HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Devices for reducing back pain while standing?

Support Forums
>
Chronic Pain
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 1/23/2014 10:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone. I'm a new member, have been living with disabling back pain for over 10 years. I'm married with a 4 yr old child, and currently not working due to disability.

I am trying to find two things that I hope will enable me to do more at home and get outside more:

1. I want to find an affordable perching type of tall stool for my kitchen, so that I can actually cook or wash dishes, etc. At present I can't stand for more than a couple of minutes without bad low back pain. If I had a stool with a tilting seat that I could alternate sitting, standing and "perching" (standing but resting a bit on the edge of the stool), I know I could start cooking proper meals again and make nice recipes for my family. I miss being able to cook nice meals and am tired of the easy frozen foods we usually eat due to my pain issues. So... Any ideas where I can find such a stool for less than $75 or $100? I've found nice looking ones online, but they cost hundreds of dollars! It's just a darn stool... How can it possibly be $300???? shocked

2. I don't go out much lately because my low back starts hurting too much after walking around for just a short time. I want to try a motorized wheelchair or scooter or *anything* that will let me sit and rest when I need to but also keep moving. I hate to keep having to stop and find a bench to sit on for 10 minutes while I'm at the mall or grocery store, etc. So again.... Any suggestions for what kinds of motorized devices are out there that fit my situation? Must be something I can push while walking, then ride on/in when I need to sit down, and is lightweight and can be transported in the trunk of a car. And is not crazy expensive. smilewinkgrin

Thanks for any ideas or suggestions you might have!
Posted 1/23/2014 10:43 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, I can tell you what I purchased at Walgreens for under $100.00, its called a rollator. It is kind of like a walker with two hand brakes, I have a seat to sit on when I need to stop & rest. Some of these come with baskets which if I lift the seat on mine there is a small storage area. I love it, it allows me to go to the mall if I want, something I have not been able to do in years. I can use it whenever I want to go shopping at dept stores, not all places have carts with handles to hold onto. I mainly bought it to go to my grandson's soccer games. I cannot say enough good things about these. I have always walked with a cane & wish now I had never started that because with a cane you are not walking as you normally would. Short term sure, but not long term, those are just my thoughts.

I will not get a wheelchair as long as I am able to walk with a rollator. The reason is walking will help keep me strong and that is something we really need.

I really do not know much about a stool that would move & lean like you are describing. Sometimes when I am over at my son's cooking they have a stool in the kitchen called a saddle stool that I will use. It does not have a back on it, I wish it did. I am able to move around on this stool with ease though.

Anyway, I really wanted to tell you about the rollator.......Susie
Posted 1/23/2014 11:24 PM (GMT 0)
Hmm, thanks for the info Susie.
Posted 1/23/2014 11:27 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you, Susie. I will check out the rollator and see if it will fit the bill! :)
Posted 1/24/2014 12:27 AM (GMT 0)
…just popping to say that I sympathize with your back pain and standing. Sitting can also be hard on the lower back, so I usually try to do a little walking to relieve that extra stress.

Good Luck!

SE
Posted 1/24/2014 4:07 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the forum, kapow.

Walmart and other home goods stores have bar stools from $39, with and without backs. They come in plain wood and metal with padded seat.

I am having trouble walking any distance (driving is OK), so I try to make one of my stops at a store that has electric scooters available if I have more than one place to go or have to get around a large store. Some stores allow you to drive the scooter to your car to unload and will even send out a person to bring it back. Trying out various models of store scooters would give you an idea of how they handle and the types of controls you find most suitable. I've had distressing lurches to a stop when I've shifted my weight. I'm not heavy enough to make the seat contacts connect easily.

A handicap parking tag helps a lot too.
Posted 1/24/2014 4:19 PM (GMT 0)
The Rollator is an excellent idea! What I like about it is that it's under your control, you can continue to walk with assistance so your keeping your legs strong, and you can sit where and when you please because there's a seat, (so you don't have to look for a bench or place to sit).

I know what you mean about the kitchen. Standing to cook, prepare foods, even to do/fold laundry,....that's a kicker! My Aunt used to have a bar step-stool that she'd pull out. The 3 little steps folded up underneath the padded seat, so she could rest her legs wherever it was comfortable to. (I think that's next on my list).




M.
Posted 1/25/2014 10:46 AM (GMT 0)
Hi and welcome to HW. I'm not sure a stool that turns and tilts is going to come reasonably priced as they are out of the ordinary .

Years back while I had all my kids home and was having multiple knee surgeries I had a rolling desk chair that had no arms on it but the back was made to tilt for comfort to a certain degree and if that wasn't enough there was a knob to adjust it to go further back.

It also spun after releasing another knob to increase overall heighth . I actually bought the first on at Target for $24 now that was 12 years ago . The second one I got like it and currently have I got at the Habitat for Humanity resale store for $10 a few years ago.

I see them in ads for Office Depot as well as Walmart and they're actually less then $50 new. They're not a expensive chair but am sure if you wanted a better quality it would cost more .

It was great and allowed me to roll all over the kitchen and I was sitting at counter height after adjusting it to my work space.

I also use a rollator walker when out shopping or somewhere I need a quick seat. My insurance covered the cost ,around $120 with a Dr prescription. He wouldnt go for the scooter and said people tend to become too dependent on them and stop getting needed exercise that's important to spinal problems and OA . I'm like the others and love it !!
Posted 1/26/2014 1:53 AM (GMT 0)
One word of caution about walkers..they can be very helpful..I have used nexus for 8 years, but there is 1 *problem*. You stop using your upper body...(the muscles in my arms have atrophied)without a walker you use your arms and legs to walk, take away the arm movement..it can become a problem, unless of course you are prepared to lift weights, etc.(not possible in my situation)..

There are much cheaper walkers than the nexus, here in toronto, On., Canada-they are about $500., but the patient only pays around $100.00 The big advantage is that A) you can sit down where ever you want, and @) they collapse into half the size, so are convenient to go on escalators! In Canada they are replaced every 5 years.
This is my first post(ever), but hope it helps in decision making. Someone mentioned scooters, i know my mom goes to Walmart, and they have (?electric) scooters free.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply