Help with cleaning with a bad back please!

rosie383

Thanks for all the support and ideas. I have discovered a lady who does deep back massage quite local to me. £40 for an hour, but I think it may be worth a go.
I like the idea of a family hour doing chores while I direct them, but the family may not be so keen!
The long-handled duster is a good idea. I have one lurking somewhere. I will make more effort to get the kids to do bits too.
Emma, I know what you mean about moaning about backache until you get REAL backache!

ellas9602

empressemma wrote: »

maybe a spot of therapy would help?

A friend of mine had back problems- sciatica/slipped disc. He also had one session of sports therapy and swears it cured him..........

savingqueen

sorry to hear about your back, No tips re the housework other than mentioned - no heavy lifting/stooping, plenty of rest in btwn tasks. Sometimes you just have to let things go, housework will still be there next month and the one after!

I had a slipped disc and my dad has slipped his a few times in his younger years. I followed my dad's advice and saw his osteopath - the only thing that worked for me. Not cheap but so so worth it and I would go again if the same happenned.

hope you're better soon

lostinrates

Well, i would say first see a gp and find out what the cause of the back bain is. It mit be that. Short course of muscle relaxants can get you dancing in no time!

I have back pain pretty much all the time,knowing when to rest and when not to are the things thnat keep me most mobile. I just don 't hoover very much any more, dh does it at the weekend. I can still mop and sweep.

Do the jobs you can most comfortably do...dusting at waist, chest level for example. I often find getting on the floor the only wy to keep going, but getting up can take a while!

paidinchickens

Bad back for four weeks!!!!

I have Arizona tumbleweed rolling round the house :rotfl::rotfl:

I am just doing a little here and there without pushing it. If I hurt a lot I stop, lazy or not as although I think I am being lazy I prefer that to being laid up in bed again

I know how you feel it sucks

meritaten

I have suffered degenerative disk disease for about twenty years - and I have learned a few tips and tricks for when the pain flares up! first tip is - do NOT overtax your back! second is - do NOT rest it too much! sounds contradictory but its common sense. If you literally cannot move - then rest until you can - then treat yourself gently! move around - but only as much as is bearable.
coping with housework - get yourself some long handled cleaning things! DONT stoop while hoovering - if you have a cylinder cleaner - get rid of it (its murder on a bad back) get an upright which is much taller than you think you need - they are so much easier to use!
dusting - Dont bend over to clean coffee tables etc - get on your knees and keep your back upright! anything above your shoulder - use a long handled duster or a pair of steps. DONT stretch or twist to reach anything!
cleaning the bath is a bu99er! again a long handled brush - the loo brush comes in handy here (I dont use it for cleaning the loo - yeeeuuch) - brace yourself with one hand on the other side of the bath and use the brush then rinse off while upright - I use the shower now but in the olden days I rinsed off with a jug.
THINK before you do a task - HOW can I do this with minimum strain on my back? sometimes I iron sitting down (I would love one of those press thingys). If you can get away with NOT ironing it - then dont!
cooking - Lifting heavy pots - dont! it is possible to strain veg by putting a strainer or colander over a bowl and using a slotted spoon to put the veg in the strainer!
If you HAVE to lift anything you think may be heavy then its the old advice 'Bend Ze Knees - Keep ZE back straight and use the thigh muscles to take the strain!
and gratefully accept ALL offers of help!
OH and if the back is protesting at night - a pillow under your knees WILL help! even if you normally sleep on your side!

empressemma

Eeek, £40 for a session?? The lady I saw was £20 for just under an hour, she worked from home.
Ask round friends and see if anyone has recommendations, that's how I found mine.

Thinking of having another session, just to 'top up' ~ it hasn't been too bad recently, have to be careful how long I wear heels for (inc my nice chunky heeled boots) and my posture when reading~ lift the book to eye level rather than pulling my neck all the way down ~ which is tricky.... just started working for myself, sewing.... using head down hand sewing!!! I certainly know when I've been sewing for an hour!!!

Hope you soon start to feel better, don't do too much (the dust will still be there when you're better!!) you know when you're pushing it, listen to your body!!

Hugs x

squeaky

meritaten wrote: »

I have suffered degenerative disk disease for about twenty years - and I have learned a few tips and tricks for when the pain flares up! first tip is - do NOT overtax your back! second is - do NOT rest it too much! sounds contradictory but its common sense. If you literally cannot move - then rest until you can - then treat yourself gently! move around - but only as much as is bearable.
coping with housework - get yourself some long handled cleaning things! DONT stoop while hoovering - if you have a cylinder cleaner - get rid of it (its murder on a bad back) get an upright which is much taller than you think you need - they are so much easier to use!
dusting - Dont bend over to clean coffee tables etc - get on your knees and keep your back upright! anything above your shoulder - use a long handled duster or a pair of steps. DONT stretch or twist to reach anything!
cleaning the bath is a bu99er! again a long handled brush - the loo brush comes in handy here (I dont use it for cleaning the loo - yeeeuuch) - brace yourself with one hand on the other side of the bath and use the brush then rinse off while upright - I use the shower now but in the olden days I rinsed off with a jug.
THINK before you do a task - HOW can I do this with minimum strain on my back? sometimes I iron sitting down (I would love one of those press thingys). If you can get away with NOT ironing it - then dont!
cooking - Lifting heavy pots - dont! it is possible to strain veg by putting a strainer or colander over a bowl and using a slotted spoon to put the veg in the strainer!
If you HAVE to lift anything you think may be heavy then its the old advice 'Bend Ze Knees - Keep ZE back straight and use the thigh muscles to take the strain!
and gratefully accept ALL offers of help!
OH and if the back is protesting at night - a pillow under your knees WILL help! even if you normally sleep on your side!

All good and well tried here

One other thing I do... I avoid taking pain killers like the plague! If I cannot feel the pain I cannot tell when I am over-doing it or moving wrongly! So I only take them when I REALLY have to - and then I make a point of moving VERY carefully and don't do ANY of the jobs that I know hurt.

greenbee

Like meritaten I have had disc problems for years, and in time you learn to strategies so that you don't do things that aggravate it. It does take time though, as you feel better and then try something

Agree with squeaky on the pain killers too... I have been SO much better since I stopped taking them about 10 years ago and focussed on diet, exercise and regular sports massage to help me manage h'e problem.

As for housework the physio tells me it's dangerous

Hanging the washing out - do you have a garden table? If so, get it out near the washing line for the moment and out the basket on it. Get a peg bag that either hangs on the line, or even better, hangs round you.

Hoovering - don't. Get someone else to do it for the foreseeable future

Ironing - again, mostly unnecessary. I can Hoover now, but I either don't iron or outsource it.

Kitchen - think very hard about where you keep things. I have all my heavy stuff up high, as I can lift above me more easily than bending down. Stuff I use regularly is in places where I can get to it easily.

Washing up - if your sink is too low, forget it, someone else will have to do it. If standing still is uncomfortable, do it a bit at a time and potter. Or try standing with one foot up on a box (I know this is odd, but I used to travel round with a small washing up bowl as I was told never to try standing evenly on both feet as it was too much strain... That has changed now).

Washing generally - sit on the floor to load and unload the machine (that goes for anything down low). If you can squat, then you can lift the basket by doing a deep squat, engaging your tummy muscles and using them to help you get up. If not, so someone else can carry it outside. Try not to do more than one wash a day.

Another useful tip - if you are going to sneeze or cough, bring one knee up to your waist and round your back, as this protects it.

rosie383

Some really useful advice here. Thank you all so much for taking the time to help. I managed to clean the top of the cooker this morning as I have discovered that it is about the right height for me to manage. I can do dishes too as the sink is not too low.
I have been getting the kids to put things away for me as, in common with some of you, the worst thing is trying to do anything heavy down low.
Ironing, erm, my iron sees the light of day about once a month!! And that's for maybe one shirt. DH has said he will hoover and I am going to let him! It is so hard to ,let go.