Neck and Back hurting while quilting....
 

Lately my neck and back hurts more and more when hand quilting or machine quilting. Does anyone else have this problem and what have you done to help it? I've read and practiced all the posture suggestions but still have problems.

Seems like I read somewhere about an adjustable back weight that would help. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much.:wave:

I have to change chairs and take breaks.

I'll be interested to see suggestions since I have trouble with this, also.

I go to the chiropractor once and month and I'm usually fine. There are some neck strains that happen from too much computer work, sewing, etc. He has be get up and walk around about every hour. I've even set up my ironing board across the room from my sewing machine just so I HAVE to get up walk around more.

The best thing to do is make an appointment with a physical therapist. A PT can show you the solution to lessen your pain. If you ignore the pain it will get worse in a shorter period of time. You will give up quilting too soon!

Does your neck and back hurt when you are doing piecing or is it with FMQ? There has been a lot of discussion on here lately about some suspension system that has helped people's problems when FMQ.

No, I don't do any FMQ. It's just sitting at the sewing machine and sewing or now it's even if I sit and hand quilt.
I go to the Chiropractor and I also take breaks and get up and walk around. I may try one of those ergonomic chairs.

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions.

Sewing for any length of time in a bad position will eventually hurt. The machine should really be set inside a table so it's flush. This helps a ton.

I have arthritis in my neck, so I feel your pain. As long as I get up and take a short walk every half-hour or so, it doesn't get too bad.

I would suggest to check that the height of your table and chair are correct for good posture while sewing. My dh made my table to be just the right height and I bought the best office chair I could afford. And I had to (try on) several chairs to find the right one

Neck, back, ....SHOULDERS....that's where i get the most pain when i'm wrestling with the quilt during quilting on my DSM.....I take lots of breaks - do stretching exercises....Sometimes we get in a zone and don't realize how long we've been slouching at the machine. I hear ladies say they set their ironing board up right next to their machine....mine is across the room so i have to get up and move around. Old bones !!!!!!!

I recently got a TENS unit from Amazon. It helps a lot, but you should probably check with your doctor first to make sure you don't have some underlying condition causing the problem and that it's okay for you to use. They used to be available only by prescription.

Debbie D

I agree that improper chair height can be a real problem. If you machine sits above the table (not down into a cabinet) then you need a really high chair. You never want to have to hold your arms up higher than, or even level with, your shoulders. This can impinge nerves in your neck.

As for your back, do you get regular exercise? People who are more muscularly toned and flexible will have the natural spine support of those fit muscles. So try some weight training exercises and stretching, like yoga-- regularly. It does make a difference in your spine health. Then take frequent breaks, straighten up, and roll your shoulders backwards a few times. Even backwards bending while in your chair is a really great relief for your spine.

I use door stoppers to tilt my machine forward at a slight angle. Learned this at a quilt show many years ago where a demonstartor was using the stoppers for her machine. I find the slight angle really helps my neck. Also have an ergonomic office chair and try to remember to get up and move around.

Several years ago I purchased an apparatus that you wear like a back pack. It had a weight that hung on the back and was supposed to alleviate back pain and strain. The problem was that the straps dug into the upper arms by my armpits and that hurt. So the apparatus lays languishing in a drawer. ;)

I use a great big fitness ball in the sewing room. i sometimes DO sit on it while at the machine and find it very comfy. you don't notice but supposedly it requires use of core muscles that help tone that area. but you can kind of stretch and move around more on it. can also use it to lay across to stretch and kind of massage out those back muscles that tend to tense up. when i feel really energetic, i might add a few sit ups (using the ball). They come in sizes and mine is not the largest one. in order to keep elbows above the machine as described above, i'd need the largest size. they're good for lots of toning/strenghtening exercises apart from the uses i described. but for sitting, i like it very much. i have heard of others who do use the ball for this purpose. i do have an old-school office chair that is divine but 2 machines are out so i use the chair as well as the ball. one is recessed and the other is not. i agree the recessed machine is less fatiguing and thankfully, that's the one I use for FM.

I learned a good tip on "Simply Quilts" show years ago. It's called “yes, no, maybe so” – sit straight, feet flat on the floor. Then slowly nod your head up & down (yes) 3 times, followed by side to side (no) 3 times, then finally, pull your shoulders up to your ears (maybe so) & relax down 3 times. Do this every 15-30 minutes, and you will be amazed at how well this relaxes your neck & shoulders.

I, too, have arthritis. All the above are great. Though the use of a TENS unit should be evaluated first by a licensed physical therapist and approved by a doctor. When sewing at my machine I do get up more often that I ever used to to just walk a bit and stretch.

When doing hand work I have a quilting/sewing pillow I use so that I don't have to look down so far. I also use it for reading heavy books.

I made some for friends. Just take two 18" squares, RST, and sew together with the corners of the top one at the midline of each side of the other square. Leave an opening and stuff the inside with pillow stuffing. Sew up open seam area. I put small triangular pockets on two opposing sides to hold things that might be wanted.

I too have the back brace and use it most of the time - until yes the elastic digs in a little. I have also found that putting two tennis balls in a sock and then hanging it on the back of the chair so that the balls hit my back in a comfortable place really helps me to sit up straight.

Oh one more thing I sure wish there was a "Thanks" button for posts cause I sure would have used it. :thumbup:

My back hurts really bad...I take Aleve and get up and get in my computer chair and it eases up...which gives me the chance to sit here and read the Quilting Board...and then go back to sewing after I get easy...works for me....so if my DH ask why I'm on the computer so much....I'm waiting for my back to ease up!! LOL LOL

One thing that may help is a back posture seat cushion. These rest against or attach to the back of your chair. I know of people who have to use these with their computer chairs - and they're not particularly expensive, about $15 or so. Might be something to try before spending the $200+ on an ergonomic chair.

I had to lower my sewing machine so my arms weren't so high and my neck wouldn't hurt. I find now that I can sew for some time before it starts to bother me. I just get up and cut fabric or press or something else for 10 minutes. Taking breaks is important.

Yoga every morning! You can hear all those joints realign!

I think mine is a combination of old age, 63, and a lifetime of handwork and sewing. l had to put heat on my shoulder last night. I have gotten deeply into making the "Pillowcase dresses" for a charity project. I probably finished 12 of them yesterday and then sat down and crocheted an edge on two fleece blankets for Linus. My husband teases me about my sewing job. I also read a novel every two or three days. I think I am just wearing out my various joints. At least I have something to show for my pain.

I broke my back 5 years ago and it hurts a lot if I sew for to long of time. The thing that helped me most was, I lowered my chair. Just by doing that I can sew much longer. Maybe just a simple thing as adjusting your chair will help some. Hope you find something that helps you. JoAn

Just thought I should add in some advice about the wonderful large exercise balls. I would love to stretch out on one. I see them in use at the gym, mostly by younger members, but my husband gave me a book on Backs that with every photos entry it states: not for those with lower back pain. I have the same experience with neck and shoulder pain and have worked with a Physical Therapist as long as Insurance would allow, and then with a Physical Trainer to over come the pain. Now I work out to run away from pain without using Aleve any more as it affected the condition of my kidneys......a year off Aleve helped to end that problem. It took me three separate periods of needing the help of my Physical Therapist to push me to realize that I must go on with formal exercise to keep my advances in well being. I can add more time in for sewing now. I use TENS too, as needed, before exercise as it interrupts the pain message sent to the brain so that you will not resist the thought of exercise. The problems arise when you need to improve your posture.

I like the yes, no, maybe thing! in the last few months I have gone to an Upper Cervical Chiropractor. Great results, stretching and the exercise ball too. height of chair these all are a factor. If you need to care for overworked muscles you can also use Calcium Bentonite Clay either as a poltice or a bath. I get mine from Global Light Networks. Great stuff.
good luck

My back and hips have been hurting and I know it is because I need a new chair and sit too long. Some days sewing the only time I get up are when I run out of water or need the restroom. I am shopping for a chair today. My chair slowly slips lower and lower. It is getting worse. When it is too low my shoulders and upper back hurt.

I have a mesh and flexible wire device that I got at the Dollar Tree. One dollar for this so it's certainly worth a try. I put it in my sewing chair and also use it when hand quilting. It works better than a pillow and certainly has helped my back when I'm working with quilts. It supports the lower and midback but is so that it conforms to you very comfortably.

Last year a man hit my car at a stop light, so I was unable to sew due to neck pain. I found that I missed sewing over the months, so I moved my machine to our dining room table (DH liked the look of a Pub table - now he doesn't, but that's another thing). With my machine on the table, I'm able to stand up straight and sew. NO neck pain! So I would say try another place for your machine. Kitchen counter (not as high, but higher than your sewing table), it doesn't have to be on the counter all the time. As others have said, you need to move around more. Good luck

Do you have your machine tilted towards you? I found putting two rubber wedge door stops under the back of my machine has worked wonders with the strain and pain between my shoulders and my neck. My husband looked at my sewing posture while I was at the machine and asked me why I was leaning my head down to see the needle area of the machine....he said, your neck must hurt by the end of the day....he was right....my neck and between my shoulder blades. I saw one of those Plexiglas machine supports, but way too expensive....so I tried the door stops, works great.

Sounds like it is your chair. I use to have that problem until I changed chairs.

I agree with those that posted about putting your machine on a tilt. I didn't have doorstops & definitely wasn't willing to "invest" in a manufactured tilt for my machine, so I just put a roll of masking tape under the back edge & that's been working fine for me. Helps a ton with neck pain. I also took empty chocolate boxes & taped them around my machine to make a platform & then stacked books under my folding table to put next to the old desk that I sew on. Having that extra space to rest my forearms was something that my pain specialist recommended & it has also helped a lot. Of course, I have to put shims under the back edge of the boxes so they match the tilt of my machine.

Also, make sure that the front of your chair is tilted down. If you can't make that adjustment, then either invest in one of those butt cushions that has the slots angled down for your legs, or else take one pillow & put it flat on your chair & take a second one & put it at an L-angle at the back of the chair (so it cushions your tailbone & forces your legs to angle down). I also have found that making an angled support for my left foot helps to balance me out, but I just saw a video with Leah Day that recommends putting a phone book under your right foot, behind the speed pedal so I'm interested in trying that.

Beyond that, I love the 8-hour stay-cold ice packs that you can find at Walgreen's or Wal-Mart and such by the pharmacy (heat only works for muscle pain; ice is for nerve pain/joint pain/inflammation, which are more often the culprits with repetitive motion). They come in a velcro pouch so you can strap them on & keep sewing. If it truly is muscle pain, then I use the ThermaCare heat wraps. Any kind of exercises that work your shoulders & traps will help with neck pain. Core work helps with back pain (I've even seen a few people manage to successfully sit and sew on top of those balance balls -- that is a skill in itself if you ask me! lol). And listen to your body. Don't keep working through the pain! We all stop the moment our machine starts moaning & groaning but will ignore our bodies when they do the same thing. Stop. Stretch. Reposition yourself. Check to make sure you haven't lost proper posture as you've become more fatigued. Switch to another task for a bit -- stand and cut fabric or sit in bed and work on applique or binding another quilt. If it's become darker, turn on some more lamps -- or buy extra lighting so you're not straining forward to see your stitches.

After 2 neck surgeries & 5 back surgeries and countless injections, pills, acupuncture, PT & chiropractic treatments, I completely sympathize with you and really hope you can find some options that work for you!

I use a good office chair, but I still get back and neck pain if I do not get up and move around at regular intervals. I have arthritis in my neck, shoulders and back, so some pain is expected; but if I pace myself it gets easier and I have less pain. I used to do medical transcription for 8 hours a day, so every 15-20 minutes I would get up, get a drink of water or just take a short walk to the ladies room, which helped. I really wish that I could have taken that chair with me when I left, as it was fantastic. Oh well, leaving that job was more important to my well being than having that great chair. LOL.

Alikat, I am interested in the pillow you describe. I had to handsew two charm squares to "picture" it. That would have 8 corners. What is the advantage over a square pillow? The only pictures I found online were very small with a button in the middle. Thanks for any clarification.

When sitting in front of your machine, your arms should be bent at a 90 degree angle, when your palms are flat on the bed of your sewing machine. If they are not, then your chair is at the wrong height. You might need some assistance to figure out what that height needs to be, then measure from the floor to the top of the chair seat. That's the measurement you need to know when you go to buy a new chair. Take the tape measure with you to the store.

Over time chairs seem to loose their ability to stay the same height, then it's off to find another. This makes me kind of mad, since there never is anything else wrong with the chair, it just won't stay where I want it.

I sit on an inflated disc cushion in my chair. As others have said, change your position frequently. Move your head, neck and shoulders through different motions. Also, after you are finished sewing, a warm shower is a good way to loosen those muscles up. Here's the link for this product: http://www.flaghouse.com/Seating%2DD...D15-item-37851
You can probably find it at another site for less. Good luck!