duckie

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!

Deborah12687

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.

Deenie

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.

lillybeck

[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.

dixiebelle162002

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.

catrancher

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.

suzette1954

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

QuiltNGanny

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!

samsews

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

angelarose

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.