Lower back pain from standing all day

Nurses General Nursing

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Help! My back hurts from standing all day for a 12 hour shift. When I get to sit for a brief minute or two, it feels good to sit but sometimes if I bend over, my back really hurts. I'm not used to standing for so long. Does it get better as time go? I keep thinking it may be due to bad posture but... I don't know waht to do. Anyone?

Specializes in Med-Surg, Transplant.

Second pretty much everything that has already been said but would also add that it may really help you to try to work out in some way on your days off...particularly in a way that involves stretching. I use the elliptical, walk, and (most importantly for back/body pain prevention) do yoga at least a few times a week-both "regular" and hot. I never realized until I stopped doing it for a few weeks how much more limber, supple and "happy" it made my body! Even DVDs or podcasts will do the trick if the classes seem too pricey. Hope you get some relief!

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I've heard it helps if you switch your shoes halfway through your shift so your feet don't become so accustomed to being in the same pair for 12 hrs

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Specializes in Critical Care and ED.

Just a thought...have you ever been evaluated for Endometriosis? My primary symptom was lower back pain that I had for years and thought it was from nursing. Eventually, after a diagnostic laparoscopy, I discovered I had stage 4 invasive Endometriosis, and since the 3 surgeries I've since had, the back pain is worse than ever, so much so that i find it agonizing to stand for more than a few minutes, despite still working in the ICU. Lower back pain should always be evaluated, and so talk to your Gynacologist about Endometriosis, as it's the most commonly undiagnosed disease in women of child bearing age.

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Specializes in Med Surg.

BIKRAM YOGA!!!!! I used to have the worst back pain ever but since I started doing Bikram I no longer feel the pain. Not to mention all the other benefits this kind of yoga gives you such as the immunity boost, calorie loss, stress relief, and an awesome body!! You should really try it! (thank me later) :lol2:

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Specializes in cardiac.

make sure when your standing you keep your hips under your back. sometimes just pulling your hips forward will relieve your back pain. good posture will make a difference.

regular exercise does wonders also. most gyms have machines designed to target the lower back.

weight lifting helps too just keep good posture so you don't inflict worse pain. make an appointment with a chiropractor too. that's who i saw when i was having lower back pain!

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Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.

great advise so far!!! all of it excellent. A suggestion as others have mentioned, for your back, especially lower back to be able to carry the strength of standing... you posture is number one..

feet aligned with the hips, but tucked under knees not locked and loose. Find every brief moment to sit in the proper position to talk the weight off your spine.

Third, you can't can't have a strong back without strong abs that include the obliques, the side abdominal muscles and all the way to lower front pelvis and back pelvis. That means you need to really read about how to do crunches and stretching exercises.

YOUR BACK IS YOUR PAYCHECK. if left untreated, you will go without pay from injury in a few years. Keep your patients close, and your boosting closer:rolleyes: and never forget to squat and tuck the tush under.

As everyone else says.. find the best pair of shoes for you that feel like pillows after 12 hours so your feet NEVER ever hurt and you don't stand wrong to compensate for a cheap pair of shoes.

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Specializes in ED, Cardiac Medicine, Retail Health.
great advise so far!!! all of it excellent. A suggestion as others have mentioned, for your back, especially lower back to be able to carry the strength of standing... you posture is number one..

feet aligned with the hips, but tucked under knees not locked and loose. Find every brief moment to sit in the proper position to talk the weight off your spine.

Third, you can't can't have a strong back without strong abs that include the obliques, the side abdominal muscles and all the way to lower front pelvis and back pelvis. That means you need to really read about how to do crunches and stretching exercises.

YOUR BACK IS YOUR PAYCHECK. if left untreated, you will go without pay from injury in a few years. Keep your patients close, and your boosting closer:rolleyes: and never forget to squat and tuck the tush under.

As everyone else says.. find the best pair of shoes for you that feel like pillows after 12 hours so your feet NEVER ever hurt and you don't stand wrong to compensate for a cheap pair of shoes.

I was out with a back injury for 3 months this past summer, and am once again out (although I should return in 10 days) but please use proper body mechanics and ask for help when boosting or lifting. Your back is your money maker as I am finding out. Hurt my back on the job, and now management wants to give my job away. Cant blame them as there are scheduling needs, but now I feel like an outcast, and I did this at work! Sooooooo, protect your back at all cost!!

G

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Besides good ergonomics (and don’t take this the wrong way because I don’t know you, and do not know you don’t have a healthy BMI) but a healthy BMI is also important for good back health. For those that are overweight losing some weight would go a long way to a better back. Just think if someone asked you to carry a ten pound bag of potatoes around all day. Do you think you would be sore and tired at the end of the day? It is the same thing for those 40+ pounds overweight; unfortunately our bodies don’t distribute the extra weight evenly so this can add up to back pain if one is on their feet all day.

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