Ask A Medic

One more month of medic school and it's finally over thank God. Then credentialing begins =(

God I hate paramedicine!

 

I think a tourniquet is going to be the most important thing you could have. Of all the survivable catastrophic injuries that could occur in the backcountry a tourniquet is likely to have the most impact. Learn how to use one and practice with it. Also make sure its readily available at all times! All the other things; chest seals, decompression needles, ect ect are nice but wont have the impact if you dont have the clinical skills to know when and how to deploy it.

Look for a basic first aid class, anything from the AHA or ASHI is a decent place to start and will cover hemorrhage control, splinting, and tourniquets.

 

Thanks. Years ago I took a quarter long first aid class alongside firefighter students at a CC, eight and forty hour industrial first aid classes for work, and one back country first aid class so have at least been exposed to the basics. I will probably look for one of the courses you recommended to refresh the skills and then may look for some type of advanced backcountry lifesaving class.

 

Oh I'm still here. Keeping well so far.

 

Checking in with you fine men and women here!
Part time medic in TN. Mostly do a lot ok education now, but still hop the truck from time to time (24 every couple weeks) to keep skills fresh.

Thank you all for your service to your communities and this world!

 

Where's my manners? How you doing Murph?

 

Doing good bud. 11 years and 4 months to retirement.


How's the family doing?

 

Growing like tiny farty weeds!

 

so I took up cycling to replace running as a way too stay fit. I'm 57yo, 6'1" and weigh about 235#s and in pretty good shape for an old dude. A few weeks ago I really over did a ride and strained my lower back, I took it easy and kept heat on it. It hurt a little when I walked but after a few days the pain went away and I returned to my normal day to day with no issues. Last weekend I took the bike out again and once again hurt my back, this time much more painfully.The pain is in my right lower back, it hurts when I stretch my leg for walking and also hurts when I sit.Lots of pain when I stand from a sitting position but once standing I experience little pain. Not sure what I did, hopefully just a muscle but I'm calling my GP tomorrow.I've never had back issues but man this sucks, anybody have any similar experience?

 

That sounds like it could be one of a few things. Without a fall or it hurting all of the sudden I dont think its an acute injury. But, it could be something like an SI joint. More than likely since you were on the bike for so long I bet you have super tight hips/ hip flexors. If sitting flairs it up that would support that. Try stretching your quads and hips and see if that relieves the pressure. If the front of you hip is tight it can pull your pelvis down creating a hyperlordosis, an "over curve" basically, in the lower back creating pain. If that doesnt help go see a PT or get your back dry needled to get all the surrounding musculature relaxed and reset.

 

Thanks for the advice. Never had any issues with the back and man is it painful. Today I have noticed an improvement, not as much pain as I've had in the past week. If I lay down at an angle as opposed to flat it helps when I have to stand. I always say that I never feel my age but I can't say that this week. Thank you again, I'm more confident now that I didn't do anything acute to my back.

 

Sounds like sciatica From seat area.

 

Well I went to my GP and she thought it was a strained muscle. She prescribed muscle relaxer and a mild NSAID, that was a few weeks ago and it's still bothering me. I have a lot of pain in my right buttocks and it goes down to my ankle. A dull pain around my knee and sharp pain in my butt and ankle.Sometimes with a numbness in my foot. I get temporary relief by stretching my leg or bending at the waist, like I'm touching my toes. I'm just about ready to go back to my GP even if she can just prescribe some pain meds.I think it may also be sciatica from talking to others, sounds like it just has to run its course I guess.

 

Go to a PT or sports medicine doctor. You dont need muscle relaxers, you need to fix the issue. Meds only puts a bandaid on it. They can show you the right things to do to stretch and strengthen the muscles involved so you can be pain free.

 

Well after hearing this , you are describing a Nero dermatome so being this was also my symptoms when I had may back issues it may be time to follow up with a orthopedic or chiropractor( my wife swears by I am a mixed bag) my issue was bulging l5 s1, (Mri will be needed) good luck back pain I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy

 

Thanks for this thread. Question: How would a medic treat cluster headaches? Last time I had a major CH I thought in that moment that the last thing I'd want is to have to deal with medics. When in that severe of pain I'd have to be literally knocked out. I've tried all types of pain meds and they do literally nothing, I don't even bother getting the prescriptions filled. The only thing that helps is o2 and sometimes it does next to nothing. Still, I couldn't imagine being cooperative in that level of pain. Not to be melodramatic - just being blunt - but there are times where I've been screaming so loud the neighbors ask if there's anything they can do to help.

I'm curious how you treat that: walking up to a guy screaming his head off and writhing in pain with an o2 mask on his face. I'm not really gonna be much help, can't hold still, can't answer questions and may just be screaming profanities. Believe it or not I'm a super calm guy but when those headaches hit it's just game over.

JTmedic where you at in FL? You may have been one of the dudes loading me up in an ambulance post seizure (I also have the epilepsy).

 

My GP thinks there may be a disk that's aggregating a nerve. The pain is terrible in the morning and improves during the day as I walk and stretch my back. Anyway I'm going to see a PT in two weeks for an evaluation. I really miss not being able to cycle or run so I operators a "quick fix". I really appreciate the advice and suggestions that you guys have given me.

 

I've been through this brother. Got diagnosed with 2 herniated discs. Went to pt...and just started running again and watching my form when lifting heavy... and all my symptoms around a year later are gone. Get a small pain now and again. But just do what they say and have faith brother is all I can say..

 

Thanks Tom...if I can get back to riding and running again Ill be good. I'm glad that PT worked for ya and that you're able to get back to a normal routine.

 

SUBBEDDDDD