My wife is 9 months post-back surgery - she had 3 vertebrae fused - and is still recovering. She's actually more active than I, but has been cautioned to stop overdoing things.

I have chronic/constant pain in the lower back, arthritic spurs in both shoulders and a hip that is awaiting replacement. I can't walk without pain. Also cannot take NSAIDs for pain relief.

Yet I do the house cleaning, take our dogs out/clean up messes, all of the kitchen cleanup and do the breakfast and lunch cooking. The only person that is allowed to hurt in our house is her. I have to suck it up and do whatever regardless of my pain.

So, how do I handle this? I remind myself that I'm serving more than my wife - I'm also serving God. It's part of being a husband where men are supposed to love their wives like Christ loves the church - self-sacrifice. One accepts the pain knowing that my reward may not be here on earth, but in the afterlife. That helps with the attitude.

Going off in another direction...
I have also invested in tools that are less painful to use. Example is a cordless Dyson stick vacuum - it's much easier to move about than a traditional vacuum. Also, an O'Cedar spin mop instead of a squeeze mop or a twist mop. Also a Libman dustpan with long handle with broom to minimize bending. I also have a "reacher". This is not a commercial, just useful stuff I've found that works well if you have a painful lower back.