Bad back

Pathology is what comes to mind. Any other surgical speciality requires you to stand. General surgery, plastics, urology, cardio, neuro, ob/gyn.. I can't even think of a time I saw a surgeon sitting in the OR.

How bad is your back? Can you stand in place for several hours or are you worried about bending over?

 

Ophtho.

 

Without getting overly personal, is this a permanent problem or something rehab-able?

 

this. I spent some significant time shadowing an ophthalmologist I know and the only time I saw him stand was during his walks between the clinic and OR

 

All surgery is going to be robotic. Just wait about 50 years and you are good to go!

I'd say path is the only one you can do sitting. Maybe with a Heme-Path fellowship.

 

If by robotic surgery you mean sky-net taking over and chopping us up, then yes.

 

Hand surgery.

But you have to endure an ortho residency first, which requires some serious lifting.

 

I saw some serious sitting on neurosurg under the scopes. Usually always started with 2-3 hours of standing while they opened the hood, however.

 

Not having much experience, most of what I've saw of urologists using the da Vinci robotics system involved the surgeons sitting down. That may make urology a possibility.

 

rad onc? i think there's some sitting there

 

Along the lines of facetguy's post - whether it's a fixable problem or not - have you tried getting better shoes? I bought some nicer shoes and got some inserts and it has made some of the longer cardiothoracic surgeries (6-7 hour) I've watched more tolerable.

 

Oral surgery in private practice- the surgeon I nannied for did a ton of wisdom teeth removals and he did them all sitting. The training might be harder- he was at a Level 1 trauma center and did a lot of facial reconstruction procedures before going into private practice.

 

I used to be a cop. Somebody rear ended my patrol car at 80 MPH. I herniated two discs in my lower back. I feel your pain, literally

I'm willing to bet you can find a way to do any specialty you want to do. Sometimes it just takes being honest with your attendings/trainers, getting creative, and working hard.

Good luck. Feel free to PM if you want to know some things that I have done to get around my abilities.

 

Agree with bowtie. Optho is sitting surgery, but I know a lot of surgery people who don't get the same satisfaction out of it compared to, say, being in an abdomen.

 

ENT

Tubes, tonsils, direct laryngoscopy, ear surgery...all sitting down

 

strengthen your back w deadlifts

 

Question:

I've been warned a lot about having proper technique with deadlifts. Is that something I could legitimately learn off of a youtube video or is it absolutely necessary to be taught by a trainer?


~Kalyx

 

check out the book "Starting Strength" by Mark Rippetoe, for a comprehensive intro to deadlifting or check out his youtube vids.

 

Thanks! Will do.


~Kalyx