Nursing and Chronic Back Pain?

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Nov 14, 2007

I'd be very, very cautious and consider it carefully. Many of us came in to nursing with backs in perfect working order, but now have train wrecks for backs- myself included. See article below.

"Construction workers, warehouse personnel, delivery goods drivers, nurses, shopkeepers and farm workers. If you had to choose, which of these occupations suffers the highest incidence of back injury? You might think that construction workers or delivery goods drivers might be the riskiest occupations for back injuries, because the work involves a lot of bending and lifting, but you'd be wrong! Many people are surprised to learn the nursing is the riskiest occupation for back injuries! In fact, nursing has the second highest incidence of all types of non-fatal work-related injuries in the U.S.A."

http://www.spineuniverse.com/displayarticle.php/article1509.html

swee2000 · Nov 14, 2007

Do you have restrictions as a result of your back injuries? Like how much lifting or bending you can do?

EmmaG, RN · Nov 14, 2007

I'd be very, very cautious and consider it carefully. Many of us came in to nursing with backs in perfect working order, but now have train wrecks for backs- myself included.

Same here. And it's cumulative. Rarely have I seen a nurse who could point to one particular incident and say 'that's why my back is screwed up'.

Also consider that while you might end up in a job that has little in the way of lifting, etc., you still have to make it through clinicals in school. And even in those jobs you mention, there is heavy equipment to maneuver, emergency situations and so on. (BTW, I wouldn't consider working peds easy on your back)

I'm not trying to be a wet blanket here, but I guess I am anyway. Please consider what you're getting into.

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Nov 14, 2007

Yes, my back is to the point where just washing dishes, vacuuming and grocery shopping are very painful, at times. I've had a number of cumulative back injuries.

swee2000 · Nov 14, 2007

Many of us came in to nursing with backs in perfect working order, but now have train wrecks for backs- myself included.

Same here!! I developed a back strain & sciatica earlier this year and was on medical leave for 2 weeks. I was able to return to work after those two weeks, but only in a "light-duty" capacity....for 6 weeks!!! I also had to get physical therapy, which didn't do much. It's been almost a year since all this and I'm still dealing with intermittant lower back pain, although not as bad.

With nursing, it's easy to get rushed and caught up in what you're doing that some of the common sense stuff about "safe lifting practices" goes by the wayside. For example, using proper body mechanics, bending at the knees, etc. You just want to get the work done and as quickly as possible. And you don't realize how much damage is being inflicted on your back until it's too late. Then, the aches and pains appear out-of-the-blue and gradually worsen &/or become a daily occurrance.

To the OP: As Emmanuel mentioned before, you have to get through nursing school and clinicals first. Unfortunatley, the clinical rotations(especially Med/Surg) can be grueling and exhausting...mentally, physically, and emotionally. And just because you're a student doesn't mean you'll always be given the "easier" patients. Then, once you're done with school and searching for the "ideal" job, you might discover some facilities require experience in Med/Surg or another specialty.

I don't mean to sound pessimisstic, as I know others have entered nursing school with health-related obstacles yet were able to get around them in order to finish the program and go on to successful nursing careers. I just want you to remember that IT MAY NOT BE EASY.

EmmaG, RN · Nov 14, 2007

Yes, my back is to the point where just washing dishes, vacuuming and grocery shopping are very painful, at times. I've had a number of cumulative back injuries.

I'm sitting here in pain right now... I had grand plans to clean the house and so on, but the pain is keeping me rather immobile today. I notice at work the most painful things are not lifting and bending (the motion sometimes actually makes it feel better), but standing or doing "light" work, like making a bed, doing a dressing change, taking a BP for goodness' sake. Sheesh.

davb · Nov 14, 2007

I am a first semester nursing student and have worked in construction (masonry) for 15 years. I had back pain a few years ago from working too hard and too much (7 days a week), I would lay on the floor to watch basketball games after work and I couldn't get up. I had to roll over and do a push up instead of using my abs to sit up because my back felt like it was going to break in two.

After talking to a few guys at work they suggested walking. I learned that just walking about two miles at least three times a week helped my back tremendously (and only working 5 days a week). Its hard the first few weeks, but after a while it really helps. I know nurses walk around the hospital alot, but I do at work in construction also. I think it helps to go for a walk while relaxing and not 'running' around at work. While your walking if you put your hand on your abdominal muscles or your lower back muscles, you can feel them flex and relax. It is a low impact back workout.

I just thought maybe it might help some of you. It has helped me.

Hopefully nursing isn't any harder on my back than laying concrete block and brick.

What am I getting myself into?

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Nov 14, 2007

I'm sitting here in pain right now... I had grand plans to clean the house and so on, but the pain is keeping me rather immobile today. I notice at work the most painful things are not lifting and bending (the motion sometimes actually makes it feel better), but standing or doing "light" work, like making a bed, doing a dressing change, taking a BP for goodness' sake. Sheesh.

Same here! I can still lift and bend over okay, it's the light things that get me- doing central line care just kills my back- puts me in agony- it's just that little bit of leaning over. I can't take it.

Same thing with washing dishes- just that tiny bit of leaning over the sink.

Also, it's almost impossible to use "correct body mechanics" in many nursing situations- especially when you have bad knees, as well as a bad back. Like me.

EmmaG, RN · Nov 14, 2007

Same here! I can still lift and bend over okay, it's the light things that get me- doing central line care just kills my back- puts me in agony- it's just that little bit of leaning over. I can't take it.
Same thing with washing dishes- just that tiny bit of leaning over the sink.
Also, it's almost impossible to use "correct body mechanics" in many nursing situations- especially when you have bad knees, as well as a bad back. Like me.

Mine will make the most interesting crunchy noises at times :lol2:

I agree, that slight bend is a killer. Even with the bed up, you can't avoid the leaning.

Valanda · Nov 14, 2007

Same here! I can still lift and bend over okay, it's the light things that get me- doing central line care just kills my back- puts me in agony- it's just that little bit of leaning over. I can't take it.
Same thing with washing dishes- just that tiny bit of leaning over the sink.
Also, it's almost impossible to use "correct body mechanics" in many nursing situations- especially when you have bad knees, as well as a bad back. Like me.

Just wanted to mention that I also have back injuries and have found that many tasks can be accomplished by spreading my feet apart instead of bending over. Especially washing dishes and dressing changes. I just place my feet about 2 feet or so apart and I'm "shorter". No bending required. It's helped me enormously when having to deal with babies in cribs, dressing changes, V/S, and dishwashing.

CaLLaCoDe, BSN, RN · Nov 15, 2007

Not to give anyone the wrong impression my being a nurse and all, however smoking has a benefit of relaxing the muscles somatically...but death from empazema/lung tumor/cancer/and the rest: a big risk and a very expensive habit to indulge in. Other benefits of smoking: decreases onset of parkinsons and dimentia. Increased mental accuity and as a stimulant, increased productiviy; however, taking a lot of breaks deters from the productivity. Yes, the risk of cancer to most outways its benefits. Now let's take a look at pharmaceutical medications that have risky outcomes from many years of usage by their patients; but wait, some have not yet been tested fully by the FDA, so we must be Ginny Pigs then?

Anyway, back to the topic at hand. Exercise! Walking works wonderfully on the back! And if you can stretch after exercise, especially the one with the hands bracing the lower back and arching, yes that works to alleviate lower back pain issues.