[Valanda]

Originally Posted by Hellllllo Nurse

Same here! I can still lift and bend over okay, it's the light things that get me- doing central line care just kills my back- puts me in agony- it's just that little bit of leaning over. I can't take it.
Same thing with washing dishes- just that tiny bit of leaning over the sink.

Also, it's almost impossible to use "correct body mechanics" in many nursing situations- especially when you have bad knees, as well as a bad back. Like me.

Just wanted to mention that I also have back injuries and have found that many tasks can be accomplished by spreading my feet apart instead of bending over. Especially washing dishes and dressing changes. I just place my feet about 2 feet or so apart and I'm "shorter". No bending required. It's helped me enormously when having to deal with babies in cribs, dressing changes, V/S, and dishwashing.

[TeleRNer]

Not to give anyone the wrong impression my being a nurse and all, however smoking has a benefit of relaxing the muscles somatically...but death from empazema/lung tumor/cancer/and the rest: a big risk and a very expensive habit to indulge in. Other benefits of smoking: decreases onset of parkinsons and dimentia. Increased mental accuity and as a stimulant, increased productiviy; however, taking a lot of breaks deters from the productivity. Yes, the risk of cancer to most outways its benefits. Now let's take a look at pharmaceutical medications that have risky outcomes from many years of usage by their patients; but wait, some have not yet been tested fully by the FDA, so we must be Ginny Pigs then?
Anyway, back to the topic at hand. Exercise! Walking works wonderfully on the back! And if you can stretch after exercise, especially the one with the hands bracing the lower back and arching, yes that works to alleviate lower back pain issues.

[katnursep]

Hi Caringkat,
I just want to suggest acupuncture if you haven't already tried it. I have a freind who suffered from severe back pain after a car accident and got releif from acupuncture after trying just about everything else.
Take care and good luck.

[morte]

Originally Posted by caringkat

Hi everyone,

I am interested in nursing and plan on starting LPN school this July (to make sure I enjoy nursing) then I will go for my RN. My only concern is that I was in a car accident last June 2007 and I have chronic back pain now. I have bulging discs in my neck and lumbar region of my back. I want to be a nurse but I am worried that no one will hire me due to my back condition. I am also trying to figure out what are some areas for nursing that would not hurt my back so much. I hear Peds, NICU, school nurse and public health are some options. Does anyone have any other ideas that might help me with my situation?

I am trying to not let an injury get in the way of my dreams!!

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!!

Thanks!!

1) you must attain and maintain the highest level of fitness possible
this is not "spoiling" yourself, it is a necessity
2) at four months out from injury, you may not have maximized healing
as of yet.
3) vacuuming is one of the worst things to do for low back issues
and anything else that req that motion
good luck

[Diahni]

Originally Posted by morte

1) you must attain and maintain the highest level of fitness possible
this is not "spoiling" yourself, it is a necessity
2) at four months out from injury, you may not have maximized healing
as of yet.
3) vacuuming is one of the worst things to do for low back issues
and anything else that req that motion
good luck

Situps and stretching the back muscles is essential. I can get a back ache from washing the dishes if I don't do them. Since you are still healing, be careful! Why not see a physical therapist to be on the safe side. Nursing and many other physical jobs are hard on the body, but inactivity is far worse.
Diahni

[Diahni]

Originally Posted by Valanda

Just wanted to mention that I also have back injuries and have found that many tasks can be accomplished by spreading my feet apart instead of bending over. Especially washing dishes and dressing changes. I just place my feet about 2 feet or so apart and I'm "shorter". No bending required. It's helped me enormously when having to deal with babies in cribs, dressing changes, V/S, and dishwashing.

Valanda - I like putting one foot up on a stool while I'm at the sink. Leaning over a bed that's too close to the floor is awful. If it feels bad to your body, it probably is. Here's a fantasy - employers who enforce two 20 min. exercise breaks a day - it sure would save a lot of health insurance pay outs to employees.
Diahni

[WindyHill]

These are great tips, if anyone else has some suggestions, that would be great!!!

[Ms Kylee]

Chiropractor..... I had a wonderful one after I got hit from behind while waiting in a long line of cars back in 1993. I was back to normal in 4 months, and have not had any issues since... my knee, however, is another issue....

[Agnus]

Oh yea, back and knees. I use Chiropractic, inversion, core muscle strengthing, walking, neither sitting or standing for long periods. A firm mattress. Massage, warm epson salts, heat and cold application, and a high quality hand held percussion massager that I can use on myself. and anti inflamatory meds.