Chronic pain affects a large number of the nursing population. And for a group of professionals who need to be up and about in the performance of their duties, chronic pain can heavily impact the way nurses perform their jobs.
Aside from experiencing pain that can impair physical functionality, healthcare workers with chronic pain also have to deal with a multitude of chronic pain-associated challenges, including feeling like a burden to colleagues, having to squeeze in doctors’ appointments amid busy schedules, and dealing with increased stress and sleeplessness.
This article examines chronic pain prevalence in nurses as well as its causes. This article is part of our series on chronic pain, which includes an article that discusses what it is and another that explores helpful pain management tools and tips.
Nurses’ chronic pain: Prevalence and causes
Multiple studies show that a large percentage of nurses deal with chronic pain daily. In a 2022 study that involved 2,500 healthcare workers, researchers found that low back pain and chronic hip pain limited healthcare employees’ life and work activities.
Chronic pain negatively affects people’s quality of life and can lead to debilitating and costly injuries. According to one report, back injuries in the healthcare industry cost $20 billion every year.
It also impacts nurses’ mental health. Most nurses still have to work while experiencing chronic pain symptoms daily or constantly, and one study shared that it leaves nurses feeling stressed, powerless, and unsupported.
Chronic pain in nurses can be caused by many factors, including the following:
· Lifting, transferring, and repositioning
Nurses provide direct patient care services and help move, lift, transfer, and reposition them whenever necessary. In doing so, they have to bend certain body parts in awkward positions or lift heavy loads repeatedly, which can lead to chronic pain.
One study found that 84% of nurses who worked in intensive care units (ICUs) experienced low back pain. Additionally, 66.7% of these nurses stated that the level of pain they experienced was of moderate severity.
Nurses who don’t have access to lifts in the workplace are also more prone to developing work-related low back and shoulder pain. In a 2013 study, nurses who had access to lifts for transferring and repositioning patients were half as likely to have work-related low back pain and 3.6 times less likely to have work-related shoulder pain.
· Standing for long hours
Nurses who work and stand for extended periods are more prone to developing chronic pain. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), standing for prolonged periods has been linked to low back and leg pain, as well as fatigue and cardiovascular problems.
A 2021 study cited in the Yonsei Medical Journal (YMJ) also highlights the association of prolonged standing with chronic pain. Full-time workers who performed their duties while standing for more than half of their total working hours were at a higher risk of developing lower extremity muscle pain. This was especially true for women, even though they didn’t carry heavy loads or perform repetitive movements.
· Repetitive movements
Nurses are prone to developing repetitive strain injuries, which are injuries that cause damage to muscles, tendons, or nerves due to constant use. For example, nurses who have to lift patients are prone to squatting, kneeling, and carrying, which can lead to repetitive strain injuries to the knees. According to a 2019 study, 25% to 30% of nursing personnel suffer from knee pain. Repetitive strain injuries can affect different body parts, including the back, fingers, wrists, elbows, and shoulders. When left untreated, repetitive strain injuries can lead to chronic pain.
Nurses dedicate themselves to caring for others, but that doesn’t mean that they should neglect their own health and wellness. Although chronic pain is rampant in the profession, it can still be reduced, avoided, or managed properly. Prioritize self-care strategies and seek medical support if you feel pain, especially pain that doesn’t resolve after three months, so that you can continue to live and work without limitations.
