[wi_fighter]

I don't know what's happening here. I've had my chair, monitor, keyboard shelf, etc. at the same heights for close to a year. This week, as soon as I sit down, I get a horrible headache, my shoulders feel like they're touching my ears and the muscles from neck to shoulder are screaming for me to get away from the desk. The monitor doesn't seem to be at the right height either.

And, no, I'm not paranoid that someone snuck in my house and messed with my desk.

I've been adjusting my chair, adjusting my keyboard trying to get some relief, and it's not happening.

I can't be in pain like this, I need to be able to work.

The only change is a new keyboard, but it can't be enough of a height difference to do this, can it? I've had the keyboard for two weeks. I just noticed the discomfort this week. (I think).

[SleepsWithButterFlies]

ok I am not a pro...but yes the way you hold your arms could make it ALL feel different..I am use to a laptop and when I get to a big real so to speak keyboard it does my neck and back in...I think too could you be more stessed?

[wi_fighter]

I want to scream.

Arms at 90 degree angles - can't do it.
Legs at 90 degree angles, knees in line with hips - nope.
Knees 2-4 inches away from edge of chair - nuh uh
Top of monitor even with line of sight - yeah, right.

These ergonomic designers have obviously never needed to help someone who's short. Everything is too high or too deep.

And this uneven floor isn't helping any. I keep ending up to the left of the desk because the chair keeps rolling in that direction.

[SleepsWithButterFlies]

This sucks but I don't know the answer unless your arms are now in a different postion...still I hear your frustration..thats why I am grateful for my old crappy laptop...I can lay, sit...whatever and adjust it to my needs on any given day..sorry

[jennie]

awareness is the first step at resolving this

i feel your pain (((((((((((((huggs))))))))))))

some things to check are:

if you are short, then raise chair and use a foot rest. hopefully, the desk accommodates

your chair should have arm rests at proper height so you can rest your elbows (at proper angle)

you shouldn't be bending your wrists . . . keyboard should not be raised too high or titled, adjust chair if needed . . . gel wrist pads for keyboard or mouse helps . . . pads also help elbows and forearms from circulation being cut off from edge of desk (cause of pain)

your arms should be bent comfy towards the keyboard without bending wrists too much . . . ergonomic keyboards are best . . . (large breasts may not accommodate)

check your vision and posture . . . you may be squinting and sitting too close to the monitor to read . . . adjust size or brightness of screen . . . glasses or medication side-effect or tiredness issue???

i'll stop . . .
info brought to you by a 2-day course in Ergonomics from the United States Postal Service . . . gotta love the Union

[wi_fighter]

I've got a good ergonomic keyboard with a built-in squishy wrist rest. I can't type on standard ones any more. The keys are too close together.

I've got a good chair with three-way ajustment - height, back, tilt.

I have a tiltable foot rest courtesy of Ikea.

It seems to be the monitor that's throwing it off. If I get the chair and keyboard comfy, and have my neck in a (somewhat) comfortable position, I'm only able to see about the bottom 2 inches of screen. To see the screen properly, I have to tilt my head back and look up. If I move the chair seat up to see the monitor properly, my thighs hit the bottom of the keyboard shelf and my shoulders get scrunched up. Monitor's as low as I can get it.

Is it possible to take off the swively thing on the bottom so it would be sitting directly on the desk? It would be about 3" lower and that might do the trick.

[jennie]

i had the same problem. i removed the keyboard shelf and placed keyboard on desktop.

but you could take off the swively thingy, too.

either way you gotta get out the tools.

[wi_fighter]

Keyboard footprint's too big. It won't fit on the desk along with this behemoth of a CRT monitor.

Maybe I need a massage to loosen up the muscles. My eyes want to keep looking in the direction of the left upright of the hutch when the rest of me is perpendicular to the shelf and monitor.

If LMo was here, she'd tell me to do yoga. She'd most likely be right.

[jennie]

question: how long do you sit at your desk?

[wi_fighter]

If I'm having a rough work day, 12-14 hours.

[jennie]

yoga . . . bubble bath

[wi_fighter]

I heated up two of those blue gel hot/cold packs. I'm off to bed with 'em.

Thanks for all the suggestions Jennie, and for listening to me whiiiiiine. Hope it's better tomorrow. I need to make up for the hours I lost today.

[wi_fighter]

The swivel on the bottom of the monitor popped right off. Now the top is right about at eyeline, not 3" above it. (Just measured it, it's 3" at its highest point). It also enabled me to move the monitor further back on the desk.

Now I need a mat that prevents my chair from rolling to the low spot on the floor to the left of the desk. I had some of those floor protector jobbies that go under chair legs, but then that kept it from moving at all. I don't have room to move the desk to the left.

Geez. I pushed the keyboard drawer in and noticed that my hips and knees aren't lined up, hips are slid to the left. I'm a little pretzel here - knees to the right, hips to the left, head even more to the left, arms angled to the right because that's where the keyboard shelf is. No wonder I'm in such pain.

Is there anything over the counter that works similar to Flexeril? I need to loosen up these muscles. Ibuprofen only makes it feel temporarily better. Ah hah! Just did a quick check. There are all kinds of herbals that will work. Off to the health store I go.

a warm bath???? and some soothing health store lotion??? peppermint??? glad you figured out the pretzel maker........

[wi_fighter]

I have my desk better arranged today. I'm still sore, but hopefully it won't get any worse (so far it hasn't). I have my back and shoulders covered in little pain patches and I've taken 800 mg of ibuprofen twice already. I picked up a "bed buddy" that has special beads that release moisture when heated, so when you throw in the microwave and it develops moist heat. Looks like a little shawl that Velcroes in place.

I'm hopeful that I've managed to put a halt to the discomfort, since I've been working for a while now and I haven't gotten a headache or neck/shoulder pain like the last few days.

Phew!