[NHnightRN]

Originally Posted by Angie O'Plasty, RN

Tell us about it!

Do you use medication on a regular basis or other means to relieve your chronic back issues?

12 hour nights on med/surg unit. Finishing my first year as a RN and about 6 months ago I started having problems with my back. I'm tall and the med stations are low, and well everyone knows about bending over beds and lifting multiple pts a night. Using proper body mechanics doesnt keep it from coming back. I use advil and try to stretch and do stregthening exercises on my days off. Considering going into see a chiropracter soon to see if that doesnt help some.

Lora RN BSN

[jillianRNCRT]

I started with my back difficulties around 9 years ago. Having always considered myself strong and in pretty good physical shape, I found myself with a herniated disc. L4 and L5. I was out of work for 3 months. The Dr's wanted to perform surgery, but I opted for a different approach. I started exercises and massage therapy which was a better approach for me than steroids, flexeril and immobility. I still have problems and take an Alleve daily. Sometimes the pain can be overpowering especially on long days. I have made changes recently in my job. I am in the process of going part time and I am very excited about these changes. For all of the chronic back pain sufferers, I feel for you and also have a different kind of appreciations for others who suffer with chronic pain.

[chattypattyCRNA2B]

Originally Posted by rehab nurse

i have three herniated lumbar discs, one herniation is new and my other two i have had for two years after a injury helping a pt not to fall on the floor. a very, very obese pt who was ambulatory, but was getting out of bed to go to the BR. her knees gave out, and i tried to lift her. what the heck was i thinking? was just a reflex i guess to try to prevent her from falling; and i did, with the help of three other people.
three mri's, two spinal surgeons, spinal steroid injections, a chiropractor, natural healing, massage, PT, home exercise, and two years later.....i am now reduced to working part time, supporting two toddlers on my own, and trying to finish school (i am an lpn going through excelsior). i take vicodin on a daily basis, muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatories (i sure miss bextra!), heat. and the pain is relentless. i go to see my spinal surgeon next month. i don't know what he will do, i am so young (just 27) and i need to work. i have two kids to support. oh, and i nearly forgot my recent flare-up of SLE which has had me in the hospital twice this year; and the migraines that are he** in the spring because of my sinuses/asthma problems. oh boy, this has been such a terrible year for me. i sure hope something gets better, and soon.

Your situation is really scary. What can we do to prevent situations like these? Do any nurses wear back braces to prevent these type of situations? Any advice??

[chattypattyCRNA2B]

Did a quick search and I found this.

http://www.docortho.com/Orthopedic_S...aces&ovtac=PPC


They have a big selection of braces which may help. May be a little annoying to wear, but not as annoying as an injured back. I think these would probably help those who already have back problem as well by preventing further damage and offering a little support.

[Gompers]

Seven years in the NICU, and my back is absolutely fine.

My hands, on the other hand, are trashed. I've easily washed my hands 100 times in a 12 hour shift. In the wintertime...we're talking bleeding knuckles, the whole bit.

Small price to pay.

[Angie O'Plasty, RN]

Originally Posted by chattypattyCRNA2B

Your situation is really scary. What can we do to prevent situations like these? Do any nurses wear back braces to prevent these type of situations? Any advice??

Back braces are not the answer' in fact, their benefit is debatable.

There are tools for proper lifting and turning of patients available.

We need to promote no-lift policies and urge facilities to supply the proper lifting equipment.

[1nugrad]

I have had a bad back for years and back in "98" I had to have surgery to remove the ..."mothership of all hernia's " as my doctor had put it!! I worked in LTC and we were short one night and I hate to admit it but we all took short cuts and one night I was alone on a wing as a cna and I got behind the head of the patients bed and grabbed the lift sheet and hoisted a some 250 lb pt. up in bed by myself , I didn't really think I hurt myself till the next morning when I couldn't walk, I mean I leave work every night aching all over! So I had herniated the L5-S1 and by the time I had gotten an MRI , because of HMO's and they don't want to treat you until you try everything under the sun first , PT, chiro, heat , stim, mulitude of drugs, finally decided that surgery would be beneficial, so off i went for the surgery and after waiting so long for the MRI to find out what was wrong , because at first they only thought it sciatica nerve pain because I Am overweight, well the hernia had starved the two disc's above it and they are no good either , now 7 years later , the whole right side of my body has dropped and I have a herniated cervical disc c6 , and right foot pain , and a stenosed low back. but I work because if I didn't I think I would stiffen right up and not ever to move agian! I had let my compensation drop becasue they wanted a degree of disability and I wouldn't do that ,I mean I am young and have young children I need to work. now that I am getting older and feeling it more and more I wished I didn't but that was the choice I made , so I go to a chiro and she is good she has gotten a lil more motion in my low back , my spine actually moves when she manipulates it. she has given me some spinal remodeling exercises and I think i may not be so crippled after all! I hang my head of the edge of my bed every day for 15 minutes to help relign my neck I refuse to have the neck surgery to risky!!!!!!

[Stella-Ohio]

Severe injury (unable to get out of bed/walk without adult assistance) due to a slipped disk (good old L5)

Had I gone to my GP, I would have required surgery. I went instead to a competent and compassionate chiropractor (I had never seen one and didnt' believe in them).

I am now his best advertisement by word of mouth.

It took months of 3-4 visits per week before I was pain free. I now do core strength excercises, raise every bed and pay attention to lifting guidelines/procedures.

I learned a hard hard lesson. I fear the re-injury (which is why I am extra cautious which is why I now take extra time but not near as much time as missing weeks of work having your grown daughter bring you a bedpan at home etc).

No surgery, no drugs (they didn't touch this type of pain anyway).

My careful use of techniques is actually catching on around the floor. Other nurses and techs just know that if I am on the way, we are going to raise that bed. Others also saw the pain I went through once I returned to work and they have no desire to be next. Whatever the reason, it's a good habit now.

[teeituptom]

No I have a bad back from raising 7 kids

[Maynmom]

Most of my aches and pains came from working PACU. Pushing beds and stretchers.