Oh My Aching Back

[Jazzy]

I threw my back out last night lifting a stretcher into the back of the ambulance. It didn't help that the guy on the stretcher weighed over 400 lbs. We are supposed to lift on the count of three but the other paramedic lifted right away. It threw my balance off and twisted my back. I had to get a shot of anesthesia in my back last night when we got back to the ER. I don't know what hurt worse my back or the shot.

I have to wear a back brace and they gave me medication for the pain. It's like on false move and I feel like I'll hit the floor and not be able to get back up.

Have you ever hurt your back?

 

[N!ck]

Once before my back became stiff and if I tried to bend forward, it would hurt ):

It caused me to have to lay down for most of the day, watching TV and playing games, because I couldn't really do anything else.

 

[Raven]

Ouch. I hurt my back badly last year. I was carrying my bass on my back, when on of the straps slipped. I had to twist very sharply in order to catch the bass guitar before it slammed on the ground and broke.

 

[Jazzy]

It's so annoying when your back hurts. I can sit up without pain but the minute I try to lay down, it kills

Last night after shift I wound up sleeping in my recliner. It was funny because when I woke up, I couldn't figure out where I was for a few minutes

Never really noticed before how almost everything you need to do requires some kind of bending. I don't know how people with cronic back pain can function.

 

[Raven]

Yea I know its horrible, Just rest it up and in a few days it will be better.



Also have you tried putting those heat packs on it? Sometimes that sooths the pain.

 

[Jazzy]

Yea I know its horrible, Just rest it up and in a few days it will be better.



Also have you tried putting those heat packs on it? Sometimes that sooths the pain.

Thank you SAMCRO. I have the heating pad on it right now and it does feel better. Unfortunately, we are short of staff and I'm the crew leader for my ambulance team. This means I have to go to work but just to supervise the crew. I will ride along and give instruction but am not able to help out.

 

[Evil Eye]

You don't even get the night off with your back like that?

 

[Jazzy]

You don't even get the night off with your back like that?

No because we are so short staffed right now. We've had lay offs and plus paramedics are on vacation. It's becoming a pain in my arse

 

[beowulf]

i can sympathise



i have suffered with back pain..............about 8 years a go i had a ruptured disc (imagine a disc like a donut......the jam squirts out the hole.........well thats what my disc was like but it wasnt jam!

....the 'jam' gets nipped between discs)..........had every thing from physio to acupunture...........ended up with an mri and key hole surgery.....trimmed the offending bit off..........took me about 12 weeks to get over it.....i still have to be careful as it can tweek a bit and my back isnt as strong as it used to be but it is nothing compared to the pain i had before the op.........it hasnt stopped me from doing stuff.........done everything from major construction work and landscaping to moving house 3 times in 5 years



ive also suffered sciatica in the right lower back/leg...........that wasnt nice.......took physio to sort it



best advice i can give in the short term is this...........



GO TO YOUR DOCTOR!................cant stress this enough.......it might be worse than you think and it dosnt hurt to get it checked out



take pain killers and anti ifflamatories.....they will help...dont be a martyr to it!



heat packs are good

when you sleep try and do it in a foetal postion...........the knees drawn up lessens the pressure on the lower back....you might find you end up doing this anyway as the body finds its most comfortable position



check out Alexander Techniques...........one i found to be superb for pain releif was to lie on the floor........lower legs on a chair.........so hips to upper legs is 90 degrees.......upper legs to lower legs is 90 degrees..........and just lie there for 10 to 15 minutes!...........this might sound simple but it again relieves pressure on the lower back........i still do this one now...tend to end up watching tv upside down

..............or fall asleep!



i know your are a paramedic and can tell me to suck eggs but those who should know are normally those that dont take thier own advice

please take care

 

[Jazzy]

What a wonderful post and I thank you for it beowulf. This is the second time this has happened to me and it was the same paramedic that did it

First time I let it slide but this time I had to write an employee accident report.



I feel badly for anyone who suffers from cronic back pain. I also felt bad reading about your ruptured disc. There is nothing (IMO) worse than having back pain. As I stated in an earlier post, I never really thought about how many times I have to bend in a day.

I am taking my medication and have been using the hot packs. The worst is at night when I try to sleep but you are right and I found the fetal position relieves the pressure on my back.



You offered wonderful advice and I again thank you for your post

 

[beowulf]

no problem

now the next bit...........

since i have health and safety qualifications and from what you have said your coworker needs risk assessing cos he obviously isnt following procedure.........he needs retraining so he does it right.....lifting on a count is basic manual handling operation technique........and since you cant do real work at the mo, he might do it to whoever hes partnering in the mean time as well..........he has a bad habit in his lifting technique that puts others at risk



and you need manual handling training too..........wheather you like it or not you now have a history of back injuries,...........you need training (or a refresher if you have had it) to minimise the risk of you doing it again..........but get well first!



*takes off Safety Rep's hard hat and hi vis vest*

 

[Flurry]

[quote name='Evil Eye']You don't even get the night off with your back like that?

No because we are so short staffed right now. We've had lay offs and plus paramedics are on vacation. It's becoming a pain in my arse

[/quote]



Now that seriously sucks.

 

[Kasynlie]

The irony of the situation is quite funny.



Hope you're feeling okay though.

 

[Jazzy]

no problem

now the next bit...........

since i have health and safety qualifications and from what you have said your coworker needs risk assessing cos he obviously isnt following procedure.........he needs retraining so he does it right.....lifting on a count is basic manual handling operation technique........and since you cant do real work at the mo, he might do it to whoever hes partnering in the mean time as well..........he has a bad habit in his lifting technique that puts others at risk



and you need manual handling training too..........wheather you like it or not you now have a history of back injuries,...........you need training (or a refresher if you have had it) to minimise the risk of you doing it again..........but get well first!



*takes off Safety Rep's hard hat and hi vis vest*

He's suspended without pay until he takes and passes the safety and lifting course we have. In October we all have to go back for our refresher courses.



Thank you for thinking of me and I am getting better. I'm going to physical therapy now and they give me electro shocks in my back. I will have to go twice a week for two weeks before I can get clearance to return to full duty.

Not so bad right now as I'm getting paid to sit on my arse and tell others what to do

Thank you again

 

[Evil Eye]

Well, get well soon, Jazzy

 

[Jazzy]

Thank you EE!

 

[Flurry]

[quote name='beowulf']no problem

now the next bit...........

since i have health and safety qualifications and from what you have said your coworker needs risk assessing cos he obviously isnt following procedure.........he needs retraining so he does it right.....lifting on a count is basic manual handling operation technique........and since you cant do real work at the mo, he might do it to whoever hes partnering in the mean time as well..........he has a bad habit in his lifting technique that puts others at risk



and you need manual handling training too..........wheather you like it or not you now have a history of back injuries,...........you need training (or a refresher if you have had it) to minimise the risk of you doing it again..........but get well first!



*takes off Safety Rep's hard hat and hi vis vest*

.

Not so bad right now as I'm getting paid to sit on my arse and tell others what to do

Thank you again

[/quote]



That's the kinda job I want!

 

[Jazzy]

^ Yeah but you fall over in the chair

 

[Evil Eye]

That's even better, that way you'll get a bigger chair so you can't fall out

 

[Flurry]

^ Yeah but you fall over in the chair

Lmao! Hey now! That was a one time rare occurrence!