How many of you have back issues that keep you from quilting? My back has been giving me problems. I have so many quilting projects that I want to get done but my stupid back has been hurting. Hoping it will get better quickly...very time I think its ok I start a project and i am hurting again...

bACKACHES HAVE BEEN THE STORY OF MY LIFE FOR 41 YEARS!i HAD MY FIRST BACK SURGERY AT 27. THEY TOLD ME 22 YEARS AGO AFTER MY 5TH BACK SURGERY THAT I WOULD HAVE TO LEARN TO LIVE WITH IT.I CAN NOT TAKE PAIN KILLERS, SO I LIVE WITH IT THE BEST THAT I CAN.

my mother was a great believer in good posture. it has turned out that she was right.

i am always more comfortable for longer periods of time when i can sit up straight while working on projects.

take a long, hard look at your work space. is everything at a comfortable height for you?

i have my own machine sitting on a raised surface.

whenever possible, i do my cutting on my ironing board or kitchen counter. (i bought a wooden cutting board, with a 12" x 18" mat to use on the ironing board.)

start with options that won't cost any money. if necessary, consider getting a shoulder brace that will help you train yourself to sit up as straight as possible. it will almost certainly make a huge difference. :-)

I agree with Patrice. My mother used to tell me, "If you can't BE tall, STAND tall." I always think of this when my back gets tired. I try to sit tall when I am sewing. My issues are not so much my back as my sciatic nerve in my hip. I have had this problem since my 45 year old son was born and they hit the nerve when giving me an intramuscular shot. I can't sit too long at one time. That is why I move around a lot when sewing, sew, iron, sew.

"Sit proud." Heard on a ranch camp that had horseback riding.

I find that I hurt my back if I am not wearing a good supportive shoes or sneakers and if my table is too low. I use a craft table at home which is high enough and I use those lifts for the bed that you can get at Walmart, Target, K-Mart, etc, probably Bed, Bath and Beyond, when my table is not available. I also use the "Body-Rite, Posture Pleaser" which is a counterweight that helps me remember not to stoop over whatever I am doing. We need to take care of our backs to make quilting a fun endeaver

I have recently found out that I have arthritis in my lower back and upper left thigh....I am in pain all of the time. I do not want to give up quilting, but have to learn how to adjust my time limits and sitting postures. It is very frustrating, so I understand what you are saying. I hope that you can find a way to balance the pain and quilting.

Have you ever been to a Chiropractor? I go whenever my back and shoulders start bothering me. I get adjusted and feel like working again.

As soon as the cold weather returns my back seems to hurt more and more...old age? arthritis...yep!!! Naomi

I had back issues for 30 or so years. FINALLY my doctor sent me to a pain clinic. They analyzed my MRI, then had me come in twice a week for about 7 weeks to exercise on their specialized equipment that strengthens specific back muscles. I have not had a problem since (5+ years)! And my MRI showed multiple problems with discs, stenosis, etc. (probably still does).