Help with cleaning with a bad back please!

lally666young

Ohh I hope you get well soon. I agree with the ladies on here dont try to do anything and that includes sudden movements. Dont bother with ironing, just fold it. Try a nice pack on your back if hot doesnt work try a cold one or alternate it. We used to do this when my husband suffered a crush injury to his leg. But I hope you get well soon.

rosie383

The sudden movements thing I can definitely agree with! I drove the car this morning, first time out of the house since last week. It was definitely easier than being driven. DH is the sort of driver who accelerates up to speed bumps then brakes sharply:mad: . I spent the whole journey the other day involuntarily going 'NNNNGGGGGGGG!!!' every time he braked.

Bless him ,he just came home with a heat wrap for me for college tomorrow. Only problem is...... the MSE side of me had found them online in Lloyds chemist (there is one near us) for 2x2 pk for £9. He paid almost £4 for 1:eek:.

meritaten

awwww Rosie please dont mention speed bumps! They are the bane of my life! They are on every road in the village (and the two adjacent villages)! just a ten minute car ride can cause excrutiating pain! and like the other two long term back sufferers I too avoid taking pain killers - only If I am actually so much in spasm I cannot move, will I take them.
you have had excellent advice from everyone - I hope yours is only a temporary thing - but if the pain doesnt go in a couple of weeks - see a doctor hun. If your surgery is anything like mine then if you ring now you would get the appt in two weeks anyway!
also another important safety tip - make sure you havent got sensitive skin BEFORE applying any heat rubs or treatments to your lower back - I tried that Ralgex once and ended up hurriedly tearing off my trousers and knickers and getting OH to lift me into the sink so I could douse my burning back/bum in cold water! and I didnt give a ff that the world and his wife could see my bare bum through the window!!!!!!!!! I had sore red skin for days!

rosie383

Thanks for the advice! I thankfully discovered already that I am sensitive to those heat rubs, so haven't used any. I also am avoiding the heat pads which stick on your back as I have sensitive skin and allergies anyway and don't want to risk it.
I have to say, the heat wrap he bought was great! It was a Thermacare heat wrap which goes on with a velcro-type belt, so you can move it if you need to. No chemicals or medicines involved, and it was like having a hot water bottle cuddled up to my back all day. It should last 8 hours, but it did me a full 24 hrs before I felt there was no heat left in it. Bought myself a 2pk for £4something in B**ts yesterday and that has got me through making my way to the dentist today and the school walk to. Bloomin' marvellous for the sake of a couple of quid.

Skint_yet_Again

greenbee wrote: »

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

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.

Bring one knee up to your waist and round yr back ??? How do you manage that ??

I have had a bad back, neck and shoulder pain extending into my hands for years, so I fully sympathise with you. I live alone with son and I agree with a lot of the advice others have given. These are my favourites:

1. Washing kitchen floor. I have done this with my feet when my back is too bad to even use a long handled mop. I wear a pair of plastic sandals with good grip as you have to be careful not to slip and hurt yourself more. Use several cloths and then when finished I pick them up with long handled heavy duty BBQ tongs only thing I have long enough to reach down without bending too much, or get someone else to pick them up for you.

2. Washing clothes. I put clothes on top of washing machine then sit on chair to load, unload. I put clothes into a basket a few at a time and push it to the back door with my feet. (tiled floor). I then step outside and then lift basket onto patio table. Patio table is placed next to rotary washing line. If I cant lift the basket I just drape the clothes over my arms, shoulders. On days where I cant lift my arms my son helps by hanging washing out, and if I cant load/unload machine he will do that too.

3. Hoovering. Get friends, kids, OH, parents to hoover or just leave it. This is the most painful job for me and I avoid it if possible

4. Use a plastic jug to fill kettle. On bad days its painful to lift kettle, so only fill with the amount of water you need

5. Clean bath with a mousse that you spray on and rinse off, so no bending to scrub. My shower is over my bath. When I have a shower, I clean the tiles around bath/shower first whilst standing in bath and rinse off tiles, then have a shower myself. Saves trying to reach over bath to clean. Be careful, maybe not adviseable if you have sensitive skin as the cleaning product will be on your feet.

I have had physio and acupuncture on NHS and have to say that the acupuncure was fantastic. Sadly cannot afford to pay for massage, chiropractor. I did buy a gel pack that you can re-heat in microwave*and it then slips into a fabric cover, and it is a god-send on bad days

Good luck and I hope your back gets better soon x