Pharmacy hard on back, jobs with no standing?

[Uwrf]

Hey there. So I have been a certified technician for over a year now, and am in the process of doing my personal statement and pcat preparation. Over the course of time as a technician, my back been quite bothersome. I come from a family with back problems, but have really never had any issues until working in a pharmacy.

I have developed very stubborn knots on both sides of my back, and eventually, what feels like minor disc herniation irritating the sciatic nerve in my right leg. Now, I love my job as a technician and am very excited about applying to different programs. Also, I KNOW I will love pharmacy school. However, I do not want my problems to progress and have had to significantly lower my workout intensity (lost a decent amount of shape).

My main question is what jobs in pharmacy are there that require little to no standing? For PharmD graduates, I know about consulting, but those jobs seem like they're hard to get.

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[Travex]

No standing at all or not standing the entire day? Retail is probably the only job where you are standing all day, most other jobs you might walk around a fair amount but most of the time you would be at a desk.

 

[Guitarmacy]

Get a massage and see a chiropractor regularly. That's what I do at least. Not cheap but it's worth it.

 

[romylove]

Mail order. I sit at my desk unless I get up to ask for clarification on a rx.

 

[troponin2012]

I hate to break it to you, but sitting will only make your back problems worse! I would trade you in a heart beat as I hate the shifts where I'm sitting and entering orders at my hospital pharmacy. In fact the desk I'm typing this at home is raised so I can stand instead of sit at it.

Our muscles, tendons & ligaments weren't designed with the idea of us sitting all day! There's a saying that reads "sitting is a slow death!" Sitting weakens your glutes because they're inactivated & shortens your hip flexors. When this happens, your lower back (not really designed for activity but more for supporting your trunk) is increasingly used because of your lack of hip mobility. Eventually you start to feel lower back pain. You're run to the chiropractor for adjustments that don't last long enought, etc etc etc.

Now, I obviously don't have your medical history, but some questions I'd have are:

A) Have ever had any major trauma thats causing your back pain?
B)Whats your posture like?
C) Do you workout? Do you workout with correct form?
D) Whats you're flexibility & mobility like? Can you squat ass to heals without your heals coming off the ground or falling off balance? If you can't your hips are too tight!

Assuming, you don't have any issues that preclude you initiating a workout program, I'd recommend starting one (as long as your doctor agrees for obvious issues). Secondly, I'd work on your flexibility. Go to MobilityWOD dot com, click on episodes, navigate to the last page & start with the first MobilityWOD. Thank me later when your body starts to feel great!

 

[revoltingtomato]

I hear ya, OP. I, too, were having back problems as well as foot-related swelling symptoms during my time at the pharmacy. I think it's about time pharmacies formed union of their own to cope with the work-related stress and physical demands. I hear the hospital setting is less stressful than the retail setting, but they pay you less because of the saturation.