Forum Moderators: phranque
MY BACK IS KILLING ME!
After two or three hours on the computer I can hardly stand up.
Pain in my lower back. I shuffle around like an old man till it
finally limbers up. I might have the wrong chair. I use a padded
steno chair. I have a friend who has a high computer table and a
stool. Thinking about trying that. Has anyone had this problem?
Does anyone have a suggestion on other styles or makes of chairs
that might alleviate this problem?
Help! King Fisher
One time I was getting a bad neck at the end of a work day having started a new job. I initially blamed chair at work but a flash of inspiration made me flip my mattress over and around so I was sleeping on the underside and at the other end and hey presto no more bad neck at work. So it could be worth looking at other things that have changed recently like a new bed or sofa?
That took care of the back problems for me.
It takes a bit getting used to because you tend to sit up straight or even lean forward towards the screen. But once you get used to it, you'll no longer even notice it.
Most important
Exercise, lift weight etc... at least 1/2h daily
pay a visit to sport physician he/she'll tell you how to work your back.
I am no longer in my prime time :) do all of the aboves and am doing OK
After two or three hours on the computer I can hardly stand up. Pain in my lower back. I shuffle around like an old man till it finally limbers up.
King_Fisher there's no chair in the world that will stop this completely. you can't throw money at it and expect it to go away. :-)
I've been chair-bound for about 10 years and 8 - 18 hours per day in front of a computer finally caught up to me. Until about 6 weeks ago it was a chore getting out of bed. There is one solution: a serious regimen of situps and stretches.
Every morning: 20 full situps, 20 crunches, 20 over-head leg lifts, 20 scissor-leg lifts, 20 regular situps with knees on the floor. Takes 10 minutes. The first week I was lucky to get 10. But now it's not so much of a chore and my back problems are slowly fading.
And I echo the sentiment on exercise. While I've been lucky to have never suffered lower back pain, I did suffer from "mouse shoulder" at one time. I used to also have upper back and shoulder pain on long driving trips. That went away once I started seeing a personal trainer (about 5 years ago).
A good trainer, BTW, will give you a much better workout than most people can on their own. My trainer just took on a new client who "works out every day at the gym". He had to stop after 20 minutes. (Yes, there is pain when you start - it's how you know it's working - typically after a couple of weeks you will not experience pain.) Twice a week with a trainer is probably at least the equivalent of an undisciplined daily solo workout.
A good trainer will make sure that you work out EVERY part of your body. Most people are not very good at this on their own. Men, in particular, I think are especially prone to unbalanced workouts when left to their own devices. You know you've all seen those "buff" guys with big arms, bird legs, and a beer gut. Those are the ones that know it all and work out at the gym solo. ;)
But even if you have the most ergonomic office around, it doesn't replace moving and stretching regularly.
IIRC, there was a very good thread about this subject in the "foo" forum a number of months ago.
King Fisher
