BTDT. Having the butt in the chair 8-10 hrs a day cause it to expand. (both the chair and butt) I changed professions to get a little more physical during the day. I also go by the gym on the way to work, one of these day I might even stop in and look around. You might want to check for diabetes as well.
Funny, I stopped framing homes and decided to sit at the desk for just the same reasons: Neck, back, shoulder, hands...
Obviously Murph's wife has been bugging him too. (Yes, mine does all the time.) But what he says rings true: Get up, walk around, go outside, take a break.
This was asked in another thread and most all the repsondants said to make sure your arms are fully supported from the elbow on down.
http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/Drafting-Techniques/Ergonomic-CAD-Station/m-p/3777525#U3777525
Regards, Charles Shade
CSHADEDESIGN | AUTOCAD LT | LT-KB | DYNAMIC BLOCKS
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Mark Green
Working on Civil 3D in Canada
Somewhere around here I have a padded elbow sleeve.
Not as bulky as a pad but gel in the crook.
Regards, Charles Shade
CSHADEDESIGN | AUTOCAD LT | LT-KB | DYNAMIC BLOCKS
Please mark Accept as Solution if your question is answered. Kudos gladly accepted. ⇘
Exercise is good, but most gyms focus on the sports and appearance parts of the body. For desk jockeys who aren't jocks, an approach that is closer to physiotherapy would be a better approach. It doesn't hit the abs or glutes, but works the fine balance/posture muscles in the legs, back and shoulders. Yoga, pilates, and their ilk might be appropriate as well, but like the gym I find those more suited for the already-athletic.
I've had back surgery, about 4 years ago, but i attribute that more to some of the physical jobs I've had in the past. This job, however, has been playing havoc with my wrists and elbows. I'm currently using a vertical mouse for my right hand, and wearing a tennis elbow brace on my left arm. 23 years of keyboards and mice. I do get a lot of tension in my neck and shoulders, but walking and stretching help with that. I HAVE gained a pound or two over the years.... ok maybe mroe than that.... but I'm spending more time at the gym lately, so I think I'm headed back in the right direction.
Chris Benner
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My left shoulder is acting up this week. But that's not so much due to my desk job ... rather it's a tendonitis leftover from swim team that never really got addressed. On Tuesday, I stressed it out by driving in the wind to pick my parents up at the airport. Three days later, it's finally decided to tell me it objects to that treatment.
I'll probably ice it a bit later, and if I remember make an appointment with my massage therapist to work on the scar tissue a bit more.
Been doing this for over 20 years now, AutoCAD for at least 15 of that. In 1999 I had back surgery which required me to get an ergonomic chair with padding in all the right places uncluding a head rest. The latest chair cost $2500 and my neck and shoulders ache/hurt all the time. My chiropractor loves it, or at least his wallet does. I have raised my arms up, dropped them lower and at one point just let them hang, same results. My vision, as most of you, was 20/15 until about 4 years ago and now I need reading glasses which have been increasing in power steadily. I use a pair of computer glasses as well which help take the strain off but are still bifocal for reading my mark-ups. As for weight gain, got that too. We call it Designer Spread. Usually most folks here see about 35lbs that first year or two and then it steadily creeps up if you don't catch hold of it then. It's all the nature of the beast I am afraid. I remember looking around the floor when I first got this job and seeing that everyone was wearing glasses and realized I was doomed then. Whatta ya gonna do???
Cataracts... macular degeneration... detached retinas... all sorts of fun stuff can still happen.