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Need suggestions for household chores.....

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Posted 4/17/2008 5:58 PM (GMT 0)
Ok, so now that I got a diagnosis of what is causing my back pain - sacroiliitis and spinal stenosis.  I was thinking of ways that I can minimize the pain of doing household chores.  Sherrine already gave me some ideas that should help but I thought I would create another post asking for suggestions.  So if you have back pain, how do you go about cleaning your house or doing yard work that is easy on your back?  Besides assigning out the help that is!
Posted 4/17/2008 6:50 PM (GMT 0)

I'm with under...I do as little as possible. Hubby does all of the heavy stuff and I dust and do minor things. We keep the place neat and straightened and if the lights are low, looks ok. It's only when the sunshine pours in that I can see the dust so I go outside ;) I do get depressed about the state of cleanliness in our home but we keep the basics done, I don't worry about the dustbunnies under things anymore, they don't bite. lol Sorry for the lak of serious advice, I just try not to dwell on it anymore, I'd rather use the good days that I have enjoying my grandkids and hubby. It seems like on the bad days, I can't so it and on the good days, I hate to mess them up by doing cleaning but would rather enjoy them. I do make good use of the Swiffer duster thingie on the pole, it's great for quick cleanups and dusting!

Posted 4/17/2008 6:55 PM (GMT 0)
Muzz, you're funny - good advice - just go outside! LOL

I have 2 kids and they already help some when I ask them. Such as cleaning the bathroom. I'm ok to clean the sink but I can't when it comes to the toilet. All that bending is hard on me. I am rather picky about my house - I like a clean house so this is starting to bother me! I have to clean the sunroom door frequently because my dogs like to press their noses on it - yes even RIGHT after I clean it. So I only clean the doorwall of dog snot about once every 2 weeks. :) Can't trust the kids to do that or it will end up streaky - learned that from experience.

What about raking outside? Would raking be ok as long as I had someone else pick up the leaves and such? My backyards a mess from the winter.

But keep the ideas coming! I like the grabber idea thingy though. I may have to pick one of them up.
Posted 4/17/2008 7:12 PM (GMT 0)
Well, I live alone so have no one to help, so lots doesn't get done. I'm embarassed to have people come in now. Place definitely needs sweeping but the vacuum I've found to be one of the worst things that causes pain. So I'm trying to figure out what to do, too. I'll watch for more ideas! I fortunately can do things like laundry and clean the bathroom, although it's not like it used to be and I'm making peace with the fact it never will be. It's not worth the pain.
Posted 4/17/2008 7:25 PM (GMT 0)
Depending on the floors you have you can try the Roomba, the little vacuum machine that does everything for you. They even have a Scumba?, which supposedly mops the floors or something like that. Both are somewhat expensive though. Like someone else said the lightweight dusters on poles is good like the Swifter. Besides getting others to help, I say sit down and do what you can that way without having to bend or reach too much. Change positions oftern and don't do it too long no matter how you're feeling.
Posted 4/17/2008 8:00 PM (GMT 0)
I got a Roomba for Christmas a couple years ago. It's great for picking up the surface stuff but it won't suck of the dirt and dog hair. That's the only complaint I have about that. It's good for a random clean but not the heavy duty cleaning like my Dyson can do. Vacuuming doesn't bother me much. I don't have to bend when doing that. Mopping does though! I don't have to scrub my kitchen floor though since it's pergo but just the motion of mopping tears me up. I guess I can have my kids do that for me.

Good ideas though. I'm OCD about having a clean house before anyone comes over. Last year, I gave a surprise 40th bday party for my husband. I was going to have them hide downstairs but I was embarassed of the state of the downstair walls (it's a finished basement) so I spent a week painting them (with the help of my daughter). I had to paint them when the hubby was at work. But anyway, my back was a mess by the time I was done. Did I learn my lesson? No lol
Posted 4/17/2008 8:01 PM (GMT 0)
Here's a few things that help me. Hubby bought me a new vac that is self propelled. It really does help. He helps vac also.

Then I bought a small head rake for outside. The head on it is about 1/3 the size of a regular one. That way I'm not pulling so much at one time and it's lighter.

For the shower I got a scrubber with an extension handle. WalMart has them. Even sent one to a fibro buddy of mine.

Go for short periods of time and have the heat packs ready when you're done.

The biggest DON'T??? Don't sit inside and feel sad and lonely. Getting outside, even if the weather isn't perfect, is the best medicine.

Hugs,
Chutzie
Posted 4/17/2008 9:09 PM (GMT 0)
I have to say that being a neat freak and a person suffering chronic pain is just a bad combination all together. One of the things my new pain doctor yesterday mentioned was how people suffering chronic pain tend to over do things on days they are feeling a little bit better and tend to suffer after wards more than they should because of it.

Here's a few things I do:
I was a load of clothes each day - no more. I will put the clothes in the wash machine - hubby has to move them from the washer to the dry - it's too painful for me to do. Same thing with the dishwasher, I'll load it, but he has to unload it.

As far as picking up the floor - I will kick everything into a pile, then sit down with a small bag for trash, and something to hold stuff to put up in it. It's either trash or put away. I'll then walk around dropping dog toys in the dog bin, throw the stray sock in the laundry room, stuff like that.

I admit it - my house is a dust trap. I live in Arizona - opening your window is like having a dump truck drop a load of sand in your house - so I just don't dust - maybe two or three times a year I'll get a swiffer and dust with that and a vacuum cleaner together.

Bathrooms are actually pretty easy for me. I'll wipe off the counter with scrubbing bubbles clean that. Put whatever cleaner I'm using into the toilet - spray down the tub with whatever I'm using. Then take a broom - use the broom to scrub the shower/tub walls, then since we have a shower sprayer with the hose attached so it can be moved, I spray down the shower. Then it's the toilet getting scrubbed (which is never really bad for some reason). As far as mopping or cleaning hard floors - it's seldom done.

My trick for cleaning floors without killing myself is using a swiffer. I will take a hot sponge drop in on the floor use my foot to scrub up tough spots with the sponge, and then take the swiffer cleaner and wipe it up.

Right now it's just hubby, myself, the dog and cat, so we don't have a great deal of mess - but the main thing I suggest is picking ONE room and one room only to do every day. I have to stop myself from hurting me. It's taken a long time to realize that I just can't get everything done.

Our friends know about my back problems - so they don't come over expecting things to be spic and span. If we are going to have company over, he lets me know in advance - and he helps clean. If we invite people over for dinner - it's always something that cooks in the oven for awhile. I can put it in, rest, relax, and then do last minute things just before without killing my back.

The hardest part I think is learning to say "done". Accepting that tidy is better than spotless. Also - teaching a pack rat (hubby) to put crap away and teaching him to throw things out :P

Tammy
Posted 4/17/2008 9:11 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah I forgot you asked about gardening. Osh (a small chain of hardware stores) had a weed grabber that you put over the week step on the foot part of it, and pull it up along with the weed. Use it for short periods otherwise your back will scream at you. There is also the garden Claw that works good for loosening things up so you can pick them up with a grabber or your hands. Both the weed puller and graden claw works better in softer soil. As for planting again do it sitting down and not for long periods of time. Raised flower beds are the best.
Posted 4/17/2008 9:25 PM (GMT 0)
cookie - I have to agree about raised flower beds. Hubby and I just moved into a new home with no landscaping and we have already decided to do all of the flower beds raised up. We are hoping this will make it easier for me to garden since I love doing it, just not the pain that comes with it.
Posted 4/17/2008 9:45 PM (GMT 0)
Dear Red_34,

about a year ago after my last (10th) back surgery I went into PT Rehab for a week. It was amazing the things they taught me about day to day living. The grabber thingie is for sure a great tool for so many things. I also learned what they called the golfers bend. Whenever you have to bend down to put something in a cabinet or whatever you should always place one of your legs behind you, a picture would make this so much easier, with the one leg extended you can bend a lot easier without as much pain. Also when I make my bed I do it on my knees which works if you have 2 good knees. Take breaks and don't over do it is the most important one thing there is. Depending on your financial situation you can also hire someone to come in once a month or every two weeks for a few hours to do the things that you just can't do and can't stand not having done. Like your floors and bathrooms. If you belong to a church sometimes they have people that offer to help the disabled and there is no shame in accepting that. As for outside, same thing do what you can and get help with what you can't.

If like me you are on SSD they have a program for home help at least they do in California.

Good luck with your problem hopefully something I've said will help a little. Have a tolerable day and don't forget to smile. I'm out, Toritoo

Posted 4/17/2008 10:34 PM (GMT 0)
"I have to say that being a neat freak and a person suffering chronic pain is just a bad combination all together." I'm starting to learn this! The hard way it seems.

Keeping a clean house is a challenge in my home. I have one preteen daughter, a 16 year old son, my husband, my grandmother and 2 dogs. I just sat down with my kids and told them that I need them to start helping me out more. So what do I do? I go outside to hook up the hose after being disconnected all winter because one of my dogs threw up on the patio. So I hooked it up - all the while my back is screaming at me. But I was in a hurry because my grandmother (who has early Alzheimers) was trying to get outside by the door in which the dog threw up. I didn't want to keep gma pent up in the sunroom for too long because it was hot in there. So anyway, I come in the house and lay down on the floor. My daughter asked what was wrong so I told her what I had done and she admonished me by saying "Mom! You could've asked me to do that you know?!" lol

Some very helpful hints you have all given me. I am a nature freak and I love to plant flowers so I think this year, I am going to buy - I can never remember what they're called - the flowers that come up every year. To make things easier on me in the future. I will have my daughter help since I don't have a raised flower bed and I can't make one now since all my other plants are highly established.
Posted 4/17/2008 11:33 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Red - are you talking about perenniel plants? That's what I've done too over the years. I have only a few small areas for annuals, and even those don't get filled in every year. Don't forget about bulbs too. Most of them you need to let the foliage die back and not cut it off so it feeds the bulb. Less work! Ornamental grasses come in many different colors and textures, and are about as low-maintenance as you can get. Some have some really interesting seed heads too. And don't forget about container gardening. You can easily set up an attractive area with plant stands that keep the pots at a good level for you to work with.

In my part of the world, the heaviest work takes place in mid January through mid March, and since hubby isn't in to gardening, I hire a crew for the worst of it. I've spaded my last vegetable garden for certain.

As for cleaning, well, it generally doesn't get done. At least, not to my satisfaction. I always keep up the bathrooms and kitchen, but dusting? My mother would die if she could see it after all her years of training. Hubby isn't exactly in to vaccuuming either. I've learned to just ignore the dog-hair tumbleweeds that tend to roll around on the tile floor... as I'm on my way outside. :-)
Posted 4/18/2008 1:05 AM (GMT 0)
Perenniels! Yes that's it - I can never remember what they're called. I have some bulbs in my garden already but every year I keep getting less and less spring flowers. So I think that a squirrel has been digging them up! I have little squirrel holes all over the front yard because now that winter is over, they are just now finding the things they hid so who knows....maybe they think the bulbs are theirs?? lol
Posted 4/18/2008 1:14 AM (GMT 0)
I love this thread! I'm getting a good laugh at myself and the rest of us! Texas Jen I love the comment about your mother....oh, mine would be turning in her grave, for sure! :-)
Posted 4/18/2008 3:32 AM (GMT 0)
Wow, so many good tips here! I concurr that not over-doing is the key, and also freq rests. It does help to have a good partner/or family to help. I figure that after all of the yrs that I did 90% of the housekeeping, cooking and laundry, while working f/t and raising 2 kids, hubby is making up for what he didn't do then ;) We're both semi-retired and he's in very good health so alot of things come easier to him. He doesn't do things as often as I'd like(scrubbing floors) but I do think that is a Man thing, they either don't see the dirt or have selective sight...lol

I found the Weed Grabber to be hard on my lower back, some might not. I love the smaller rake sugg, I want one! I love to work outside and used to have lovely flower beds but last yr for the 1st time in yrs, didn't plant one thing. We had a big talk last week about just this thing......and we decided to hire a cleaning service to come in soon and do deep cleaning, then maintainance won't be as hard.

I love my Swiffer duster and the one for floors, haven't tried the mop one, is it really any good? If it does,that would solve my prob of hubby not doing the floors as often as I'd like, I could use that in between scrubs.

toritoo, I tried to find the golfer's bend, an illustration, but all Google had was exercises for golfers...I tried it and it did seem to not pull my lower back so much but I had a balance prob, how far forward should the front leg be?

Posted 4/18/2008 3:55 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Muzz, the golfers bend is basically just what it says, if you ever watch golf, I don't, but you will see that golfers place one leg forward not too far and bent at the knee and they take their other leg and extent it behind them. If you have problems with balance you just need to hang on to something. Also if you go to or know a PT they will know exactly what I'm talking about and maybe even have the picture. Good luck, I'm out, Toritoo

 

Good luck to you and let hubby do his bit especially if he's willing. It might not be up to your/our standards but it is a help. You know the old saying if Moms not happy no one is happy, it's true.

Posted 4/18/2008 8:32 PM (GMT 0)
TY Too...yes, it is true! My MIL is getting PT, I'll see if she can get the Pther. to give her a pic, it would be help. Every lil bit counts.
Posted 4/18/2008 10:17 PM (GMT 0)
Just stoped in and saw the posting. I have Lupus and Fibro along with the chronic pain. If you could afford it house cleaners are not the expensive. Mine is $70 every 2 weeks and they do a great job. Everything but the windows but they do the blinds and sils and baseboards. Well worth it for me.
Posted 4/18/2008 11:29 PM (GMT 0)
Wish I could afford cleaners or a rhumba, but I'm for the most part living on a small amount of unemployment, no spouse, etc. So no extras for things like that. The dust bunnies finally got to me today; I think they're really aggravating my sinuses so I got out my little sweeper and pulled the end off and just went around with the long tube and picked up the worst of things. Tried to mostly stand and use my arm to move, but you know sometimes you just lapse into familiar movements, so it remains to be see how I am later tonight and tomorrow!
Posted 4/19/2008 8:08 AM (GMT 0)

yea, sometimes we gotta just fight the pain and do what has to be done. :)

Toritoo, I've played around with the golfer's bend and have found that it does take a certain amt of stress off of my lower back! TY!

Posted 4/19/2008 12:21 PM (GMT 0)
My income is a bit limited too. I don't work and my hubby does. Luckily he has a fairly decent job in which I DON'T have to work, but I don't think I could hire anyone. Unless I won the lottery! :)

Yes, I agree - very excellent ideas! I cleaned the carpet yesterday with my Bissell and had to reach down for a few things. I tried the golfers bend and it does help to a certain degree. Made my legs hurt a little though - or maybe I was doing it wrong.
Posted 4/19/2008 4:22 PM (GMT 0)
I dont get much help from the household if any, so i just try to make sure i keep the laundry done and dishes done, everthijgn else can wait til I feel like it. Kids dont help.

I wish I had a rhumba, they should presrcibe everyone with chronis pain a rhumba.

I think my daughter tryed to was the kitchen floor with dusting cleaner, but she wot feess up, it slippery, i tryed wettng it down and drying it but still slippery. Im just too tried to mop the whole floor. eyes

Posted 4/19/2008 6:11 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all and good mid-morning from a cloudy, overcast California day. I'm glad that so many people had tips for cleaning and I hope some work for you. I thought that I mentioned my bed making tips but I don't see it here so once again. If you don't have any problems with your knees I've found that doing it on my knees works for me. No bending. Also wanted to mention again about the booklet they gave me while I was in rehab after my last surgery. It contains so many tips about day to day living in a way that takes your pain into account. From the way you sleep and get in and out of your car to shopping and cooking and cleaning. I was amazed at all the things I was doing wrong thus aggravating my pain even more so. The booklet is called Living with back pain. If you have a PT they might be able to get it for you and if not a PT try your CP doc. I was really amazed at all the little things I was doing wrong and therefore making my pain worse. Sitting,standing, getting up and down and so much more. It definitly is worth searching for. I think many people with CP will be amazed at all the little things that we do on a daily basis that make us feel worse and how easy it is to change some of them. Good luck everyone and I'm out, Toritoo
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