surgeons

[qwe7791]

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How is it that surgeons are able to withstand the force of gravity for hours and hours during their surgeries? I know they wear comfortable shoes and whatnot, but I was always curious. Do they have special techniques of standing, lean against the operating table, etc?..

 

[olecranon4]

How is it that surgeons are able to withstand the force of gravity for hours and hours during their surgeries? I know they wear comfortable shoes and whatnot, but I was always curious. Do they have special techniques of standing, lean against the operating table, etc?..

It's not easy, but if you consider superhuman strength standing up for hours, go spend a little time on youtube.

 

[LucidSplash]

Personally, I levitate.

 

[Ashley1989]

What about a pregnant surgeon? Like 9 months pregnant? They can't lean up against the table.. Haha

 

[Law2Doc]

How is it that surgeons are able to withstand the force of gravity for hours and hours during their surgeries? I know they wear comfortable shoes and whatnot, but I was always curious. Do they have special techniques of standing, lean against the operating table, etc?..

Lots of people stand up all day for their work. Soldiers wear heavy packs while marching. Movers carry heavy boxes and even pianos. Landscapers carry heavy bags of peat and manure on their shoulders and dig with shovels. Construction workers carry sheets of gypsum and drywall. Carpenters carry lumber. Carpet layers carry heavy rolls of carpet. This isn't super human, this is what the human body was designed to do. A better question would be asking what happened to the young generation that sits on their butts playing video games all day and marvels that people can actually maintain a job where they stand on their feet.

 

[qwe7791]

What about a pregnant surgeon? Like 9 months pregnant? They can't lean up against the table.. Haha

I'm sure there is only about 1% pregnant female surgeons at any given hospital and time... They probably take lucidsplash's advice of levitating..

 

[mimelim]

What about a pregnant surgeon? Like 9 months pregnant? They can't lean up against the table.. Haha

I was in the OR with a 40w pregnant resident. She delivered the next day. Some people are just tough 😛.

 

[gyngyn]

How is it that surgeons are able to withstand the force of gravity for hours and hours during their surgeries? I know they wear comfortable shoes and whatnot, but I was always curious. Do they have special techniques of standing, lean against the operating table, etc?..

You don't even feel it when you're the operating surgeon. At the end of even the longest case you suddenly realize that your bladder is bursting and your muscles ache!

For the most part there is no leaning on the table. The risk of compressing tissue of the anesthetized patient is too high.

 

[mohad]

umm wingardium leviosa...?

 

[punkedoutriffs]

You don't even feel it when you're the operating surgeon. At the end of even the longest case you suddenly realize that your bladder is bursting and your muscles ache!

For the most part there is no leaning on the table. The risk of compressing tissue of the anesthetized patient is too high.

Is that due to the inherently engaging nature of surgery itself or does that level of absorption vary with the surgeon? If it's the former, then damn, that's a job I'd like to have.

 

[gyngyn]

Is that due to the inherently engaging nature of surgery itself or does that level of absorption vary with the surgeon? If it's the former, then damn, that's a job I'd like to have.

I don't know a surgeon who hasn't felt the same way. I'm sure that part of it is self selection.

 

[Bangersandmash]

Have you ever had to do anything where you stand all day? Standing still for 8 hours doing something boring is a lot worse than standing for 8 hours while doing something extremely engaging. I even notice the difference between standing and walking after such a long period of time. When I used to shadow a doctor for the entire day, standing as he saw patients in his office for 8 hours took its toll on my feet. When I followed him in the hospital walking around the place, seeing different rooms and what not, it was a lot more bearable.

 

[mimelim]

Is that due to the inherently engaging nature of surgery itself or does that level of absorption vary with the surgeon? If it's the former, then damn, that's a job I'd like to have.

It is pretty universal.

 

[qwe7791]

Lots of people stand up all day for their work. Soldiers wear heavy packs while marching. Movers carry heavy boxes and even pianos. Landscapers carry heavy bags of peat and manure on their shoulders and dig with shovels. Construction workers carry sheets of gypsum and drywall. Carpenters carry lumber. Carpet layers carry heavy rolls of carpet. This isn't super human, this is what the human body was designed to do. A better question would be asking what happened to the young generation that sits on their butts playing video games all day and marvels that people can actually maintain a job where they stand on their feet.

I feel like a victim now...

 

[qwe7791]

You don't even feel it when you're the operating surgeon. At the end of even the longest case you suddenly realize that your bladder is bursting and your muscles ache!

For the most part there is no leaning on the table. The risk of compressing tissue of the anesthetized patient is too high.

What are some of the techniques you have utilized during surgery to sustain long hours? I understand that a proper mentality and an engaging surgery can help, but what about the physical aspects that prevents one from ignoring the weariness in the legs/feet? I'm just curious. How do you handle it?

 

[gyngyn]

What are some of the techniques you have utilized during surgery to sustain long hours? I understand that a proper mentality and an engaging surgery can help, but what about the physical aspects that prevents one from ignoring the weariness in the legs/feet? I'm just curious. How do you handle it?

The OR is a harsh mistress but her rewards are sweet: a sensation of living in the moment, the beauty of the dance (collaboration of skilled colleagues), the ritual, the good outcome...and of course, compression stockings!

 

[qwe7791]

The OR is a harsh mistress but her rewards are sweet: a sensation of living in the moment, the beauty of the dance (collaboration of skilled colleagues), the ritual, the good outcome...and of course, compression stockings!

What ritual..?

 

[punkedoutriffs]

What ritual..?

The one that demands SACRIFICE! (Hugo Weaving Voice)

 

[gyngyn]

What ritual..?

The years of preparation and practice, the pre anesthesia interaction with the patient, anesthesia, the residents and the students; scrubbing, gowning, gloving, the pre op checklist, the post op quiet, dictation, talking to the family... It's lovely.

 

[mmmcdowe]

Is that due to the inherently engaging nature of surgery itself or does that level of absorption vary with the surgeon? If it's the former, then damn, that's a job I'd like to have.

Yeah, I think if you enjoy surgery it is fairly easy to forget about the aches of standing for hours for the most part. Leaning against the table slightly is also helpful. I've personally found the hardest part for me when assisting in really long surgeries is the thirst.

 

[Negotiator]

Here is your long term solution to standing all day, which I have done for many years at a number of jobs:http://dansko.com/Home/

If this does not keep you 100% comfortable, I have no other answer. The first person I saw wearing a pair of these was this surgeon who I shadowed in high school, he, and so many others, swore by them.

 

[pfaction]

You are clearly unable to be a pharmacist.

 

[MaenadsDance]

Having worked any number of jobs that involve standing for eight+ hours straight (in retail and food service, heh) I can tell you that the first three weeks or so are agony and after that... you're just used to it. Your feet ache, but you just don't notice it much.

Also, going home and sticking your feet into a vat of hot-as-you-can-bear water feels pretty amazing.

 

[punkedoutriffs]

Having worked any number of jobs that involve standing for eight+ hours straight (in retail and food service, heh) I can tell you that the first three weeks or so are agony and after that... you're just used to it. Your feet ache, but you just don't notice it much.

Also, going home and sticking your feet into a vat of hot-as-you-can-bear water feels pretty amazing.

+1. Also, put some Epsom salts in the water.