Back pain affecting surgeons?

[osli]

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OK, an obvious question, but as I don't have search function available, yet ( 🙂 ), and didn't see this on the first several pages of threads I thought I'd ask.

I'm fairly tall (6'3" or so) and tend to get a burning pain between shoulder blades when I do what I have come to realized is "domestic labor." Things like ironing, folding clothes, washing dishes are good examples. I'm a guy, but hey... I've lived on my own before too.

Anyway, the pain goes away quickly with a good straightening and stretching (like, ten seconds worth at most) but comes back pretty quickly when I'm stooped over again. It isn't so bad that I can't work through it, but if I didn't stretch every ten or twenty minutes or so I think it might get to be pretty annoying.

So, questions... Is this common for a lot of people? If so (or if not), is this indicative of some back problem that might get worse with time? Do most surgerys provide opportunities to do something as simple as stretching your back every now and then? Are operating tables adjustable enough to make this "stooped over" problem not so much of a problem (it has never bothered me while sitting, never had a problem in anatomy labs... only when standing and doing stuff that makes me have to bend over a little for extended periods)?

I've always been fairly active, enjoy a lot of sports, still play golf every time I get a chance, love doing things with my hands, and came from an engineering background where spending 24 hours straight machining a part, welding, or otherwise building something was not uncommon. And this back pain only rears its head when ironing and washing dishes! lol.

 

[goldie]

During my third year, I used to get back spasms after standing for 5 hours during a procedure (a bit embarrassing). However, I learned how to get through it -- exercise! Doing some cardio and back-strengthening exercises on a regular basis basically ended this problem. So that's the course I'd take.

OK, an obvious question, but as I don't have search function available, yet ( 🙂 ), and didn't see this on the first several pages of threads I thought I'd ask.

I'm fairly tall (6'3" or so) and tend to get a burning pain between shoulder blades when I do what I have come to realized is "domestic labor." Things like ironing, folding clothes, washing dishes are good examples. I'm a guy, but hey... I've lived on my own before too.

Anyway, the pain goes away quickly with a good straightening and stretching (like, ten seconds worth at most) but comes back pretty quickly when I'm stooped over again. It isn't so bad that I can't work through it, but if I didn't stretch every ten or twenty minutes or so I think it might get to be pretty annoying.

So, questions... Is this common for a lot of people? If so (or if not), is this indicative of some back problem that might get worse with time? Do most surgerys provide opportunities to do something as simple as stretching your back every now and then? Are operating tables adjustable enough to make this "stooped over" problem not so much of a problem (it has never bothered me while sitting, never had a problem in anatomy labs... only when standing and doing stuff that makes me have to bend over a little for extended periods)?

I've always been fairly active, enjoy a lot of sports, still play golf every time I get a chance, love doing things with my hands, and came from an engineering background where spending 24 hours straight machining a part, welding, or otherwise building something was not uncommon. And this back pain only rears its head when ironing and washing dishes! lol.

 

[robotsonic]

During an operation the table is usually adjusted for the tallest person and the others use step stools... unless the attending is a schmuck. Most of the time the attending will stop a resident who is hunched over and get the anesthesiologist to raise the table.

And you can always take a short break to stretch.

 

[Casey James]

Three words. Posture, posture and posture. Pay attention to it. Also, some regular stretching excersizes aren't a bad idea if you want to avoid back problems later in life, regardless of what you do for a living.


-casey

 

[osli]

Some good advice and info... thanks! I do tend to neglect my back while in the gym; maybe I should pay a little more attention to that.

And posture has always been something I haven't had naturally and had to work on, so I'll try to keep that in mind when I get to that point (a ways off still). Good to know that they tend to adjust the table for the tallest person - seems that they are aware of the problems hunching/stooping causes and try to stay on top of that. Sounds like it shouldn't be any kind of insurmountable problem.

Thanks again!

 

[njbmd]

Hi there,
In general, if you have strong abs, you will not have back problems. Work those abs during your work-out. I work abs everyday and keep my back stretched out. Keep your weight down; wear good footwear and sleeping on a good mattress helps too.

njbmd 🙂

P.S. If the mattress in the call room is deficient, I get a couple of blankets, some "french fry lights" and sleep on the floor. It's not worth ruining my back to lie on a lumpy bed for a couple of minutes. 😴

 

[Plastikos]

I second that, strong abs are the key to a fit back, focus on that.

 

[Joel Fleischman]

I've had the same prob...
Abs, posture -- think about putting your'e shoulder blades together, keep weight down.
Dansko clogs... I used to hate them. I dont think they help as much durring the day but when I get home there is a noticable diff.

If my back acts up in surgery, I tighten my abs. Not 100% sure why this helps, but it seems to.

 

[saki0005]

Do Yoga.

Get some crocs (www.crocs.com).

The table is adjustable. You can also ask for a stool chair to be placed behind you so if there is a lull you can sit for a sec (usually only happens in hearts like when waiting for vein harvest or giving time to come off pump)

good luck

 

[oldman]

docs who operate tend to end up with cervical spine problems if they aren't careful. during your residency you may not have as much control, but will have more as a staff.