BAD back

Hey there - I used to work in stroke/ neuro for just over a year - I left because I couldn't take all that back breaking work... Nowadays my back still has it's days because I carry a lot of stress on it. I find that lifting weights and stretching before work helps a TON. I do back exercises like bent over rows, and lat pull downs.

Get a referral to a physical therapist who will teach you, then drill you on body mechanics. I spent 6 months rehabbing my back and have been well since. He was a drill sargeant with the excercises and made sure I was using the correct muscles when turning, twisting and lifting. We went over motions that I would be using on the job. I can hear his voice in my head anytime I am doing any taxing work. Retraining yourself keeps you from re-injuring yourself. Good luck!

Hello all!

I've been a nurse for a little over a year. And over the past 4 months I've thrown my back out 3 times. Oddly enough, the job I currently have is much easier than the job I had prior to that; and no injuries occurred.

Does anyone have any advice for backs? I already known to bend with my knees, IBprofen & alternate heat and cold. Got any ideas that actually work?

Good body mechanics do work. The problem is that we often get lazy about them or forget when we're in a hurry. It took me quite a few incidents before I became really conscious about my body movements. Also, you may want to consider strengthening your abdominal muscles. A PT can show you some safe exercises. It really made all the difference for me. And good posture will go a long way in helping your back feel better (no slouching in chairs for me!). I have an inherited joint issue and dislocated like crazy until I got really strict about my body. The only time I've thrown out my back in the last 2 years was bowling with friends, not pushing 300lb isolettes around the unit.

I hope things improve for you. Having a bad back in nursing can be a career killer.