Low Back Strain w/ Scope Work

[Napoleon1801]

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Anyone else having this problem? My lumbar muscles ache like crazy after an 11 hour day at the scope. It resolves after a day of rest, but I'm mildly worried that this might turn into a chronic thing if injured enough times. Any suggestions or solutions to prevent long term strain and irritation? One of the attendings at my university claimed that there was a high incidence of chronic back pain due to scope related work.

 

[KeratinPearls]

Anyone else having this problem? My lumbar muscles ache like crazy after an 11 hour day at the scope. It resolves after a day of rest, but I'm mildly worried that this might turn into a chronic thing if injured enough times. Any suggestions or solutions to prevent long term strain and irritation? One of the attendings at my university claimed that there was a high incidence of chronic back pain due to scope related work.

Adjust your chair so that you are sitting with your back straight (set the chair low).

 

[djmd]

Adjust your chair so that you are sitting with your back straight (set the chair low).

Or raise your scope (if possible) residency programs seem to have old copies of Robbins floating around for just such a purpose...

It is important to maintain good ergonomics...

 

[horrendoma]

Get your director to spring for one of these babies. http://www.hermanmiller.com/CDA/SSA/Product/0,,a10-c440-p8,00.html

Of course, thats just dreaming. 🙂🙂
Realistically, what I do (I'm q tall for asian standards, and my office is built for the asian physique) is i use a lower back foam support that i can tie to the chair back,AND stack two really old pathology texts under my microscope(Walter and Israel, Underwood)
Seriously, does anyone read Walter and Israel? With Robbins around, why do the rest of the competition even bother?

 

[Mindy]

I used one of those "ergonomic" kneeling chairs. It forces you to sit upright.

Mindy

 

[listeriaismfb]

Sit up straight.

Put a book under your scope.

Don't sit at the scope for 11 hours a day! But, if you must you should take some breaks (not just the obligatory prison-style 2 minute piss breaks) and stretch.

 

[Napoleon1801]

So I sat a scope today that had vertical moving oculars. I love it. My lumbar spine didn't feel like collapsing on itself for once. Grandmother was right about "sitting up straight"....

 

[Psychopathology]

I used one of those "ergonomic" kneeling chairs. It forces you to sit upright.

Mindy

Thanks Mindy! I just image searched "kneeling chairs" and that looks just like the sort of chair that will allow my back to survive residency.

 

[Margie41413]

Hey--So I am not a pathologist YET...lol...but I graduated as a cytotechnologist which entailed a 12 month period of screening 8+ hours a day, and I am a med student now and I plan to become a pathologist one day....

Here is my back problem solution.

1. Make sure you have a chair that properly fits your body.

I am a 6'1 slender body female and the hospital I did my practicum at gave me an enormous chair that didn't fit me at all. It resulted in a lot of back pain and I had to go to the massage therapist and chiropractor numerous times to fix it.

2. Always sit up straight. DO NOT slunch over or you will be feeling it later...I promise 🙂.

3. Get up regularly to walk around.
Stretching really helps.

4. Drink plenty of water. I couldn't tell you why but this ALWAYS helped me. I do have a lot of kidney problems though so my back pain could have partially been to kidney issues, but it is still good for you anyways! 🙂

The chair is the main thing though. Getting a different chair made a WORLD of difference and saved me a lot of money since I didn't have to get my back fixed anymore.

P.S. What do you think of a cytotech going into pathology? We do have the entire GYN thing down, plus all the cytology of non-gyn. Also at my practicum the docs were very supportive since they knew I was going to med school, so I got to go on lots of frozens and assist in a bunch of autopsies. I hope it gives me one up, but who knows in the field of medicine. It is always surprising me....🙂