Back Injury Prevention

A Miner's Story
 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
• 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.
• 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.
• 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
• 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
The 1st Needle
The 3 Needles
The 4 Needles
L5-S1 Disc
L4-L5 Disc
L3-L4 Disc
 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
 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