Comments on: Standing isn’t the (only) answer

By: Steve

Steve — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 12:43:10 +0000

“Genetically different, baby!!”

(apologies to those who haven’t played GTAIV)

By: warmi

warmi — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 17:08:46 +0000

I don’t want to sound grim here but I think ultimately it is all in our genes … some people are simply more lucky than others, can smoke for decades without any ill effects , others have problem doing things which seem normal and natural to many …

Sometimes things can be easily identified and fixed but quite often there is no silver bullet … one simply has to know his/her personal limits and work around them – I know I do

By: kinjalkishor

kinjalkishor — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 16:33:18 +0000

Also cold weather may not be the problem but it can certainly aggravate the problem.

By: kinjalkishor

kinjalkishor — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 16:29:33 +0000

For tension and worry spend time solving the problem (being busy) instead of thinking and being unhappy or pondering repeatedly which we tend to do. Being busy helps, Thinking too much kills sleep. I learned the lesson long time ago to nopt think repeatedly over anything for long. Breaks are must. Being busy helps very much, so that effort could be on solution. Think that now nothing can be done what has happened has happened. Try solution now. Just dont think about occurence of problem. Think about ur health for motivation.

And who said gaming relaxes or doesnot takes enrgy, it can even kill sleep, as it actually raises anxiety. Reading something before sleeping seems better. Also note that programming or problem solving makes mind more anxious and active, which again kills sleep. Though gming seems to take attention of senses which help to relieve from stress.
Hope you recover more and remain in good health.
Plz dont take the unhappy matters too much seriously inside the brain. It will suck your life energy.

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 10:02:08 +0000

@elvencode: I’ve seen them, but I fancied the HAG Capisco better because it seemed more versatile. Hopefully it will arrive soon…

@kinjalkishor: yes, variety is still clearly the key. A walk in the morning really helps when it’s bad, and stress and a long time doing anything makes it worse – even relaxing stuff like gaming. This week’s server problems have left me very tense (both because of the server itself, and because of the time it’s taken away from my usual work) which hasn’t helped.

By: kinjalkishor

kinjalkishor — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 08:35:58 +0000

Though I agree writing a novel is far less strenous, as actual work time is spent thinking which can be done while doing some other things also, as compared to programming which is done subconsciously in rigid sitting pose generally.
When I do programming, I slouch and it brings backpain. Though of course slouch is meaning less in ur vocablury. You sit too straight already.

By: kinjalkishor

kinjalkishor — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 08:28:04 +0000

After reading all I will say keep surgery the last option ( so messy ), DONOT remain in one position for long, that generally creates back problem in its own devilish ways. Do variety of work, as lying down is not a solution(again more of one thing). Take sufficient rest. Note that one day of standing did so much but lots of sitting was not that worse. Still sitting long time is dangerous. I will say your best bet is long long long, physical therapy done very carefully and slowly, especially in starting. Never get in Bruce-lee exercises the first day, it requires lot of regualr practice. Do whatever but slowly. That way it will be less random and dangerous. Reamain tension free and follow physical therapy as needed. There seems nothing else to do now. Radical therapy shortcut maybecome a long cut.
From my personal experience If I sit more than 6 hrs continously I get piercing back pain, awkward poses of 2 hrs is enough. Though I can do sitting of 8-10 hrs if done in intervals of 2 hrs with gaps filled with cycling, walking, exercise, playing with kitten, etc. etc, various activities done at relevant times. Anything continously for long time seems the killer.

By: elvencode

elvencode — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 11:58:28 +0000

Have you tried a kneeling chair? I’ve heard they are good for reducing spine pain. Probably the better models for sitting for hours are the ones that include a backrest.

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 10:30:00 +0000

Hell, I’m still a *long* way from considering spinal fusion. From what I read, often that just transfers the problem to the sections above and below and is obviously completely irreversible. Definitely a very, VERY last resort. I have no faith at all in this kind of operation.

It’s frustrating that most sites (and most books, and most doctors & physios) focus on lumbar problems, which is precisely what I *don’t* have. My lumbar is fine (I did injure that about 5 years ago, but that’s since cleared up). My problem is in the thoracic, basically at my bottom rib on the right hand side. Allegedly it’s quite hard to suffer from ‘typical’ back problems here (like disc degeneration and other things that affect the lumbar), but somehow I’ve found a way to injure it. That site you linked has a section on it, which is useful!

http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/upper-back-pain/all-about-upper-back-pain

Note how they say it mostly affects computer users

Hence, surgery is even more unlikely to be useful in my case. I think I have a joint dysfunction where my rib connects to my thoracic, which supposedly is most amenable to physical therapy. It certainly adheres to the descriptions of that: really bad in the morning, gets better during the day, sore in the evening. My last physio said he thought it was that. What’s annoying is that I still seem to be able to aggravate it fairly easily in a short time. I’m fairly sure I haven’t fractured anything, since I had an X-Ray in October when I got taken to the hospital and that didn’t show anything up, which suggests it’s soft tissue damage. I guess I just need to take it easier and stay away from the desk more even with my stand-up configuration.

By: zeroskill

zeroskill — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 23:44:22 +0000

Am I the only person thinking degenerative disc disease?

I hate to say it, but have you considered having the troublesome vertebrae fused? You’ll obviously lose a bit of flexibility, but when your discs are degenerated to the point of throwing your back on a regular basis, it seems to be the only long term solution I’ve ever heard about.

And good lord man, go get your referral already! Any condition that lasts longer than a week is supposed to be checked by a doctor, and anything they can’t figure out within a month obviously needs a specialist. Get mad and get your MRI.

http://www.spine-health.com/wellness/yoga-pilates-tai-chi/lumbar-degenerative-disc-disease

Hope you feel better soon.