Lower back pain

[scizzerin]

Hi. I will starting my first hospital position (yay!) in two weeks. I will be a tech in the ICU. I've always had reoccuring lumbar back pain since I was 10, and lifting over 50 lbs seems to exacerbate it. I'm not a big whiner, but I also don't want to hurt myself further. Does anyone wear the back support braces and how would you rate them? I already use proper lifting techniques and have started exercises to strengthen my back.

[Antikigirl, ASN, RN]

I don't have back pain thank GOODNESS! However, I make sure that I am using my lifting techniques, rest my back at home, and really FULLY take advantage of help and equipment during transfers!!!

I see it this way...I only have one back, and it holds up everything...I don't want to screw that up over one twist during a transfer! I am lucky that I have slider sheets, sit/stand lifts, vertical lift, a few rooms have pt lift systems built in (and we will be getting more!), lots of help, and awesome beds that can go from flat, total recliner chair, and into any position for ease of transfer! (my hospital realized the cost of bad backs/joints, and found the investment into changing into a no lift facility was worth it! We are 1/4 way there after 5 months!).

Make sure you know about all the equpiment you can use, be trained on it, illicit help and use proper techniques...and see your MD if you back starts to hurt!