Nursing and Back Problems

Sniper RN · Aug 21, 2009

I think with proper lifting and moving techniques you should be fine. I have 3 herniated disks and I went through the EMT program and as long as I was careful I was ok. I am in the nursing program now.

u70324 · Aug 21, 2009

I worked with 2 women in pediatrics who had extensive back surgeries. One has scoliosis and has had 4 back surgeries. The other had her vertebrae cemented. There is lifting in peds, but they both manage. I say if you think your body is capable, go for it :)

breaktime · Aug 21, 2009

I fractured my spine in three places and ruptured a disc just over 3 years ago now and I'm currently in my 3rd semester of a BS program (actual program, not counting pre-reqs toward the semester count) and honestly the 12-hour shifts on the floor were better for my back than sitting in a classroom for hours on end. As long as you use proper body mechanics and lifting techniques I think you'll be fine.

That's not to say there isn't the chance something could happen, during a LTC clinical I did have to catch a patient who went down out of nowhere, and I paid for it later that night and the next day. It wasn't something I would like to have to do again, but it wasn't so bad I wouldn't. Just remember that you can't take care of your patients if you can't move, so before you move a patient, make sure it's safe for you, as well as them.

I'm sure someone will end up telling you they always have to move patients by themselves, and if they didn't the patient would suffer and in an emergency there might not be someone to help you, etc. Of course there is always a chance you will have to do something for a patient that will put your back at risk. Of course this is true, but in those situations even someone without a prior back injury is at risk, and maybe more so because you having hurt your back are probably going to be especially aware of protecting yourself as much as possible even in an emergency, because doing it for so long after a back injury makes it more natural to you. That's just my opinion though.

MsLoriRN, BSN, RN · Aug 21, 2009

Hi,

I have many years of nursing under my belt, and have done so with a "tender back" for a number of them. My very worst years with back pain were when I was a student nurse, oddly enough! I believe it was because I didn't feel comfortable asking, as a student, the other nurses to help me, and so I would do too much on my own...things that the RN's would not have done on their own. I would often walk back to campus bent over like an old lady, and spend the next 12 hours on my heating pad!

What I learned, over the years, are things that you likely had to learn post-op. So you may be way ahead of the game. But here you go:

1. Learn the body mechanics, learn them well, and take the lessons seriously. As a professional RN (as opposed to a student nurse), the first "orientation class" my hiring hospital sent me to was one on body mechanics, taught by the P.T. department. If you've been through PT, you probably know that those folks are able to "move mountains"...that is to say, they can lift/assist/walk with folks who are almost "dead weight"...because they know how to do it. If you could somehow connect with a physical therapist (how about you contact your orthopedic surgeon who did your back surgery?) for just 1/2 an hour of body mechanics training, you're good.

2. Do not hesitate to ask an RN (or a fellow SN) to help you with a lift, or a boost up in the bed (which you will do non-stop as a hospital nurse!). It's those little things that we "think" we can do on our own that injure the back over time. Done properly with the correct amount of people, you should be able to do everything safely.

3. This is for ALL future nurses, not just those with rods in their spines: did you know that weak stomach muscles are one of the most common causes of lower back pain and injury? Most all of our muscles have "opposing" muscles...like your biceps is "opposed" by your triceps. When one contracts, the other relaxes, and vice-versa.

With the lower back, your abdominal muscles are the "opposers," so to speak. We have to work to keep our abdominals in shape. A muscle that is in shape, or "toned," looks the way it does because it is always in a slight state of contraction. That's why, with weightlifting, the muscles seem to "stand out," and contracting them on purpose enhances that. (Think the "6-pack abs" picture.)

Do you use your abs in such a way that they're toned, every day? Most of us don't. But we DO use our backs in such a way that they're somewhat toned, in our everyday bending and lifting, and nurses use their backs alot. In the end, our back muscles are more toned...so they contract slightly, which shortens them...while our stomach muscles are NOT compensating for the shortened back muscle. If we did "crunches" (situps), our stomach muscles would also be toned...contracted...shortened...and that would "pull" the back muscle into balance. Without the balance, the lower back muscle contracts/shortens, the back "arches" slightly, and the vertebrae press harder on the intervertebral discs. Over the years, you can get herniated discs and other lower back problems.

The solution? You got it...do those crunches! You do NOT need to join a gym...do them in your living room. Look online if you're new to crunches to be sure you're doing them correctly; if you do them wrong, you'll do more harm than good!

I hope this helps some...and I wish you all the best as you consider the profession of nursing! Email me if you have other questions.

:nurse: MsLoriRN

PS: There are plenty of options outside of bedside care for nurses...I write about them...but you DO have to get experience FIRST, so please do count on having to work in a hospital at the bedside for at LEAST one year. It is not likely that you can work in labor/delivery/nursery right out of sschool...too many nurses want in there!

JustEnuff2BDangerous, BSN, RN · Aug 22, 2009

If you are afraid of the strain on your back from standing or walking for most of the day, they make special orthopedic shoes just for that, look them up online or ask your chiropractor for advice. :)

breaktime · Aug 22, 2009

MsLoriRN, thank you, that was an awesome post full of a lot of great information! I'm glad you mentioned the abdominal muscles as that is something I always forget to mention. My physical therapist stressed this every time I saw her, and it absolutely made a difference.

Don't neglect your back muscles though. Now after an injury especially, you should consult PT about any back exercise you might want to do, and use whatever they suggest, don't just go trying back exercises you find online without advice from a professional. That said, even if your abs are in great shape, if your back muscles are too weak, your abs have to compensate and take more of the load. This can also cause posture problems. This was my problem not long after my surgery and actually caused me to suffer pain in the upper to mid thoracic region (on top of the pain in my lower back at the injury site). MsLori eluded to this without directly stating it (or she may have), it's really all about a healthy balance between the two muscles.

It was strongly recommended to me that I not run, and so I went back to what kept me in shape as a child, swimming. It is generally a full body workout, and will work both the back and the abs. Again, please don't just go hop int he pool and start doing the backstroke without consulting an expert! Just saying it might be something to discuss with them, since it can be a single exercise that works both areas we're most concerned with (not too mention it has pretty much zero impact, unlike running, and can be more comfortable than crunches, depending on your type of injury).

Again MsLori, thanks for the awesome post!

SlightlyMental_RN · Aug 22, 2009

Areas to consider with a bad back are: school nursing,peds (lighter patients), community health, and psych.