Posture
 

I love to sew, and I hate it when things get in the way of it.

I have developed some pretty severe shoulder pain in my left shoulder. It has gotten to the point that it makes it very hard for me to sew at times. I went to my doctor, and she thinks that I have either developed a bursitis, or I have damaged the muscle that leads up the back of my arm and into the joint. All I know is that it hurt like crazy, and I don't like to take a lot of pills. Ice works until I take it off. You can't sew with an ice pack on your shoulder!

I have medicine for it that I can take if I want to, but I am also wondering if I am doing something with my posture that may be irritating this. How do you generally sit at your machine? Is there something ergonomic that you do?

There is definitely an ergonomic way to sit at the sewing machine. Here is a link to OSHA recommendations for sewing stations:
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/sewi...iondesign.html

Height is probably the biggest consideration, as the wrong height will put considerable stress on the shoulders.

However, also consider if you are sewing centered on the machine. The needle should be directly in front of you, not the front of the machine. A lot of sewing machine cabinets do not take that into consideration, making you sit too far to the right of the needle.

Another consideration is the distance between the cabinet's edge and the needle. For quilting, it is usually better to have that distance larger than normal. A table (say, from Ikea) can be modified with a cut-out and drop-down to hold a machine at the ideal distance from the front.

I have to constantly remind myself to sit up straight while I'm sewing because I tend to hunch over & not only does it hurt, it shortens how long I can bear to sit at the machine. I think they make some sort of harness you can wear to keep you more upright. I should look into that, I guess.

How about giving your sewing a resting vacation of a week or so, so the muscles have a chance to rest. Then go back, and try to relax while sewing.. You might be tensing up unintentionally.. You also should be taking more frequent breaks.. Research some excercises that will loosen up the area.. but please give it a rest before you do anything..

Hi, you should also look at how long you sew at one time. I make sure my ironing board is in a different room and my cutting/assembly table is in a 3rd room. That way when piecing a quilt I'm getting up and moving around every 5 minutes or so. Some people would consider this inefficient, but I think the few extra minutes it costs in an hour are worth it to stop my muscles from tensing up and my whole body from stiffening by being in the one position for too long -- and we can all use a little more exercise!

Thank you. That gives me some ideas.

I have a really good desk chair on wheels and I can adjust the hgt. when I move from table to table.Since getting the chair I can sew for hours without back or shoulder pain.Go test drive a few chairs at your local office supply store.And I hope you feel better soon.

This happened to me. my good dr sent me for an xray and then physical therapy. The therapy has helped me to relieve the pain and adjust my posture by strengthening my muscles. Then several months on, it happened in my pelvis. The dr I went ordered an xray for the pelvis and found a lot of damage on it, but just advised Aleve.....no meds will take it away, I know that. Meds give you a break so that you can exercise. I asked her to write an order for physical therapy and changed doctors. I have been miffed at her ever since as I feel she held back advice to make more appointments with her! Physical therapy taught me to observe what I was doing wrong. It must be continued following your sessions to keep pain at bay. It does not change the problem but relieves you of constant pain. I don't go a day with out the shoulder/neck exercises and the leg and hip exercises. If I want a better day that is the way to insure it. I still continue with Aleve taken with food in my stomach.

Have you tried physical therapy? My husband had about the same thing. They said he had an impingement of the muscle or something like that. He went through a series of exercises and as long as he does them periodically now he does not have many problems. I have about the same thing on the other arm, I am left handed so it is on the left side. I have started the exercises and it helps when I do them. I just need to remember to do them before I start in the sewing room!

The exercises strengthen the underlying muscles so they can overcome the impingement. They told him to use some inbuprophen for the inflamation while it was hurting so bad.

Phyllis

I use two different things, sometimes at the same time. I have "The Gypsy Sit Upon". It's sort of like a balance ball. It's not good if you sit back, bc it's for sitting straight. I also use a weight belt. It fits sort of like suppenders.

I had the same thing in my left shoulder. I went to the doctor and he gave me a prescription for 800 mgs of Ibuprrofen and tylenol with codine (I can't take Aleve). I took the medicine for a few days, but didn't get "instant" results and stopped taking it. It took about two months before I felt better. Now my right shoulder and right arm hurts. I went to the doctor again. This time I had bursitis in the shoulder and tennis elbow. It is really painful in the mornings. It has been about two months now for that and it is finally getting better on its own. I feel all of this has to do with too much quilting, but I wont quit.

Again - "Two Old Goats" lotion for pain. Look on the internet. Herbal, no drugs, pain relief only.

Hi! I had the same thing. My shoulder hurt so bad I couldn't sleep at night. I would roll on it and it would wake me up. I tried a chiropractor and it didn't work. Went to the Dr. and she said it was frozen shoulder. I looked it up and thought I would just wait and see if it got better. It didn't so went back to her and she referred me for physical therapy. It was great. I went about two or three times a week for about four weeks. Then he gave me exercises to do. And the pain went away. I have had a couple of flare ups since and if I do the exercises for a while it goes away. It sure beats being in pain. Also if you don't do something about it you can actually damage it where it won't recover. So don't wait to do it.

What I found that works for me is a broom or mop-------stand streight with it over your head holding with both hands appx 18 inches apart; raise and lower behind your head appx 20 to 50 times depending on how you feel. This strengthens the shoulder and back musles...also helps support posture. Might have to start with only 10 to 15 times but work up to more. It is more benefical if eventually finding something a bit heaver or with weights. Currently 104 degrees in Texas.

It isn't sewing that makes my shoulder scream...it is cutting.

What is the height of your cutting table? It should be approximately at your belly button. If the cutting table is too high, your shoulder has to exert much of the pressure required to cut the fabric. If the cutting table is sufficiently low, you can lean more of your body into the cuts, taking some of the pressure off your shoulder.

Sounds like you have a lot of good advice here for your posture. The thing I understand though, is heat relieves ongoing pain. Also soak with epsom salts.

For posture one of my best finds was a Posture Pleaser by Body Rite. Sorry I can't seem to get the picture any bigger, but you put your arms through these elastic loops (kind of like suspenders) an on the back is a weighted pouch. I think I paid close to $40 for mine years ago, but just saw them on Amazon for $26. It really makes you sit up straight and has helped me.

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OK so it was bigger than it looked and I put it in 3 times so now you really get the picture.

Thanks for the ideas. I actually broke down and went to the doctor. She had some guesses about what it might be, but isn't quite sure. It is being treated with anti-inflammatories right now, which has relieved the pain quite a bit. I have continued ice oacks, amd I am going to try that broom exercise. I do not to find a way to improve the table height, and I am taking on several of your suggestions. Thank you.