I've been a nurse for 20+ yrs... it's my life, it's all I've known, all I ever wanted to be since I was a little girl. My dream came to a screeching halt after feeling that tell-tale "pop" in my back, along with the take my breath away white hot poker burn and pain in my lower back, and numbness down my right leg. This happened during one of our busy OR days, no extra staff, surgeons and anesthesiologists in a hurry. So, I moved a patient that had been given 2mg versed in the holding area and she was OUT like a ton of bricks right in between the cart and the OR table. It was me risking injury, or  her falling to the floor.

Long story short and 3 surgeries later, I was deemed to have reached "maximum medical improvement" after 5 yrs of numerous therapies, injections, acupuncture; you name it, I've tried it. I've fought the good fight with Ohio BWC, yet I still suffer from lower back spasms, numbness, and tailbone pain. I was lucky enough to find a work at home position with a litigation firm reviewing medical records and preparing them for their day in court.

Here's my dilemma: the company has decided it isn't cost effective to have employees working from home, and have decided to eliminate all work at home positions. I love being able to get up and stretch when I need to, do my bizzare manipulations when the spasms become too difficult to deal with, and that freedom is being taken away. I know I will not be able to function in a hospital environment. My doctor has advised me against ever returning to the hospital. Knowing what I know of the nursing field, when it's slow in one area, you get pulled to another to "help out". I can not risk re injuring myself or making things any worse than they already are. I've had to completely re think every aspect of my life. It's stressful enough as it is when your way of living is changed dramatically, let alone having to find a way to earn a living because the government decides "you can work" I've honed my coping skills to the max, but this is starting to wear me down! I don't know what I'm going to do. Most work at home positions are either scams, or I don't have the training. I can't afford to go back to school to learn a new trade, and I'm out of options. I am at a loss, and completely stressed out. How do you remain strong for your family, deal with constant pain on a daily basis, and go out for interviews trying to find a job with a smile on your face to hide the pain?