SOUTH BEND — Everything from walking on the sidewalk to shoveling the heavy, wet snow that fell overnight into Tuesday morning can be tricky. St. Joseph Regional Medical Center reported treating a number of patients for fractures and back pain.

Ricky Simpson and his friend Shawn went door to door in Mishawaka to make a little money shoveling snow.

“It just helps out around the house. We basically try to find the older people, the elderly people, that can't get out,” Simpson said.

Getting rid of the snow is hard work, especially for Simpson, who fractured his rib last month.

“It's a strain, I have to stop every now and then, and he has to stop every now and then, because on the bottom, it's wet,” Simpson said.

It'll take a little longer for Ranell Harmon to clear her walkway. And it's all because of her dog Bubbles.

“She's afraid of the shovel, so I have to brush the snow,” Harmon said. “She won't go outside if she's hears it because she's scared of it, she's scared of everything."

Doctors say they've seen a lot of injuries because of the snow.

“We've had multiple fractures, people slipping in the slush, and of course there's always the people who present with back pain,” said Dr. Tom Sweeney of St. Joseph Regional Medical Center.

Dr. Sweeney says people with heart problems should take it easy when they shovel and the elderly should avoid going out if they can help it.