back and neck friendly workstation setups?

[august]

anyone have any idea for the best way to reduce neck and back strain when sitting at the computer doing editing work?

starting to really feel it. alot.

ouchie.



(not sure if this is the best place to put this...please move to appropriate forum if iv'e misplaced it. thanks!)

[ljh34465]

Well, first I would give up BTPAM - that would make your life more comfortable - eliminating jabba jabba would help as well..............

[august]

nevar!!!!

[brian.austin]

Ergnonomics and exercise are the two best ways to stay comfortable in front of a computer.

After programming in front of a 1940-ish wood executive desk for two years straight, I found that my age was in my early 30's but my body felt like it was 70. This was way too early to go downhill that fast.

So I studied up on it and found some good websites (back then) for ergonomic office setups. Just google "ergnonomics computer desk" and you'll find a wealth of data, including examples and medical data.

I also found that the better shape I was in, the less it hurt. This could be because the muscles could adapt more easily or because I was just too flippin' sore from working out to notice. Not sure. Regardless, I didn't suffer from the "where did that truck come from?" feeling when I got up after a few hours.

Which leads me to my last point: don't sit for a few hours. Despite the extra layers of fat many of us have managed to add to our butts, they simply aren't designed to do that for that long without a break. Nor is the back or shoulders or neck. So get up, go play with the dog, walk around the block, whatever, for a few minutes each hour. Do some stretches to keep things limber.

It all helps. I've been sitting on my ass for more than 15 years in front of a computer as a career and I'm not having those problems any longer.

[Lee4145]

Yup. Go outside and catch up on your yard work.

Is the work stressing you or the position of your back and neck? A decent chair and a keyboard drawer that accommodate my mouse are all I have and I don't have much trouble. I get up and move around a little too at intervals. And lots of alcohol. Lots.

[brian.austin]

Originally Posted by Lee4145

And lots of alcohol. Lots.

Yeah, that's good for numbing everything up. Of course, the quality of work tends to degrade, slightly, as well as weird, misspelled diatribes on various web forums that simply make no sense the next day when re-read. Not that I've done that, of course...purely hypothetical.

[Lee4145]

I didn't think about it but Brian's point about exercise is a good one. I've always been a weight lifter and recently began running. Long. Like marathon training long.

[Lee4145]

weird, misspelled diatribes on various web forums that simply make no sense the next day when re-read.

Yes, that is a problem. I was proud of myself today. I almost got involved in John's Barry Bonds thread and dumped it at the last minute. I was 20 minutes into my response too.

[brian.austin]

Originally Posted by Lee4145

Yes, that is a problem. I was proud of myself today. I almost got involved in John's Barry Bonds thread and dumped it at the last minute. I was 20 minutes into my response too.

Not enough alcohol then. Wait until later. The thread ain't going anywhere and you're gonna be tempted...

[Lee4145]

Nah. He specifically said "if you aren't a baseball fan, skip it." So he had a club to beat me with either way because I'm not a pro-sports-of-any-kind fan. They piss me off.

But back to August. You're a young man and you look healthy. Stop whining and get to work!

[Bunny N]

I have been experiencing this same type of headache pain for the last 3 days. Pretty intense, a 10 on the pain scale. Went to ER last night. Was given a steroid shot and sent home with cyclobenzaprine and oxycodone. The pain hasn't changed much except that it is around a 7 now instead of 10. Just sent off an email to my primary care physician for advice. Icing hasn't helped and heat packs haven't helped either. Alot of ouch going on here too. I feel for you brother.

[easypickings]

I feel for you bunny. I'm a migraine sufferer too. I hope that the pain has settled down since posting this.

As for comfort while working on the computer, I work 12 hour shift, 4 days a week in front of a computer. Raising the monitor to eye level helps alleviate some of the stress on your neck. A good erogonomic chair or one of those bouncy balls helps somewhat for your back. Keeping the keyboard at a comfortable level helps the wrists. The best advice was given already - - take breaks away from the computer - do stretches and exercise.

~Renee (easy)

[Goofup]

For me I found that my problem was constantly moving my head up and down looking between the monitor and the keyboard. I placed my keyboard closer to the level of my monitor, and even dropped my monitor below eye level. Now I'm not constantly tilting my head up and down and it's helped my neck a lot.

[Bunny N]

Originally Posted by easypickings

I feel for you bunny. I'm a migraine sufferer too. I hope that the pain has settled down since posting this.

I've never had a headache like this before. Beginning day 4 now. Gonna go back to ER in a couple hours when my daughter wakes up and can drive me.

[easypickings]

I hope that you're feeling better now. There's nothing more debilitating than a bad migraine. I hope that going back to emerg. helped.

[Bunny N]

Diagnosis: muscle spasm. Its getting better thank you.

August, how are you doing? Better I hope. Alternate hot and cold packs. Relax. Deep breathing. etc etc

[jfrancho]

anyone have any idea for the best way to reduce neck and back strain when sitting at the computer doing editing work?

Get a girlfriend to rub your shoulders once in a while. Do not marry them, though. The massages and after the honeymoon.

[august]

Originally Posted by Bunny N

Diagnosis: muscle spasm. Its getting better thank you.

August, how are you doing? Better I hope. Alternate hot and cold packs. Relax. Deep breathing. etc etc

glad to hear that you are feeling better.

i'm doing better too. got me one of them fancy schmancy temperpedic pillows to straighten my neck back out at night...
lucky to have a sister and brother in law who are chiropractors (albiet distant ones...no cracking over the phone they tell me )

still need to work out an ergonomic system to get to the root of the problem. thanks for asking!

p.s. - i hear other things stop after marriage too. !

[brian.austin]

Originally Posted by jfrancho

Get a girlfriend to rub your shoulders once in a while. Do not marry them, though. The massages and after the honeymoon.

So it's NOT just me!

Or get the wife AND girlfriend. You'll get the massages, the benefits of a wife, and the stress you'll be feeling won't be from sitting in a damn chair all day long.

[easypickings]

Originally Posted by august

p.s. - i hear other things stop after marriage too. !

yes, like sweet nothings, flowers etc etc... sniff...mind you, the errrr male sound/smell effects only starts after marriage hee hee