Lower back pain from standing in line

[FortForever]

While in line, I periodically bend as if I was touching my toes. It looks weird, but stretches out my lower back and helps.

 

[iheartjuppy]

I have some joint and nerve issues in my lower back and my physical therapist recommended trying the Serola belt. May be worth a shot, it's not terribly expensive (and may be reimbursable if you have a healthcare flexible spending account, though I'd be sure to ask your insurance company).

http://www.amazon.com/Serola-Sacroi...F8&qid=1365961076&sr=8-1&keywords=serola+belt

I'm not affiliated in ANY way. I just ordered one so can't speak from personal experience but the reviews look promising!

 

[KimWDW]

These are all great tips. Thanks so much!

 

[shortchef]

The best thing I've found is Arbonne Herbal Muscle Massage Pain Relieving Gel. It has menthol, capsaicin, methyl salicylate, eucalyptus, witch hazel and more. Never any animal testing. PM me for website info and discount info.

 

[tiki23]

Always see a Dr. first before starting an exercise routine, but this is my personal experience:

Before our 1st WDW trip I worried that I might end up in a wheelchair during our vacation because of my bad lower back. Part of it was that I was not exercising, well, at all! Other contributing factors were that my muscles were always so tight and that my neck had some serious issues (didn't know that at the time!)

I managed that first trip with the shoes that did best for me - Crocs! - stretching whenever I could and taking sit breaks often.

Since then, I go to the gym regularly, use a foam roller to keep those muscles loose and see my chiropractor on a regular basis. It's changed my life.

Next month, I'm running my first half marathon.

Lots of good tips here, enjoy your trip and I hope it is pain free!

 

[goofy4tink]

The center of gravity in most women is behind the belly button where in men it sits behind their sternum. As a result the hips/low back tend to be a female's fulcrum point and many women end up with a anterior tilt to the pelvis (kinda like your butt stuck out, a little sway backed) and when you stand and stand and stand like that it stresses the QL muscles in the low back and can cause the deep six muscles in your pelvis excess strain. Something that might help alleviate that pain is doing a hip tuck while you wait in line and reversing the strain on the muscles (putting the pelvis back into a neutral position) As you stand in line and tighten your butt muscles and think about tucking your pelvis in for a count of 10 and do it a few times.

However I would be remiss if I did not tell you that pain is a way your body communicates with you so if you have ongoing pain you should seek the advice of a licensed medical professional.

Have to agree. Not to mention that as we women get older, our abs get really out of shape, which really impacts the lower back!!!

Always see a Dr. first before starting an exercise routine, but this is my personal experience:

Before our 1st WDW trip I worried that I might end up in a wheelchair during our vacation because of my bad lower back. Part of it was that I was not exercising, well, at all! Other contributing factors were that my muscles were always so tight and that my neck had some serious issues (didn't know that at the time!)

I managed that first trip with the shoes that did best for me - Crocs! - stretching whenever I could and taking sit breaks often.

Since then, I go to the gym regularly, use a foam roller to keep those muscles loose and see my chiropractor on a regular basis. It's changed my life.

Next month, I'm running my first half marathon.

Lots of good tips here, enjoy your trip and I hope it is pain free!

After talking to a physical therapist awhile ago, I found out why I do better in Crocs at WDW. Seems that my incredibly high arch/instep doesn't need the addtl support I've been trying to force on it. It needs very soft something underneath...so when I asked about my Crocs, he said they were perfect for my particular foot. That the high arches needed something soft to land on otherwise the knees, hips, and then back started to be impacted!!!
So, exercise, soft shoes underfoot and serious stretching all seem to help my lower back.

 

[ArwenMarie]

After talking to a physical therapist awhile ago, I found out why I do better in Crocs at WDW. Seems that my incredibly high arch/instep doesn't need the addtl support I've been trying to force on it. It needs very soft something underneath...so when I asked about my Crocs, he said they were perfect for my particular foot. That the high arches needed something soft to land on otherwise the knees, hips, and then back started to be impacted!!!
So, exercise, soft shoes underfoot and serious stretching all seem to help my lower back.

That's interesting...I have high arches and I would never think to wear Crocs. I'll have to bring them just in case! I do love my new Skechers Go Walks...they are rather flat too now that I think about it.

 

[AuroraMeansDawn]

Have to agree. Not to mention that as we women get older, our abs get really out of shape, which really impacts the lower back!!!

I feel your pain, sister. And abs are the hardest to tighten and the first to go when we get lazy. Darn this body is high maintenance.[/B]


After talking to a physical therapist awhile ago, I found out why I do better in Crocs at WDW. Seems that my incredibly high arch/instep doesn't need the addtl support I've been trying to force on it. It needs very soft something underneath...so when I asked about my Crocs, he said they were perfect for my particular foot. That the high arches needed something soft to land on otherwise the knees, hips, and then back started to be impacted!!!

Not the first time I've heard that. I had some Saucony cross trainers that I had fitted and dropped $100+ on them and they had GREAT arch support. Enough to make my feet pronate and hurt and suddenly the glute minimus and medialis were like DANGIT STOP THAT!. Shoes should feel "invisible" to be the most effective. Love my Avias for that reason and I keep Croc flip flops for tooling around the resort. My feet thank me and so does my back!

Something else I haven't seen mentioned here but good old Epsom Salt soaks can do wonders. Our bodies don't absorb Magnesium Sulfate in the diet very well but it absorbs easily through the skin and it's GREAT for muscular pain.

 

[Angel Ariel]

On top of the things here that will likely treat the symptoms, I would talk to your dr or other medical profession and try and figure out what the underlying problem is (like your standing posture, as you mentioned) - and see what can help you address the underlying problem so that you don't need to treat the symptoms any more.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I have seen people sit down in line using a small portable stool, like the kind you may take camping. When they get close to getting on the ride, they just fold it up. Maybe that would help?

I didn't think they were permitted at WDW.

 

[si-am]

Maybe try to avoid lines? Do rope drop, use FP, skip rides with long lines. I haven't waited more than 10-15 minutes for anything in years.

 

[n2mm]

I would invest in a really good pair of shoes. You should visit a shoe store that has computer analysis of your feet. In my city we have The Good Feet store. The shoes will be about $150-$200 but it will be worth it to save you the pain.

I agree!!

I've had back surgery and while most times I'm good (it's been 7 years now since). If I stand with sandals or flipflops my back will ache, but if I have shoes with good support in them, I don't have the problem. When I'm standing in the kitchen working on a project, I make sure I have good support shoes on and not slippers....it makes a world of difference.

 

[PrincessMe]

Same thing happens to me! I take two Aleves every 12 hours the whole time we are there (keeps my feet happy too) and do my best to tour in a way that keeps line waiting to a minimum (best park recommendations, rope drop, fast passes). But my back still gets sore. The ride vehicles don't always help either. So I do some squats and some slow forward bends and try to remember to keep my stomach tucked in.

 

[SueM in MN]

I have seen people sit down in line using a small portable stool, like the kind you may take camping. When they get close to getting on the ride, they just fold it up. Maybe that would help?

I didn't think they were permitted at WDW.

They aren't permitted. Sometimes people get them in, but they are on the list of items that are not allowed.

Plus, since many lines are kind of constantly slowly moving, folding and unfolding a portable stool would be a bother.

 

[myjourney]

They aren't permitted. Sometimes people get them in, but they are on the list of items that are not allowed.

Plus, since many lines are kind of constantly slowly moving, folding and unfolding a portable stool would be a bother.

My husband and I take our walkstools, which fold down to the size of a raincoat in a bag. We have not used them in a line yet but we use them at parades. No one has told us we cannot use them and we take them through the bag check on the way in. I thought it was folding chairs that were not allowed.
http://www.amazon.com/Walkstool-WA2...UTF8&qid=1365984027&sr=8-4&keywords=walkstool

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

Don't lock your knees, keep stretching, and periodically rock up on the balls of your feet about 20 times. I also have a fused spine, and one position will get to me long before the walking. Arch your back several times also. The aleve will help, but the stretching is critical.

What specific stretches are good?

Thx!

 

[Sweets156]

Try doing Yoga before you go on your trip, it really stretches your back and all muscles. Maybe do 10-15 minutes in the morning and same at night. It does wonders.

 

[Jestocost]

Aleve right before heading to the park and ice on the lower back at the end of the day if you are in pain when you get back to your resort.

 

[rapunzels]

We all must be insane to continue vacationing to a place that gives us so much pain....

..low back pain...inflamed toe joint...1 stress fracture on each foot.... equals...anti-inflammatory meds 2x a day, ice packs at night, breaks when needed, and a MK dole whip....
...then all is good again..and I'm ready for the next day to start it all over again....

 

[bennifer]

I fidget. I'm sure it looks nuts but it helps me. My last vertebrae and sacrum are fused so it hurts me to stick my behind out like a lot of women do so I get a lit of lower back pain when standing in lines too.

So if you see some one rocking side to side, picking up her feet, bending her knees, it's probably me!

Or me!

Seriously, the older I get the more my lower back kills me after standing. It doesn't matter what type of shoe I'm wearing, unfortunately, either. Stretching, fidgeting and Aleve work for me. Good luck!!!