@bandan Hex bar is where it's at! It places less stress on the lower back than straight bar deadlifts since your center of gravity stays closer to the body.
@bandan Try dumbbell Romanian deadlifts; focus on form, not weight. Keep the back straight, hinge at hips. Good for lower back, less strain. Also, consider glute bridges for strength. Check form videos online. Stay safe!
@bandan Make sure to stretch your hamstrings and piriformis muscles. The pain from deadlifting might be posterior chain tightness from exercising it not strain of the actual back muscles under load. Also if it is strain in your back it can come from insufficient range of motion in your hips during the movement forcing your back to take on more of the change in angle than it should.
