through my ribs. Something just feels like it is WRONG inside there. Especially painful by the end of my work days, as I was only taken off work for one week, not even near enough time to heal. I am wondering if it would be worth going back to the doctor for some imaging or do you think I should wait just a little longer to see if it will heal? I continue to do my exercises, religiously, but there is even one exercise I cannot do anymore, because when i do, sharp pains shoot through my back and ribs in "that spot."

I just thought I would reach out to see if anyone here has back problems or has advice for me. I know a lot of people deal with this.

Thanks, friends! 🙂

sharpe

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10 February 2020 - 9:51pm
#1

Dont take your chances with a back or neck injury. Go see the dr and demand xrays or something.
For work everyday I'm a mover, I lift or help lift some pretty crazy things up and down stairs, even over rocks and ice and sometimes guys get hurt. One think we dont mess with is our backs and necks. Because if something is wrong, you could make it worse with one wrong twist, turn, bend , reach etc. My advice, go to the Dr .

sharpe

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10 February 2020 - 9:54pm
#2

I do want to point out how brave I think you are going back to work, and continue to teach this student. Special needs or not , lots of people wouldnt go back, and it would seem to me that you go back with no grudge held, and not blaming anybody or pointing fingers. The world needs more teachers like you, it would be a better place.

sharpe

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11 February 2020 - 2:16am
#3

Totally agree, you should definitely go and see the doctor again. That sort of pain is not normal and it's important to have it resolved before it gets any worse. It think back injuries (even if they are minor and yours does not sound minor) are easily exacerbated if left untreated.
Go and get yourself looked at Hope!

sharpe

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11 February 2020 - 7:13pm
#4

Have to agree with the guys, I used to have huge pain in my neck and general migrenes and after going to the doctor they did a scan and realized that a tiny muscle was stuck and after going to a chyropracter that was fixed and headaches and neck pain was gone for good.

sharpe

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12 February 2020 - 12:08am
#5

Thank you for your responses.

I only have a minute, so I hope to get back and discuss a little more, but just so you all know, I did go get X-Rays right after the incident. As we know, x-rays do not show everything except bones, but at least I know I didn't break any bones.

I was actually shoved into a counter very hard. One staff member said when they heard it, they thought the microwave fell down and broke. I am 5'7" and I weigh 110 pounds. The young man is 15 years old and he has "grown man strength." So, anyway, it was kind of a whiplash effect and looking back, I think I also had a concussion (longer story).

I have learned MUCH about worker's comp and none of it is good. Through no fault of my own, I had to use 3 of my own PTO days and the remainder is only paid back at 80%. This is also why they did not START with imaging and have me going through PT and chiro instead first. I have been trying to give it a little more time, because I have also had a dental emergency and I do not like to miss so much work, but our health does come first. My goal is to NOT have a back that is permanently messed up, so in order to do this, your advice makes sense.

Thank you for speaking from your experience.

As for going back and continuing to teach the same student, I really feel like I am unsupported. However, at the end of the day, it is not his fault, but believe me, I am extremely cautious around him, yet we laugh, work, play, and have fun much of the time. He had a bad day yesterday and I kept my distance.

One thing that really disgusted me is NOT ONE of my supervisors (and we have several as teachers and in SPED) asked me if I was okay, how I was feeling, if I was in pain, etc. I don't expect all that attention, but seriously, how unprofessional! When it first happened I went right back because I didn't want decisions to be made about him without me. I worked the for five days, two of which he was present (long story), and then on the Friday before Thanksgiving, the doctor took me off work for one week. I wish she had taken me out longer, but I cannot go back.

Okay, that is all for now. I SO appreciate your input. THANk YOU so much, everyone!

sharpe

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12 February 2020 - 8:42pm
#6

Get better Hope!

That's probably one of the toughest and a thankless job ever.

As Kris said "The world needs more teachers like you"...I could only agree with that..and just add..people like you.

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14 February 2020 - 1:37am
#7
sharpe wrote:

Get better Hope!

That's probably one of the toughest and a thankless job ever.

As Kris said "The world needs more teachers like you"...I could only agree with that..and just add..people like you.

Thank you very much. When I went back for this degree a bit later in life, so I could raise my three sons, what worried me most is if I would have the energy for this. Eighteen years later, I am still asking the same thing. lol Seriously, though, like most teachers, I always wish I could be doing more. And it is the children who bring us back, rarely the staff, and never the politics of it all. Some districts are better than others (and I have been in a few). The one I am in right now is not at the top of my list of good school districts. There are good things ABOUT It, but when I compare to other places, I was happier elsewhere.

I do have a three-day weekend coming up, and I am definitely happy about that! 😜

Have a great weekend, everyone, and thanks again for your support and your kind words. 🙂

sharpe

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14 February 2020 - 2:41pm
#8

Hope, I'm sorry to hear about your situation. I have a long history of back pain, to the point where I've been hospitalized because it struck me so bad that I passed out while getting off the traction table at the chiropractor.

If you're feeling that kind of pain, you definitely need to get scans of some sort. The sciatica will come and go, but the real trouble is that middle back pain that you mention. I actually have a divot in my middle back from when I was playing hockey, where I took a slapshot right in between the pants and shoulder pads. It causes me pain there, and I get spasms. That's more long term than the sciatica, which normally lasts only a few days.

You definitely should get that looked at. They may be able to give you a cortisone shot there to get things moving, or maybe some better anti-inflamatories. For me, prednisone has been great, as it is a short term steroid that seems to suck inflammation right out and will get you back to feeling better overnight.

Hope this helps! Feel better!

sharpe

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17 February 2020 - 8:21pm
#9

Just try to take a moment for yourself, maybe go to a specialist and get a massage, treat yourself a little bit! And try to take it easy.

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18 February 2020 - 10:55am
#10
Quote:

I actually have a divot in my middle back from when I was playing hockey, where I took a slapshot right in between the pants and shoulder pads. It causes me pain there, and I get spasms

Wow, that's new..you've played hockey slim, professionally?

That would explain a lot about your back pains...I guess.

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23 February 2020 - 10:41am
#11

I guess I sort of lied in my comment above lol, I hurt my back with a few really tough days. Hauling full filing cabinets upstairs with one other guy, one home seemed to own the heaviest stuff that can be bought, and then there was the piano we moved up a spiral staircase and had it lifted from the side of it, straight up in the air in order for it to even fit lol.
Unfortunately, I cant afford to take my own advice and take no chances. So I've been working through it. I've done labour jobs long enough to know when I'm injured or when I'm sore. That's a risky gamble I hate taking every time lol but every day i feel a little stronger, so hopefully I'm not making things worse for myself.

sharpe

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29 February 2020 - 10:30pm
#12
barbadosslim93 wrote:

Hope, I'm sorry to hear about your situation. I have a long history of back pain, to the point where I've been hospitalized because it struck me so bad that I passed out while getting off the traction table at the chiropractor.

If you're feeling that kind of pain, you definitely need to get scans of some sort. The sciatica will come and go, but the real trouble is that middle back pain that you mention. I actually have a divot in my middle back from when I was playing hockey, where I took a slapshot right in between the pants and shoulder pads. It causes me pain there, and I get spasms. That's more long term than the sciatica, which normally lasts only a few days.

You definitely should get that looked at. They may be able to give you a cortisone shot there to get things moving, or maybe some better anti-inflamatories. For me, prednisone has been great, as it is a short term steroid that seems to suck inflammation right out and will get you back to feeling better overnight.

Hope this helps! Feel better!

Thank you 'slim. I also tried a short course of prednisone for the sciatica, which lasted almost 3 months for me. It helped at first, then stopped being effective. The exercises finally helped. I thought it would last forever - at least it felt like it would. I am going to give it until the end of March, then go back to the doctor. Until then, it is PT and chiro on work comp. Some days are better than others now. I just don 't want this to end up being a life long problem.

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29 February 2020 - 10:32pm
#13
blck wrote:

Just try to take a moment for yourself, maybe go to a specialist and get a massage, treat yourself a little bit! And try to take it easy.

Yes! My chiro stresses, and I am also aware, how stress plays such an important part of healing. The trouble is, my job is extremely stressful, and for the past few weeks, my home life has been the same! Plus just everything that is going on in our country does not help when it comes to stress and anxiety. One thing I do have is an excellent support system when it comes to friends and loved ones. And I am trying to concentrate on one area of stress each week or so. For example, the last few weeks I have been putting all my concentration on getting enough sleep. Next thing I will add is improving my diet, and so on. I would also love to get a massage - that sounds heavenly! I do have a birthday coming up. I need to start dropping hints to my sons! 🙂

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29 February 2020 - 10:34pm
#14
WaroftheGods wrote:

I guess I sort of lied in my comment above lol, I hurt my back with a few really tough days. Hauling full filing cabinets upstairs with one other guy, one home seemed to own the heaviest stuff that can be bought, and then there was the piano we moved up a spiral staircase and had it lifted from the side of it, straight up in the air in order for it to even fit lol.
Unfortunately, I cant afford to take my own advice and take no chances. So I've been working through it. I've done labour jobs long enough to know when I'm injured or when I'm sore. That's a risky gamble I hate taking every time lol but every day i feel a little stronger, so hopefully I'm not making things worse for myself.

I know what you mean. When there is no one around to help with a two-person lift for one of my students, I try to jump in. Most of the time staff will tell me STOP! but it is just my natural inclination to help. I have to tell myself to be good and give myself a chance to heal or I won't be there at all to help. Take it easy!

ushope777
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29 February 2020 - 10:34pm
#15

Thanks, again, to ALL for the wonderful support and advice. I truly appreciate the responses!

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2 March 2020 - 6:29am
#16

I geta bit of lower back pain or tightness sometimes and I found a few things that help me.

hope777 wrote:

I would also love to get a massage - that sounds heavenly! I do have a birthday coming up. I need to start dropping hints to my sons! 🙂

Ok so here's a plan: son 1 buys you a massage. Son 2 buys you a massage gun.

A massage gun? Whatchootalkinbout Cl-Ed? Read this thread.

I got a cheap one off ebay (~$50), not the overpriced athlete sponsored space age super dooper ones that cost more than $500.

Another option is a thing called a peanut roller or peanut ball. It is two balls joined together in the middle that you lay on top of and gently roll back and forth over the sore back area either side of your spine. It releases tension and loosens everything up really nicely.

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2 March 2020 - 1:52pm
#17
sharpe wrote:

Wow, that's new..you've played hockey slim, professionally?

That would explain a lot about your back pains...I guess.

Nah, I just played from when I was a kid up until my mid 20's for fun. The divot in my back hurts though. My chiropractor says she thinks its probably broken growth plates from the puck hitting back there.

Hope, keep us posted on how your back turns out!