What do you do for hip and lower back pain when standing?

Ruthanne

Ruthanne

Caregiver
Location
Midwest
I know my weight has a lot to do with it. Anyways I was wondering about everything and anything that helps relieve it. I can't take a lot of NSAIDs for health reasons so I guess I'm somewhat limited.

Are there any kind of wrap arounds for the waist and lower back. I haven't checked that out yet.

Still I'm interested in everything.
 

If I have to stand in one spot for 10 minutes or more, I prop one foot up on this little bench I made that's about 6 inches high.

You could use a sturdy box or something. Resting one foot on the bottom rung of a step ladder would work. I did that til I made the little bench. You can also find these step-boosters for little kids pretty cheap...
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When your back starts hurting again, you can just switch feet; prop the other one up for a while.
 
For me and my back issues I have to stay in motion daily, that has not always
though been easy to do, but I gave it a go as I could. Now after recovering from
my bad fall at Christmas last year, I am pleased to say that Physical Therapy
these past couple months, has helped my mobility and pains. I am grateful for
that, it was a tough go of things, that is for sure. I take just Tylenol presently
and am off all other meds that had been prescribed for treatments from my
back fractures...
 
Walking really helps with my back pain. Standing in one spot is really difficult. 4 years ago I lost 50lbs and that also helped a lot. I bought a sleep number bed that I can adjust to just the firmness I need. When I lay down I can hear it pumping up a little for support. It adjusts to my body by itself.
 
I had lower back pain for Years until I saw a podiatrist.
He ordered custom orthotics ( they were $ 585 at that time) and after getting them ,I wore them much longer then the podiatrist recommended the first day with them, (he said 'just use them for an hour' ) because my daughter was home on leave and I prepared her favorite food and we stayed up late.

When I went to bed that night I realized I had not followed his instructions but I woke up , and for the first time in years, without a backache !!!!
if I lift something heavy and don't use a back brace, I often get a minor backache that usually diminishes fast with a few Bone Builder exercises or some Ben gay.

Our feet take quite a beating and are often the reason we can have aches and pains.


That podiatrist retired and the new one I see gets orthotics made for only $350.00.


I say 'only', but then again foot problems can cause seniors to lose their balance and fall and that can cause further disabilities we don't need.

Yet Medicare does not pay for custom orthotics and that does not make sense to me.

I also buy all my shoes from Ortho feet. They are expensive but they are made for those who need orthotics in their shoes.

This may not be your problem at all, and I sympathize with anyone who has chronic back aches.
 
I try to make sure I'm walking straight up not leaning forward or backward like I'm marching in a parade. Also stretch by putting hands as close together and reach to simulate hanging off a pull up bar.

Do numerous floor exercises and stretches but when standing or walking in public that's tough.

Also when ever possible work on core including abs. It's seems I frequently get more back pain at the same time my abs have no strength ie can't do even do one traditional sit up. Crunches are safer but even doing them seems too tough at times. Need abs to pull the spine forward and keep straight. Muscle imbalances abs or lower back will wind up having one group do all the work
and cause strain.
 
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I had my right hip exrayed yesterday...cartridge wearing away, not much to do there, ice and Tylenol helps... somewhat. I did an excessive amount of walking last Thursday that I think brought this on, so I won't do that again.
 
I woke up Saturday morning, just when I was planning to get going with spring cleaning, with excruciating pain in my right hip. I thought it would go away in a while; it didn't. I had to resort to acetaminophen and ibuprofen, alternating. Finally, this morning, it let up. I thought it might have to do with snow shoveling, but that was 2 weeks ago. Like my dad used to day, "Some things will always be a mystery."
 
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Jackie23 said:
I had my right hip exrayed yesterday...cartridge wearing away, not much to do there, ice and Tylenol helps... somewhat. I did an excessive amount of walking last Thursday that I think brought this on, so I won't do that again.
Click to expand...
Will you do hip replacement when the time comes ?
 
All I can recommend are Therma Care Back and Hip wraps. My husband has been using them for years, and I use them occasionally for lower back pain from muscle strain. They give heat to the area for over eight hours, but they are expensive to use. Whatever you try Ruthanne, I hope you can get some relief from the pain. 🧡

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If one wants some temporary relief with over the counter drugs most adults can do 2 tylenol and 2 motrin at the same time which I've done and was recommended by at least one doctor.

I was given pills with codeine in them and had allergic reaction after dental surgery. The 2 and 2 did the trick. One is an anti inflammatory and other a pain killer. Also used them after a leg injury/surgery and sinus headaches.
 
30 years ago, I would work through it but now I sit or lie down and rest immediately. Fear of falling takes precedence.

An exercise that helped then and still does today:

Lie flat on back. Clench hands beneath bent knees and pull hard against chest. Hold for a moment and stretch out again. Repeat several times. Then do same with each leg individually. Do this several times a day.

30 years ago I did this exercise on the floor but switched to bed when HIFACGU Syndrome * became an issue. Those pesky firemen get grouchy after just a few calls.

* Help, I’ve Fallen And Can’t Get Up
 
helenbacque said:
An exercise that helped then and still does today:

Lie flat on back. Clench hands beneath bent knees and pull hard against chest. Hold for a moment and stretch out again. Repeat several times. Then do same with each leg individually. Do this several times a day.
Click to expand...
This is what I do daily 2-3 times day in am, pm and eve. I also learned doing rehab stretches like that can be done in sets. That second and third set of holding a position just 3-7 seconds is when progress starts. 3 sets of 3second holds minimum.

The hips I've found walking backwards at a slow deliberate pace can help stretch front of hips but can be easily over done. I don't or can't worry about numbers just do the stretches and exercise correctly with good form/techique which means no using momentum or forcing body parts into position.
 
I actually broke my hip. Although it rehabilitated well, it hurts progressively worse the longer I stand. Only way I can get relief is to either sit down, or keep the joint moving. Pain relief doesn't work immediately for me, but if I take aspirin, it will usually kick in after a couple of hours.
I'm just saying.....
 
I found if I stop moving, it only takes two days for arthritic stiffness to set in. I keep moving by hiking and biking every day. I used the gym daily until March 2020 and it‘s shutdown forced me outside. I am glad that happened. I feel much healthier being outside a couple hours.
 
rgp said:
Will you do hip replacement when the time comes ?
Click to expand...
...by the way report read I have a while before I have to think about replacement.
Lots of good info in this thread that I appreciate, best wishes for everyone suffering.
 

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