back pain--injuries and avoidance

[ElsaKay]

I am a relatively new CNA. I have noticed that most of my co-workers who have been working this kind of job for many years take pain killers and have permanently painful backs.

I am pretty scrupulous about lifting from the knees, proper form, etc, mostly because I am familiar with some weight-lifting technique.

However, does anyone have any tips for avoiding back pain and back injuries?

[jjic3982]

I have had knee discomfort throughout my first two months at work. I tried the knee braces that helped, but they were becoming too uncomfortable after long periods of use. I learned to try to sit down as much as I could and raising the bed to a comfortable height. The height of the bed was the main cause for my knee pains.

[Kitsey]

I've been a CNA for almost 15 months and my back has hurt for...almost 15 months. Trying to lift properly is all well and good in the right situations, but I work the dementia unit and when people are kicking, biting, trying to punch you and family is yelling at you to walk (ie-lift and drag) their family member down the hall, well your spine is pretty abused. People refusing to use the ez stand have to be two personed (or 1 personed because we're short...) I would love to have painkillers. But for now I'm just trying to stretch, raise bed when doing cares, use heat packs and muscle rubs, otc painkillers (that don't help at all), and hobble around like a cripple on my day off :/

[JDZ344]

We are a no-lift place.

We use

for all repositioning. We cant even boost a patient up without one.

So definitely check out what equipment your place has available and USE it!

[mindyfromcali]

The best thing you can do is like the others have said: utilize everything the facility provides for you. I have been a CNA for almost 3 years. NEVER had a back injury. The most I've had is pain in my hips from standing too long, usually working 12 or 16 hours. Those are the shifts I come home and watch TV on a LaZboy with a heating pad under where I'm sore, or take a nice hot bath. Baby yourself, or you'll end up just like those you take care of some day. Don't ever lift a patient if you know you shouldn't do it.

My general rule is if they're petite little old ladies I'll do it, but everyone else is either assisting me themselves, or I find a co-worker who can help. The best thing you can do is keep yourself in shape. If you don't have time to exercise, at the very least do some basic stretches before, after, and during work. I usually do them when I'm waiting for patients to finish up in the bathroom, or if I have a spare minute at any point. Make sure you have good shoes too.

Good luck :)