Be careful with your backs!!!

Re: Be careful with your backs!!!

fiona eldridge — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 20:52:14 GMT

I can't believe you've been suffering so long.....2 months was enough for me! If they recommend the surgery then go for it..... if it's not resolved with treatment so far...... Mine was a sudden and very huge hernia which had to be sorted quickly.... my boss also had the same op 2 yrs ago but not in such a rush....she was the one that advised me to just do it! Thanks to time off and steroid injections I've too put weight on.... which I now have to try and work off! I've had three 1/2 days back at work and I'm knackered.....had NO energy to walk from my car to the clinic today.... makes you realise what a big deal surgery is. I wanted to cry halfway up the steps when I couldn't lift my bloomin legs up! No idea how I'm gonna do a whole weeks work next week!

Re: Be careful with your backs!!!

Angiy Michael — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 20:26:22 GMT

I slipped a disc in 1997 and have had bad back issues since but didn't get very far getting anyone to take it seriously NHS wise. In 2007 I started to get leg "cramp" which got worse and worse until I eventually ended up with skin tone numbness from toes to knee up one side of my right leg and constant pain which prevented me from walking. !8 months on have put on 10kgs in weight form regular periods of rest and sickness and am, no under treatment with a neurosurgeon and poss going to have spinal surgery. I wish I hadknown the consequences of a slipped disc if you don't look after your back in the years afterwards so I def agree..don't lift beyind your ability and use lifting aids, trolleys, electric tables, stretchers etc., whenever you can

Re: Be careful with your backs!!!

Sal the 1st — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 20:05:58 GMT

tried yoga - have to say it was agony, swimming I found was quite good - 1/2 hour in a float tank was better

Re: Be careful with your backs!!!

fiona eldridge — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 19:34:52 GMT

I've been advised to do pilates...... to strengthen up! Make sure you tell the instructor of any problems tho and they make sure that the exercises they give can be designed for you! Luckily I have a nice pilates instructor....a client of the clinic! See.....clients come in useful sometimes!!!

Re: Be careful with your backs!!!

Mac Feather — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 18:55:19 GMT

does any of you do any yoga/exercise for your backs?

Re: Be careful with your backs!!!

Mac Feather — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 18:52:41 GMT

twas a visit to the osteopath for me today. my hamstrings were knotted up too.

Re: Be careful with your backs!!!

Katy — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 09:15:59 GMT

Ooh that's great!

You sound like a handy person to know! Could you sort out my flicky eye too?!

Re: Be careful with your backs!!!

Sal the 1st — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 22:22:08 GMT

yes agree to acupuncture for backs - Is something I am trained in , but cant do it to myself unfortunately (well not in that area anyway would be a physical impossibility!) Acupressure sometimes helps a bit - not as good as needling but at least I can sort of do that!

Re: Be careful with your backs!!!

Katy — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 22:12:18 GMT

The one thing that really does work (apart from daily stretches which I don't do - bad girl) if after i've been to the physio, he does some acupuncture...

It makes the pain go after 2 days instead of a week!

It's agony when my back goes into spasm.[:'(]

Re: Be careful with your backs!!!

Sal the 1st — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 22:07:30 GMT

my osteopath told me to wear mine for a whole week post injury anytime I wasnt lying down on the floor or the bed, my GP thought it ridiculous but when I saw the consultant 2 days down the line he thought it was fantastic. There seems to be so many conflicting ideas on treating back injuries? - but I would advise anybody using a support to get it checked by an osteopath or a doctor and make sure it is actually appropriate fo your injury - if not you could make it worse.

one of the easiest things I have found helps for my back is to raise the head end of the bed

Re: Be careful with your backs!!!

fiona eldridge — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 21:56:37 GMT

Yeah they had loads on ebay at good prices....back at work on Thurs so will keep you posted on how it works.....just have to remember to take it and wear it!

Re: Be careful with your backs!!!

Sal the 1st — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 21:54:29 GMT

yes i got a really good one from 'osteopathy first' on ebay (saw an osteopath first and they told me what I needed and checked it before I used it so could be returned if wasnt right) bit cheeky but cost me £30 less than if I had bought it from the osteopath and I figured had already paid them quite a bit already

Re: Be careful with your backs!!!

Saskia Quinn — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 21:49:26 GMT

Hi Fiona,

Yes, please do, I would like to know more as I may invest in one! Anything similar for neck and back pain??

Re: Be careful with your backs!!!

fiona eldridge — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 21:40:37 GMT

I can't believe how many of us have back probs! Vet nursing must be an awful profession for care of backs! I have bought a back support belt that comes right down my bum off ebay.... for when I lift ANYTHING! Whether it be a chihuahua or bigger (not that I'll be lifting much more!) so I'll let you all know how that works out...should support a bit, and it wasn't expensive.....maybe an idea for all you fellow cripples!

Re: Be careful with your backs!!!

S-J — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 21:32:10 GMT

it doesn't help that we are all so impatient that we will put an animal back ourselves rather than wait for someone to be free

Re: Be careful with your backs!!!

Faye Sewell — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 20:13:08 GMT

Mine is already buggerd too!, a mixture of years of horse riding (gave it up 8yrs ago after knee surgery(tplo equivalent) -Luxating patella!) and nursing, already have OCD and Spondylosis.

I find heat is the best therapy, hence why every night I have to use my electric blanket when I get into bed!.

But please all new nurses take care of your backs, you only get one!!

Re: Be careful with your backs!!!

Katy — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 20:01:08 GMT

Ah my back is screwed already after I was thrown off a pony about 3 years ago...

It's my sacroiliac joint that is the problem with me. If i'm having a twingy day I refuse to lift anything at work!

It is very sore when it pings, but i've got some diclofenac in stock just in case!

Re: Be careful with your backs!!!

fiona eldridge — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 10:01:35 GMT

Oh my god....be careful all of you!!!! I was always that one that was sensible but if there was noone around to help would struggle to lift heavy dogs onto tables or into the bath... how stupid do I feel now! So that's it.......never ever lifting dogs more than 15kg....get your practices to get one of those pump up trolley things....we have one now in the clinic...works a treat! Luckily for me I live in Spain and I pay for medical insurance (it's a lot cheaper here than England) but if you're relying on the NHS I dread to think how long you would have to wait for surgery........ so don't risk it.....surgery isn't fun!!! And now my back is pretty much b*ggered forever, and it's all my own fault! And now I have to spend more time on reception!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can life get any worse????! :-)

Re: Be careful with your backs!!!

Fiona Leathers — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 09:15:39 GMT

I sat & folded 260 BVNA invites last night & that certainly played havoc on my back!! It's a bit twingy this morning!!

Re: Be careful with your backs!!!

Caro Laithwaite VN — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:02:44 GMT

I am very militant now. I insist that if it is a big dog l won't carry it l will get it onto the table and push it. I keep saying that it is my back and l do not want to risk it. The amount of people who after moaning then get back with huge patient on table saying wow wasn't that easy such a difference.

Re: Be careful with your backs!!!

Christine Chapman — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:00:41 GMT

Sitting at computers gives me lots of neck and back pain! I've been trying to stand up and do stretches every now and then. Sometimes I wish we had hoists to lift these very heavy dogs. Lifting them back down of the table when they are still anaesthetised doesnt help either.

Re: Be careful with your backs!!!

Saskia Quinn — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 22:27:18 GMT

I suffered a lot of back pain over the weekend from my neck right down and spent most of Saturday in bed which probably wasnt the best thing to do. My problems I think are caused by stress (carry it all on my shoulders) and bad posture, as well as lifting heavy dogs etc.

Re: Be careful with your backs!!!

Mac Feather — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 22:22:01 GMT

we all take our backs forgranted thats for sure. mine is creaking away lately. im sure partly due to walking funny on ice. not fun.

Re: Be careful with your backs!!!

fiona eldridge — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 20:39:45 GMT

I understand your soreness! It's agony! They took out my disc in the end and put in a prosthesis so I'll have no more probs with that one, just got to keep an eye on the one below. You don't realise how much you use your back until you're in pain with it!! You should ask about surgery, and see if you are a candidate..... even as I woke up after the GA the dr was checking me and the pain caused by the hernia was gone.....just the surgery pain!!!!! But hey it's worth it for the i/v drugs!!! Why does everyone not have i/v valium?? That stuff rocks!!!! ha ha. Anyway good luck with your back. I was the 3rd person in our clinic to have back surgery!!! The curse of the clinic as it's now called!!!!!

Re: Be careful with your backs!!!

Sal the 1st — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 20:33:10 GMT

ouch ! can sympathise - after 20 years of telling others to take the weight through their knees and not their backs (and if you cant lift it this way it is too bloody heavy - get help) I had to wrestle an almost 40kg dog out of the back of a car while the owner supposedly helped. They didnt. I have had a problem in the same place for nearly 5 years now L4/L5 disc protrusion with damage to the facet joints. Not had surgery as yet but can tell you it gets bloody sore.

Everybody heed the warning! - and if you do sustain an injury write it in the bloody accident book. If it isnt in the book you have little come back