A Word Of Warning.

[sheilajim]

Hi All

I would like to give everyone a word of warning about sitting too long at a computer. This is really not very good for your health. For the last few years I have been sitting at home using my computer for hours at a time. The time would go by so quickly that I wasn't aware of how long I was sitting there, often for six or seven hours at a time. This year I developed CPS and Sciatica and have had to cut down drastically on my computer time, even though there are so many things that I want to do on it.

Don't be like I was. Take frequent breaks. Go for a walk. Don't stay at the computer for more than half an hour at a time, without taking some kind of a break. Go for a few days without using the computer at all.

Regards

[marilyn morning]

Hi Sheila

Sorry to hear about your situation. Maybe you need to put your computer on the countertop in the kitchen and stand up while you're at your PC? You could do some ironing in between?

Regards
Marilyn

[Currie]

Sorry Sheila, I realise that you've raised a serious issue, but I can't stop myself from saying that it wouldn't be too difficult to attach a laptop computer to the handlebars of an exercise bike. (Next year I'll probably read that someone has patented that idea and made a Billion)

And what do you mean "Go for a walk" - you must have a laptop - mine is much too heavy to carry!

Sorry again,
Alan

[LesleyB]

Hi Sheila
We are probably all guilty of spending too much time at the PC. Sorry to hear you have sciatica - it can be incredibly painful and very disabling.
I do hope you are coping.

Go for a few days without using the computer at all.

I'd be serioulsy struggling with that one.... as both work & leisure involve using a PC, that only happens when I am away on holiday!

Best wishes
Lesley

[emanday]

Nah! Sorry, not even on holiday! The lappy goes too

Considering I already suffer from RSI after years as a programmer (both thumbs, one of which already had an ongoing problem) I cannot give up my computer.

[nancy]

Hi Sheila,sorry to hear what you've been through,and hope your feeling a bit better!
My cousin Mary returned from a lovely trip to the States,only to land up in hospital in great pain and could hardly walk!She thought she had been doing too much sightseeing in America
But oh no she hadn't!!!
After four wks in hospital and all sorts of tests and still in great pain,they can only think it's sciatica
She's home now,but still on very strong medication,and having to try and walk with a zimmer frame.we had of course heard of sciatica,but didnt realise just how painful it could be
As she says though,she's lucky it didn't happen before she left America,or they'd have to have stretchered her on to the plane
I'll have to tell her to watch her time on pc,once she's fit to use it again.
Take care Sheila
Cheers Nancy

[sheilajim]

Hi All

Since I have stopped being on the computer for such long stretches at a time my hands and fingers feel much better. Even my legs are a bit better.

It is quite possible that one of my problems is my chair. I think that I will invest in a proper office chair.

When I was working I would have to use a computer and didn't have any problems. I wondered about this and realized that I wasn't on the computer all day. I did other things and frequently got up to get something or talk to someone.

Nancy I am sorry to hear about your cousin. I hope that she gets well soon.

Alan the exercise bike is a good idea. Now if you could only think of a way to key and exercise at the same time. k

Hi Marilyn, did you say Do IRONING

Hi Mary and Lesley. I would not dare to suggest that everyone give up their computer, Just take frequent breaks from sitting in the same position for a long time.


Regards

[AnneM]

Dear Sheila

You are quite right. I am currently suffering from bursitis in the hip and though I'm pretty sure it did not originate from sitting at the computer there is no doubt that sitting for a long period exacerbates the pain. Unfortunately much of my work requires sitting at the PC.

Hope you get better soon. At first I thought I had sciatica too which I have had in the past. Any of these conditions is very painful. We were none of us designed to sit at a PC or drive or whatever for long periods. We're meant to move around!!

Anne

[Anne H]

Hi Sheila,

Sorry to hear you're in pain...I can sympathize with you on that one. I can't remember the name of the condition I have but the symptoms and the pain mimic Sciatica. It isn't as serious and can be dealt with eventually with therapy and exercise. I've had to use a walking stick for over a year now (sometimes two sticks) and it isn't pleasant. You're right though, you should get up from the computer and walk around frequently which is what I do, except when I'm on a roll...I have a hard time tearing myself away from my computer.

Buying a decent chair is an excellent idea. That's what I did and noticed a difference right away. The one I got had heat and a massager and that helped a little but then I bought a Shiatsu massager cushion to put on the chair and that has helped tremendously. You might ask your doctor if that might be something that might help you. Anyway, good luck and I hope your pain doesn't last as long as mine.

Regards,
Anne H

[Russell]

I hate to say it, but Sciatica can happen to us all. As we get older the intervertebral discs gradually lose their elasticity and the gap between the vertebrae closes trapping the nerve roots. Its just that the pain is felt at the point the nerves actually supply further down the leg.

Good posture, good chair, frequent position changes, going for a wee dauner (walk) now and again to allow the discs to expand a little. No one of these is effective, but in combination they can help.

Not a comfortable condition though. Can't bend, can't stretch, can't sit for long, can't stand for long and everybody tells you how tired you look
"How are you " usual answer "Fine!" when in reality you feel drained and exhausted.

Hope it settles soon Sheila and you too Anne.

Russell