Optometry and cervical/lumbar back problems

[ProZackMI]

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I was on the dental forum discussing depression and dentistry, but was commenting how several of my former patients, who were dentists being treated for depression/dysthymia, BPD, etc., (I'm a psychiatrist, not a "real" doctor, as my mother says), also suffered from a myriad of upper extremity and neck problems: cervicalgia, cervical radiculopathy, lumbar radiculopathy, degenerative disc disease, HNP, DJD of the AC joints, CTS, etc.

It made me wonder if you guys in optometry, being that you are frequently stooped over and in similar positions as dentists, develop similar problems with DDD, HNP, UE pain, DJD of the shoulders, etc.? If so, do you do PT, stretches, or just deal with it? Maybe some of you have undergone laminectomies/fusions or CT releases.

Just curious...

Zack

 

[still_confused]

usually we are eye level with the patient or at least sitting comfortably. i guess when having some fun with the oscope or bio we stoop sometimes and chasing kids with our rets is always a accident waiting to happen.

in our line of work the pain is reserved for the patients!!!

 

[jefguth]

Repetitive injuries tend to be quite common. Many of my professors have already advised us to ensure that we are maximally comfortable while examining patients.

Common injuries tend to involve lower back, hands/wrist, and some OD's I know have complained about hip problems from 25 years of squatting on a stool hunched over looking into a slit lamp.