Back Injury Prevention

1
Back Injury Prevention

• A Miner's Story

2
Back Injury History

• This miner was injured approximately in 1991
• Easter Day 1998 his right leg went numb at the
  two small toes initially
• If the sensation was not numb it was absolute
  fire
• The numbness spread up his leg and by Thursday
  that week was above his waist line

3

• The Dr. did an MRI on Wednesday and sent this
  miner to a Denver Orthopedic surgeon on Thursday
  of that week
• Surgery was scheduled for the next day (Friday)
• L5-S1 was the target and a herniated disc and
  associated jell from a disc was discovered
  calcified in the spinal canal mashing the root
  nerve and spinal cord to one side.

4

• L4-L5 Disc was found to be in a degenerative
  state
• The procedure relieved the pain and numbness
  radiating down this miner's leg but did little
  for the general lower back discomfort.

5

• The Dr. explained that on average the patient
  would require another surgery most likely within
  7 years due to scar tissue creating discomfort
• Another surgery occurred in May 2004
• Same disc for sciatica (pain radiating down the
  leg)
• The miner didn't make it 7 years

6

• Currently this miner is experiencing moderate to
  severe pain every single day
• Another visit to the surgeon required a procedure
  known as a disc-o-gram
• This procedure is to define exactly where or
  which disc is causing the pain by inserting a
  needle into a disc then injecting dye under
  slight pressure. The pressure will induce pain if
  the disc is a problem
• The following slides are x-rays of the diskogram

7
The 1st Needle
8
The 3 Needles
9
The 4 Needles
10
L5-S1 Disc
11
L4-L5 Disc
12
L3-L4 Disc
13
Conclusions

• The discogram is not conclusive due to the amount
  of degeneration in this miner's back
• Pain was intensified when all disc's were
  injected with the dye
• Surgery options have not been clarified as of
  this time
• This miner will deal with pain most likely for
  the remainder of his life
• The surgeon's only recommendation was that if 2
  or more discs create pain then no surgery is
  recommended

14
The Final Word!

• We have all been instructed on proper lifting
  techniques and back injury prevention.
• It's up to you - Pay attention and live these
  common sense rules
• You alone, will live with the consequences of the
  wrong choices resulting in pain and suffering for
  the rest of your life