nurse back problems

Tweety, BSN, RN · Nov 19, 2006

Welcome to Allnurses. I'm 47 and have a good back and work in a hospital. He will learn from the very beginning how to protect his back. I also do exercises at the gym and do yoga that specifically helps my back. After 15 years, so far, so good.

Good luck!

Simplepleasures · Nov 19, 2006

After 27 years as an LPN I now have Degenarative Disk Disease- multilevel, Degenerative Joint disease of spine , also multi level and DJD of bilateral knees, it is hard , grueling physical work and it is the one of the jobs in which has the highest record for back injuries, see the OSHA website.

TazziRN, RN · Nov 19, 2006

I've had a few back injuries, but nothing permanent or that required surgery to correct, thank God. Nurses are at high risk for back injuries, as well as other parts of the body, but he will be taught in school as well as at each new job's orientation how to utilize proper body mechanics. Sometimes it happens no matter how careful you are: I was once lifting an elderly, heavy woman with my tech and we were doing fine, when the woman's son decided to "help" and pulled me off balance.

There are worse things to worry about.

Dixielee, BSN, RN · Nov 19, 2006

If you have been a nurse for more than a few years and have not hurt your back, then you are not doing your job right! LOL, just kidding but it is a common problem. I am 52, been an RN for 34 years in acute care and am still running around like an idiot in a busy ER. So, encourage your husband to do what he enjoys, not just to look at the one issue of a possible back injury.

If he is only looking for "safety", then he can work for an insurance company sitting behind a computer all day. But then again, he could be in a car wreck on the way to work, or trip over a kids toy in the yard. I carry disability insurance because I think I will be more likely to step in a gopher hole in my garden and break my ankle, than I will be injured at work.

Life is not a safe place.

P_RN, ADN, RN · Nov 19, 2006

Fantastic back after 22 years on an ortho unit. Then...........

Your husband will ultimately have to make the decision as to where he works, but I commend you in wanting only the best for him.

Calgon-take.me.away · Nov 19, 2006

I have been nursing all my life....21 years as a CNA,,EMT for 27 years, and now a nurse for 13 years. I have constant back pain, siaticpain, and am not sure if my knees are gonna hold out....virtually falling apart at the seams.

But I would not change one minute of my nursing for sitting behind a desk or working in a factory.

You have to protect your back at all costs,,lift correctly,,bend your knees, don't lift with your back,,wear a back belt if you need it. Also, warm up before you start work,,,do some stretching,,,and most of all get help with lifting even if you are the slightest bit hesitant about doing anything by yourself

:pumpiron:

fleur-de-lis, BSN, RN · Nov 20, 2006

I would advise him to only work where there are adjustable beds. I am just a student, but last week in Clinical in newborn nursery (where cribs are not adjustable) I spent the morning bending over babies and have a bad back injury to show for it. I am 5'10, and in Med.Surg I can bring the beds up to a good working height for me, but since that was not possible with the baby beds, I had to stoop, which ended up giving me a nasty lower back injury. I still need to have MRI's done to make sure it is only muscular and not involveing the disc. At this point I am crossing my fingers that my career has not ended before it even began!

blueyesue · Nov 20, 2006

I have what you would call a "bad back" I have scoliosis, and my body actually goes crooked about once a year. For about 1 week I am in excruciating pain. During the rest of the year, I will have periodic aches and pains. However, I am still going for nursing because it is a lifelong dream. There are many things that try to "get in the way" of us pursuing our dreams. It all boils down to how badly we want them fulfilled. If your husband really wants to be a nurse, then he should become one.

kayRN21 · Nov 20, 2006

I also have degenerative disc disease and had disc surgery on my neck. My lower back is fine. I would suggest that on employment obtain disability insurance at work or with an insurance company outside of work. I could not say when I hurt my neck so I am left to the mercy of the Social Security system. It usually takes two years to get Social Security Disability if you can get it at all. After 32 years of bedside nursing I worked till I couldn't use my right arm. I am an RN and I will never go back to patient care. I am in constant pain.

kenny b · Nov 20, 2006

I'm glad you brought this up. I had the same question myself.

I'd have to agree with Tweety here. A well-crafted strengthening and stretching program would be a great idea!

I've got a sort of a mentor who's an RN and an ex-Marine. He's also a Physical Therapist and he is going to put me through the paces.

It's a relatively weak muscle set, and I'm looking forward to strengthening it. Many back problems are preventable.

NurseNathan · Nov 20, 2006

I have worked several year in a Nursing facility. I have some back problems from all of the lifting that I have had to do. Most of my problems were caused from lifting from old hospital beds that did not have electric lifts. I believe that if the facility had had modern equiptment, that I would not be having the problems that I have today. Understand also that men are asked to do alot more lifting than women are. Best bet is to look into the beds and other equiptment that he will have access to.