Anyone on the tools get a bad lower back sometimes?

[bernhund]

I've been a bathroom fitter for 25 years and there are days when my left lower back can get really painful for a few days. It doesn't stop me working because I'm one of those who needs to have the Grim Reaper knocking before taking a day off, but I guess a lot of people would take time out. What makes matters worse is that I've needed a new hip for 10 years, so I probably do things a bit twisted/one sided.
So the question is this: For those of us who occasionally suffer this for a few days at a time,is there some kind of lumber support that takes some of the strain of everyday physical work (such as bathroom fitting) away a little?

[bernhund]

Chris77 said:

I'm a tiler/bathroom fitter and I feel your pain (Literally LOL).

I find it helps if I focus on my posture, and also lifting with legs as appose to back. The 2 worst jobs for my back are large format floor tiling jobs and kitchen wall tiling. I have recently added hanging for a minute from a pull up bar at the gym to help stretch out my back.

I actually suffer most with my ankles due to years of Taekwondo, watching me get up after a long bout of kneeling down is quite amusing to my co workers.

It's a proper tough job fitting bathrooms! Up and down stairs all day will boxes of tiles, bags of rubble, plaster, china ware. All heavy stuff, then on your knees, on your feet, on your knees, on your feet. Crawling around dusty hot awkward loft spaces and being a contortionist behind baths and panels. I'm getting too old for it!!!

[bernhund]

To bike or not to bike. That is the question!

I think part of my problem is the broken hip I got 10 years ago. The socket broke out the back in a car crash, but too many other essential ops were carried out and I was told I wouldn't have survived the hip too. So since then, having been told I mustn't carry more than 10 kilos, I've just been getting on with my job as I had before. I think I'm twisting and lifting awkwardly to put weight on the other leg.

[bernhund]

The Ferret said:

bernhund said:

To bike or not to bike. That is the question!

I think part of my problem is the broken hip I got 10 years ago. The socket broke out the back in a car crash, but too many other essential ops were carried out and I was told I wouldn't have survived the hip too. So since then, having been told I mustn't carry more than 10 kilos, I've just been getting on with my job as I had before. I think I'm twisting and lifting awkwardly to put weight on the other leg.

On that basis then, I would really recommend speaking to a reputable Physio or even Chiropractor for some advice. The last thing you want to do is start an exercise regime which might cause you more problems.

I'd wager the back problems are linked to the hip. It certainly was/is part of my problem. My Chiropractor quickly spotted the stiffness in my right hip compared to my left. That surprised me, as my hips are about the only thing that have never given me a problem. I go 4 times a year now, and a large part of each session is spent on the hip, massaging it and trying to get it moving as it should. Ultimately I've been told I'll likely need a replacement at some stage (I'm 38 so that was quite a shock) although nothing is ever certain.

Problems with knees/back/hips are often linked to each other. Having a weak spot in one place can play havoc with other areas of the body without you even knowing.

It sounds like it might be wise to see my GP and arrange for an X-ray to see how the hip is doing. They said it would be arthritic within a year of the accident, which it is, but not so much I'm in great pain or anything. It must have deteriorated in 10 years! In the meantime I wondered about this
https://www.ossurwebshop.co.uk/braces/back-support...