Nurses suffer from pain too!

Nurses have the highest incidence of back pain every year,  40-50% of nurses have a back injury causing them time off from work. Nurses and back pain seem to be synonymous. Most nurses feel that it comes with the job. But does it really? Are we all doomed to have back pain and/ or injury just because we are nurses?

There are many things you can do to help your back. Use lift devices, gait belt, sliding boards, lift sheets, handbars and ask for help. Having an extra person to help makes a big difference. There are some hospitals now that have a lift team, but those are just a handful of hospitals. Make sure that you take care of your back so it will take care of you! Don't be another statistic!

http://nursing.advanceweb.com/editorial/content/editorial.aspx?cc=202549

Difference between acute and chronic pain

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Importance of understanding the difference between tolerance, dependence and addiction

  It is important to educate our clients on the difference between tolerance, dependence and addiction. Many people use these terms interchangeably. Many people are so afraid of becoming addicted that they suffer silently in pain. When treated appropriately, the goal of medication administration is to improve the quality of life of the individual. If the person is able to function; work, play, etc. then the medication is working. If the person is unable to function and are taking lots of medications then there is addiction. In all cases, there is treatment. Allow your clients to share their feelings about addiction, explain the difference and respect their choices. With dependence there may be withdrawals when the medication is stopped. To avoid this from happening the physician would recommend tapering the dosage down slowly. Dependence occurs with anything we put in our bodies on a regular basis. Remember the headache you get when you forget to drink coffee? That is your body withdrawn from the caffeine!

Fear of addiction

Pain is subjective

http://screencast.com/t/JbTIjW7E

I narrated this video. The video explains the difference between acute and chronic pain.

Back surgery, a good idea?

Opinions with regard to treatment vary depending on who you speak to so it can be very confusing. There is a lot of research on the treatments available for pain and one commonality is this. Surgical treatment should be the last option. Physical therapy is the first line of defense. Chiropractic therapy and acupuncture has been found helpful. Most doctors agree that pain should not be the only consideration for pain surgery and surgery should only be done if there is evidence of nerve damage; such as, weakness on a limb/extremity, lack of function to the limb/extremity, numbness on legs or arms. It is important to understand that a person may always have some pain even after surgical repair.

Read what the experts at the Mayo Clinic are saying about back surgery: Back surgery, when is it a good idea?
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/back-surgery/HQ00305

Lumbar Laminectomy surgery for treatment of back pain