Lower Back Pain

I've had "back problems" since I was about 23. It wasn't until last year (I'm 38) that I learned from a massage therapist that if I do 'pelvic tilts' before getting out of bed where I press my low back flat against the ground/bed/floor and contract my abs that I'm much more comfortable. It's a simple exercise, but for me it stretches out those very tiny lumbar extensor muscles that have gotten tight during the night.

Of course, there are about 100 other PT exercises I've done over the years but lately, that one is a must before rising, or after laying down for awhile (like when getting a massage).

I will give this a try for a while.  I do have other stretches I'm doing before I get out of bed but they don't seem to "hit the spot".  It seems the best thing I can do is to do a series of "toe  touching" once I'm out of bed.  That seems to stretch out what is tight but it is getting to the point where I am vertical and able to bend over enough that is rough.

"Toe touching" is one of the worst stretches in my book...no offense, but I'll tell you why. in order for you to bend over and touch your toes, you are involving teh following joints:
Ankles, knees, hips, sacriiliac, L5/S1, L4/L5, L3/L4, L2/L3, L1/L2, T12/L1, T11/T12, T10/T11, etc, etc all the way up to your cervical vertibra and your shoulders.

It's best to isolate the joint/muscle combination that is in need of stretching and target just that one. There are too many ways to cheat and/or get hurt worse by doing toe touches whether you are seated or standing.

Maybe ask yoru doc for a PT referral and get an individual assessment and your own customized routine. Worked wonders for me until I finally blew out a disk a few years ago while raking gravel.

try the "summer man". It will help with stability. get on all fours and lift left leg straight out/right arm straight out...like super man. Hold that and really focus on tight back/tight abs. also, try some ab work (if it causes pain, don't). I could see if I have some info from when I hurt my back during football.