Lumbar back supports/braces--

[Pose]

Hello everyone,

I'm about to begin my first hospital job as an ER tech at a trauma center. I'm very much looking forward to the job, although I've recently been diagnosed with a bulging disc at L4-5 causing mild spinal stenosis. I've apparently had this for around 2.5 years now, and I've worked some pretty rough jobs (read: construction) since then. I don't believe this will prevent me from taking this job, but I would like a supplement or two (good shoes, back support) to make it a bit easier on my back.

I was hoping some of you could recommend a good back support/brace to relieve some pressure when I'm standing for so long. Something a little less obvious under clothes would be nice, but anything that will do the job would be great.

I found plenty of good advice on shoes, but any last minute comments on things to consider would be much appreciated.

Thank you,

-Jared

[wooh, BSN, RN]

As someone with a bad back, I really wouldn't recommend a back brace. They start to do the work instead of your back and ab muscles, and then your back/ab muscles weaken. Then one day when you aren't wearing the brace, you hurt yourself really badly. Remember to use good body mechanics, and you should be ok with your back. (Unless you become a CNA in a nursing home, there's almost no way to keep a healthy back doing that!)

As for shoes, I highly recommend Plogs. They're sold direct from Germany under the name Medimex, or the US distributor is Rockers. They are absolutely the only shoes I wear to work. Anything else and my feet and back are aching at the end of the day. It takes a couple days to get used to holding them on your feet (and during that, your feet will be sore from using weird muscles you aren't used to), but after that, they're wonderful. And whatever people say about not being able to move fast in clog-type shoes, I can run in mine just as fast as I can in sneakers.

[Pose]

Thank you for the advice. I will definitely take it all into consideration, and think twice about a back support.

All other comments are welcome,

-Jared