:cry:
Has anyone out there some advice, maybe had the same problem before :?
I have got quite severe backache, somewhere between the shoulder blades. There are parts where the muscles seems very hard and tense. Been to a couple of great massages :D but on the long run, it'll come back again.
The other day I sat at my machine and done a little quilting and there it was again, severe again :x so I'm assuming it could come from the way I sit at my sewing machine or even maybe the computer.
Has anyone got any suggestions what to do to help this problem??? Would be very thankful for any ideas.
I love quilting and I always pray the Lord will keep my eyes fit enough, my hands and my back too, so there must be a solution!!! :thumbup:
Thanks for your replies and God bless you all!!!
Elfi

It could be that your table is too high or too low. There are some products that fit around the shoulders and have a weight that hangs from the back to help keep your posture in line but I don't know how well they work. You might try getting up and stretching every half hour or so. You're probably tensing up and/or sewing for too long.

yes, make sure you are getting up about every half an hour to hour to stretch. Sitting in the same position that long makes you ache. :)

Oh yes, it kills the shoulders doesn't it? Holding the posure for long time, does a number on ya. I have no tips on what to do about it other than take a break, warm shower, and relax.

Get a better chair!! One that raises and lowers, an office chair works the best. Learn to turn your head every now and then too and always proper posture. Might want to check your pillow too. I had to make a pillow for myself to get it the right size and density.
Good luck sweetie, been there, had good drugs but couldn't sew while on them so I muscled thru it.

Be sure an check your chair make sure it sets up to your table so that you are not hunching over the machine an check the table height. A good chair is worth a million when it comes to sewing or sitting at your computer. Hope you get to feeling better nothing worse than a severe backache.

I have the same problem. I have arthritis in the upper back and I really have to watch my posture when I sew or sit at the computer. I take a break every hour for 10 minutes and lay on the floor or so some exercises to help relieve the tension. If I don't do all this I am in pain within 2 hours.

Sorry you are having problems. Could be the way you are sitting, and you may need to make some adjustments. Here is a link that may help (I have no affiliation with this group, just found it surfing).
http://www.ergonomics.com.au/pages/4...how_to_sit.htm

You might however, consider a visit to your GP...sometimes back pains are "referred" pain from another area. For instance gallstones can cause terrible back pain (ask me how I know!). Anyway, hope you feel better soon. Don't forget to hop up and do another activity every so often...sometimes it's easy to get in the zone and stay in the one position too long....guaranteed to make you seize up! Happy quilting.

I have the "right between the shoulder pain" also, lots of arthritis up and down the spine. I usually have to do the 2 tylenol to ever be able to sit and sew. Upsets me to no end but you have to carry on, in hopes it will not hurt today..

Heat and stretching can help. Make a heating pad or one of those microwave shoulder pads your best friend. Something about heat seems to unlock those knotted muscules. Also basic stretching exercises for the entire back really do help. Just be gentle with yourself and stretch only to the point that is comfortable. We've got to keep you quilting, hope you feel better!

My chiropractor told me to stand in a doorway and put my hands at shoulder height and lean through the door, putting pressure on your upper back. I find it really helps.. Also it is so important to be working at a table/desk that is the right height.

Is your sewing maching on a lift that makes it level with your surrounding surface? If not try using door stops or a machine lifter you can get from Debbie Umphress (here on the board), to tilt machine toward you, put door stops under back edge of machine. This makes the presser foot area of the machine easier to see and your not stiffening your shoulders as much. Just a suggestion.

OSHA guidelines are helpful in figuring out how to position your workspace so it is ergonomic. Here is their website:
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/comp...positions.html
Although it is for computer workstations, it's very applicable to a sewing workstation also.

I used to get that pain between my shoulders from quilting on my domestic machine while sitting down. With experimentation I found that I do not get that pain when I quilt standing up. (This is for quilting, not piecing. I still piece sitting down.)

To quilt, I place my machine on my cutting table (which is at about belly button height) and place a styrofoam table around my machine to provide a flat surface to support the quilt. There is a Youtube video on how to make this table at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g14govA4pIM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAS25v3ZTk0

I had the same problem for years. I was lucky enough to find a chiropractor to help me get rid of it. You can not hurt yourself doing this, which makes it a good excercise for everyone.
Stand in a door way with your feet shoulder width apart, toes at the center of the threshold. Place your hands at shoulder level on the door frame next to you. (Your palms are facing the same way you are). Very gently and slowly, lean forward a few inches at a time. You are NOT going for distance. Count to 5. return to upright for 3 count. Repeat for 3-5 minutes. (You can raise or lower your hands for comfort, or to get benefit at different levels) Do this several times a day. You will not always get immediate results, but you will get relief if you do this regularly. It has worked for me for years. I use it anytime I have overdone myself. I hope this helps you. Blessed Be!

Raise the back of your sewing machine so you are sewing with it tipped. You will be surprised!

I rarely get pain in between my shoulders when I sew in my sewing room. But, my last project I did at the dining room table. That table is significantly higher than the one in my sewing room. I had pain between my shoulders both days I worked at that table. So, I agree Raptureready, it's probably the height of your table or chair.

This may sound strange, but I thought the pain in my back was from bending over sewing so much (it felt like it was right under the shoulder blades and nothing would help). I found out the pain was from my gallbladder--surgeon said it was classic gallbladder symptoms. After that surgery, I've never had it hurt like that again.

Thanks for all your great ideas, I will give it a try!!! Will get some door stops before going home.
Galllbladder stones.....well I've got them!!!! :-( Been holding back on surgery for quite some time, was hoping I somehow get them out with herbal teas, etc. Some cleaver tea I've been drinking for a while has sort of helped, haven't had any collics for quite some time. But if this back ache persists, I'll have to consider surgery.... :cry:
Thanks again for all your concern. I'll let you know how I keep going and hopefully can post some quilts again soon!!! :lol:
Take care!!!

Some time ago on this forum this same question came up. One lady said that she had been a hair dresser and found one way there to prevent back aches. She stood/sat with her hips thrust slightly forward, which saved her back muscles a lot of pain.

I find that when I'm conscious of my back being straight, it doesn't get so tired. Straight back with hips slightly forward.
Pretend you're wearing a corset!!

so sorry for your pain

Heated rice bag. Moist heat helps me. I will work with on my shoulders sometimes. I reheat 2 or 3 tomes usually. Plus occassionally stretching.

Make sure you drink plenty of water, and take a very hot bath with epsom salts and 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide. This is very soothing to the muscles. Stay in the bath for about 20 minutes.

There were Posts a while back that mentioned mesh back supports that fit over your chair. They are $1.00 at the Dollar Tree and are just fantastic. They slip right over most chairs (I have a secretarial chair) and fit your back perfectly. Even my husband has one for his chair that he uses at the computer.

Try some stretching exercises, frequent get up and move breaks.

I was also given this exercise. Plus the following. Grip the seat of your chair on one side. Tilt your head gently to the other side until you feel a bit of stretch. Hold for 10 seconds and repeat. Do both sides. Both exercises helped a lot. Heat is also good and getting up after 20 to 30 minutes. Remember. Go gently.

My chiropractor told me to stand in a doorway and put my hands at shoulder height and lean through the door, putting pressure on your upper back. I find it really helps.. Also it is so important to be working at a table/desk that is the right height.

This does work!!!! I do it every morning during my wake up exercises and I step away standing erect....you have a postural problem. Physical Therapy could teach you how to manage it.

Sit up as straight as possible. Scoot your chair close to the machine. Support your back with a small pillow or a towel rolled up. Put in right where your lower back has a hollow. And last but not least start hand sewing. This is why I hand piece and quilt. It hurts either my shoulders or lower back too much to sew for very long at the sewing machine.

Relax in a tub of hot water at night and just soak for at least 15 -20 minutes. It sure helps. Also check the height of you chair.Sit on a pillow.

Besides the periodic stretching, I use Advil, a hot shower and one of those stick on "hot patches".

I use a high back chair and pillows. I also get as close to the machine as comfortably possible. Have very back back pain and it really helps. Also Take breaks thats the most important

I, too, have shoulder/neck pain (degenerative disc disease, unhealed rotator cuff, VERY tight muscles due to posture and misaligned neck-plus migraines!
I rely on many things: chiropractor, swimming, heat,some pain relievers,acupuncture, massage chair, physical therapy, and LOTS of stretching. The physical therapy (miafacial-sp) worked wonders. I need tune up in all areas frequently.

I'll pray for you!

I have the same pain in between the sholder blades to. I ware a upper back brace that keeps me from slumping. I do stretches every hour for 5 minutes and do some walking around the house. I was in a car accent years ago and ever since then if I get into to much pain I suffer bell palsy were my face will droop.

I put 2 tennis balls in a sock and back up to the wall and move around my top half so the balls are touching the place that hurts. You can also buy balls that you lay on the floor and roll around.
They have them at Sam's for $12. They really help and come with a book to tell you hon to use them. You can use them for all parts on your body.

[quote=magpie]Is your sewing maching on a lift that makes it level with your surrounding surface? If not try using door stops or a machine lifter you can get from Debbie Umphress (here on the board), to tilt machine toward you, put door stops under back edge of machine. This makes the presser foot area of the machine easier to see and your not stiffening your shoulders


I saw the tip of tilting the machine towards you on this site a while back and while I still cannot sit for longs hours it did help me to work longer and have less shoulder and back pain.

Seems like you have been given some great tips already such as a good, adjustable chair, and taking breaks, etc. I hope some of these work for you.

My physical therapist gave me a hard foam tubular-shaped roll. I lie down on it and allow my shoulders to fall back with the force of gravity. I do this for five minutes at a time, and it makes a huge difference. I suffered with this excruciating pain on and off for decades. It was very debilitating. This has given me relief.

Do you have pain in your neck, Hips, elbows, knees and throughout your body as well? Go and see your dr. or look up firbromyalgia on line and see if you have the classic pressure pts(hurts when touched). Also involves knots up and down the neck and spine. I have had this horrible disease for 8 yrs. So bad that I had to go on complete disability. <Soft Hugs> Suzette

In redesigning my sewing space I read a book about designing a quilt studio and it stressed the ergonomic issues faced by a quilter. I followed the directions and made a lot of changes in my set up and have virtually rid myself of the back pain. First you sit with your knees and hips at a 90 degree angle (which places your thighs horizonal to the floor). Have a friend look from the side to help you get the proper height of chair. Then check what your table height should be - you got it - your arms should be horizonal to the floor with a 90 degree angle at the elbows. Where your hands are is the height suggested for your table. I found that my table was about 1 1/2 inches too high and if I raised my chair then my legs were out of alignment, so I ended up building a small platform that raises my chair and foot pad (and has a raised edge so I don't roll off!). I wasn't a believer before, but have had no significant pain since doing this. It was a fair amount of work to get it set up, but now I can quilt as long as family and commitments allow!

What kind of chair do you sit in while you sew?

Same here. I take 2 Aleve in the morning and 2 again at night if it gets cramped and then painful. My posture has always been poor and I think that has a lot to do with it. I know to stretch and move my shoulders around. Right now as I'm sitting here I can feel pulling on one side from hip to neck. Computer work doesn't help it any, that's for sure.
My best friend this past year has been my heating pad!!
It sounds as if you know what to do to limber yourself up, though.
Take care.