Working as a Nurse for more than a decade I sadly have to say back strain has affected me. When I first practiced nursing, I would often hear my elder and experienced colleagues emphasized the importance of protecting one’s back especially in nursing. I have heard of stories where colleagues tore their backs when attempting to stop a fall from fragile patients or having to reposition heavier ones. I can recall as a new nurse more than a decade ago listening to these stories and input, that back strain would not affect me. I would think to myself; I’m young and strong and will ensure that I implement best practices to protect myself and my patients.
Fast forward stepping foot on the floor and caring for patients of all ages and backgrounds with all types of illnesses and co-morbidities along with the increased rates of obesity in the patient population; it all somehow worked against what I envisioned. On top of the heavy work load in a stressful environment, staffing was also a concern as we would often have to take on an increased workload consistently. I attempted to incorporate ergonomically sound practices to save my back from straining and inflaming it- something many nurses went thru and its impacts have led to early retirement or permanent damage. In a fast paced, high stress environment, with inadequate staffing, sadly I suffered much damage, strain, and inflammation to my back. The activities working as a nurse that led to my back strain, damage, and inflammation included:
1. Lifting and Transferring Patients: Nurses often need to lift, transfer, and reposition patients who may be heavy or unable to assist. This can lead to back strain, especially if proper lifting techniques are not used.
2. Awkward Postures: Nurses frequently find themselves in awkward positions when they’re attending to patients, such as bending over beds, stooping, or twisting their bodies. These positions can strain the back muscles over time.
3. Prolonged Standing and Walking: Nurses spend long hours on their feet, whether at the bedside, in the operating room, or in the clinic. Prolonged standing and walking on hard surfaces can lead to muscle fatigue and discomfort.
4. Repetitive Movements: Repetitive tasks, such as charting, administering medication, or handling medical equipment, can contribute to back strain, particularly if these tasks are performed with poor posture.
5. Manual Handling of Equipment: Nurses also handle heavy medical equipment, like oxygen tanks or IV pumps. Carrying, pushing, or pulling this equipment can strain the back if not done correctly.
6. Patient Falls and Emergencies: Responding to patient falls or emergencies often requires quick and forceful movements, which can lead to sudden, unexpected strain on the back.
7. Understaffing and Time Pressure: The demands of nursing can sometimes lead to situations where nurses are short-staffed and under time pressure. In such situations, nurses might rush or exert themselves more, increasing the risk of back strain.
8. Heavy Workloads: High patient-to-nurse ratios can result in a higher workload, including the need for frequent patient care and physical tasks. This can contribute to chronic back strain over time.
9. Personal Factors: Personal factors, such as age, overall health, and physical fitness, can also influence susceptibility to back strain. Older nurses or those with existing back issues may be at a higher risk.
10. Lack of Ergonomic Support: Inadequate ergonomic design in healthcare facilities, such as uncomfortable chairs, improper workstations, and a lack of assistive devices for patient handling, can exacerbate the risk of back strain.
11. Stress and Fatigue: Stress and fatigue can lead to muscle tension and reduce a nurse’s ability to use proper lifting and movement techniques, making them more susceptible to back strain.
The next part of the article I will address and share my experiences with wild natural mushrooms. To my wife’s credit, she has a deep passion for mushroom hunting and have extensive knowledge with mushrooms. She would go out foraging for the mushrooms to help her decrease stress and find a healthy outlet in this fast-paced environment we call life. I would often consume the mushrooms to please her but I would often think to myself the quantities harvested aren’t enough and why not just go buy some at the store? My wife would find all types of healthy edible mushrooms- not the psychedelics yet. She would bring it home, spend time to carefully remove the dirt and yes, sometimes the natural worms that feed on the mushrooms. She would prep and cook the mushrooms, sometimes stirred fried, sometimes following a recipe as recommended from the internet.
I continued to consume mushrooms and I had heard of the health effects of mushrooms for our gut microbiome- little did I know that I also reaped benefits of anti- inflammation and it greatly diminished my back pain from chronic inflammation and strain working as a nurse. Mushrooms does wonders from decreasing pro-inflammatory cytokines, to feeding the gut microbiome and I am greatly appreciative of my wife’s hobby from which I have greatly benefitted. My back strain has subsided greatly from eating mushrooms and below are additional benefits from this great fungus!
Mushrooms, particularly certain species like Reishi, Shiitake, Maitake, and Turkey tail, have been studied for their potential anti-inflammatory effects. Here’s a more in-depth look at how these fungi can help reduce inflammation:
1. Beta-Glucans: Mushrooms are rich in beta-glucans, a type of complex carbohydrate. Beta-glucans have been shown to modulate the immune system and reduce inflammation. They interact with immune cells, such as macrophages, to help regulate the body’s inflammatory response.
2. Antioxidants: Mushrooms are a good source of various antioxidants, including selenium, vitamin C, and other compounds. These antioxidants help combat oxidative stress, a major contributor to inflammation. By reducing oxidative stress, mushrooms can help mitigate the inflammatory response.
3. Immunomodulation: Certain mushroom species, like Reishi, have been found to have immunomodulatory effects. They can help balance the immune system, preventing it from overreacting and causing excessive inflammation.
4. Anti-Inflammatory Compounds: Mushrooms contain specific compounds that have anti-inflammatory properties. For example, ergosterol peroxide found in Shiitake mushrooms has demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the production of inflammatory cytokines.
5. Gut Health: There is a growing body of research that suggests the gut microbiome plays a crucial role in inflammation. Some mushrooms may promote gut health and a balanced microbiome, indirectly helping to reduce inflammation.
6. Anti-Inflammatory Pathways: The bioactive compounds in mushrooms can interact with various molecular pathways involved in inflammation. For instance, they may inhibit the NF-κB pathway, which plays a central role in regulating inflammatory responses.
7. Chronic Inflammatory Diseases: Research has shown that regular consumption of certain mushroom species can be beneficial for individuals with chronic inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and asthma. They may help alleviate symptoms and reduce the need for anti-inflammatory medications.
Mushrooms have been an invaluable component to me. I have also incorporated a balanced diet, regular exercise, and healthy lifestyle factors to help me manage inflammation and pain/ back strains. This holistic approach has led to results that have greatly made my life better and allowed my brain and body to shift its focus to many other important things, not just tied down by chronic pain and inflammation. I hope this holistic practice and consuming the blessings of nature will make its way back into society where food gets picked and consumed right away as opposed to packaged produced or produced picked early and shipped or even worse the over consumption of processed food and sugar. A hobby and a loving wife who enjoys feeding her husband led to many unintended positive results. Please continue to review the health benefits of mushrooms, especially wild harvested ones and incorporate this wonderful healthy super food into the diet and reap its many benefits!
Guest Author: Hieu Pham, RN BSN
Tenure Nurse, graduated with honors along with more than a decade of experience in Infection Prevention (IP), Medical-Surgical, post-surgical, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit (BMTU), Step down units, Intravenous Therapy and Leadership roles. Have improved the Infection Prevention program leading to zero findings from the Joint Commission numerous times. Implemented procedures, policies, and guidance for Staff in regards to how to protect themselves from bloodborne pathogen exposure. Provided guidance on how to protect Staff and decrease the spread of Coronavirus-19. Conducted numerous inservices to train Staff regarding evidenced based nursing practices. Lead role for IP for the first facility in Nation to transition to new health care record system.
Extensive nursing clinical and theory knowledge caring for spinal cord injury, post-surgical, stem cell transplant, med-surg, and step-down unit patients. Also worked as a clinical instructor for the local community college teaching clinical/ practices to student nurses. Have precepted numerous nurses and wrote numerous standard operating procedures for best practices. Conducted and educated Staff/ patients while working as the charge nurse. Health promotor and enthusiast- what one puts in increases the likelihood of what one’s desire to get out!
