Can't get comfortable to work at home...

[Badger]

Hi,

 

I wonder if anyone has any ideas - I work from home part of the time, (I have made this choice to try and reduce the impact of feeling tired!) and occasionally have large batches of academic work to mark which entail long periods at the computer (laptop) - I am finding at the moment that I just cannot physically get comfortable - I alternate between sitting at the kitchen table, and sitting in the front room with the computer on a padded laptop tray...

 

Wherever I am, after about 20 minutes I find something hurts, either my back, my shoulders or my bum! I have tried sitting on cushions or propping them against my back, putting my feet up on the coffee table etc.. however I sit, I still feel sore quite soon - this is wrecking my concentration, and I have a lot to do between now and early next week. I have also bought Dragon simply speaking, so I can dictate (rather than type) for some of the time, to try and reduce the tiredness in my shoulders..

 

Does anyone else ever feel like this? Is it a symptom of MS or just 'one of those things'? Have you found any solutions?

 

thanks in advance,

 

:-)

[happyandy]

Badger,

 

The problem with laptops is that you tend to look down at them. I work in IT and had to go on a workstation adjustment course. I think its because so many companies were being sued for RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury)

 

It certainly doesn't sound like you are working in a "safe" manner. Desks have to be at the right height for the positions of your arms, the monitor level with your eyes, the way you sit.

 

You don't have to have MS to experience the effects of poor workstation setup.

 

I would suggest you google about safe workstation working.

 

Andy

[Hezza]

Hi Badger,

Andy's right about setting up a proper workstation environment. Working a lot of the time on a laptop isn't great for a variety of reasons.

 

I spent a long time working from home, 6 hours per day, and set up a workstation which I used most of the time. As part of this I had a separate monitor and keyboard that I plugged into my laptop and a comfortable office chair. I am much more comfortable using a large screen monitor due to the vision problems that MS has gifted to me.

If a separate monitor is too expensive an option you can get cheap-ish laptop stands that you can use to raise the screen to a better level and then plug in a separate keyboard and mouse.

 

If your employer has agreed to you being a home-worker, even part time, they are obliged to ensure that you have the necessary equipment to do so safely. That said I know sometimes it's easier to sort yourself out that jump through work politics and hoops.

 

On the subject of not being able to get comfortable - me too! I'm a real fidgeter and rarely stay in one position for very long - I often say to people that I "can't sit, can't stand"

However, I do have lots of bad habits like sitting with a leg tucked under me, crossed legs, slouching etc so I'm sure posture might have something to do with it.

 

Hope you manage to find a comfy set up soon. When you do make sure that you take regular breaks to help keep on top of the fatigue - I find 1.5 - 2 hrs is my limit before I need a 10 - 15min break. I can push it further but then my work starts to suffer and so do I!

[Oops]

I can't help on the computer front, other than to say I've invested in a trackball to replace my mouse, and that's fabulous because you don't have to move it about....But I DO spend hours at a time sitting in one position (long distance lorry driver) and reckon you should be investing in one of these:

 

http://www.putnams.co.uk/pressure_relief.htm

 

Pressure on your arse etc. can cause small shifts in posture, which in turn knocks everything else out of position, so you end up with a sore neck etc. More so than you could ever realise until you solve the root cause of the problem. Anyhow, these cushions are the cheapest AND the best you'll find on the market - my first lasted 5 years of constant use 5 days a week. They take a bit of getting used to, but it's worth it!

[Loopy]

I'm the same, I work at home one day a week but I have a crap chair (which I keep meaning to change). I feel a lot better (in this respect) when I'm at work as I have a good chair, wrist rests and instead of crossing my legs actually have them at proper angles on a foot rest.

 

I also had a period of working on the laptop and the looking down all day sitting on a sofa just isn't the best solution, not long-term anyway.

 

As Andy suggested has your employer got any guidelines for your workstation set up? Knees at 90 degree angles, screen in line with eyes etc????

[Michelle]

I agree with Cara and Andy's approach. I have learnt from experience that I have to limit my time with regards to working at the computer. Like Cara I am in the, 'Cant Stand,Cant Sit' group of people. It is a pain in the rear,but one has to think of ways to work through these problems.

 

I'm sure both Cara and I would instruct you to make up an Action Plan,so that you can plan how you are going to attack this problem.

 

Let us know how you get on.

 

 

On a personal note; I always adjust my office chair, and put cushions behind my back, to ensure I keep good posture. I even work with a hot water bottle behind me, or on the affected prickly places. I also make sure I have taken any necessary meds before I carry out such activities. This is part of my action plan before I set about activities.

 

 

Good Luck

 

Michelle

[Badger]

hi folks,

 

thanks for the advice so far, I agree that the set up I am using is probably far from ideal as far as ergonomics are concerned. However one of the challenges is that I work from home as a matter of course, rather than because of my MS - in fact my employers are not aware of my diagnosis and I intend to keep it that way the time being at least.

 

Of course this means that cost is a consideration for me, as any pieces of kit needed to make work more comfortable will be paid for out of my own pocket. I will certainly look into the cushions- thanks for the link! Another consideration is that I am rather short on space which would limit my options- I don't really have space for a desk specifically for working at - I did wonder about buying an office chair to use at the kitchen table, or even whether those kneeling chairs are any good? has anyone tried them? I will look into the laptop rests that angle the computer as well.

 

I do seem to ache rather a lot just from sitting in the same position and often get backache in bed if I don't move around enough- really this is the bit that I wonder about -i.e. whether this is related to MS?

 

thanks again

[Michelle]

It could just be from sitting to long in one position, and has nothing to do with MS at all. I too am limited on space,as I live in a 1 bed bungalow. I appreciate that you have to pay for things out of your own pocket,but I'm sure there must be some way of adapting without dipping into your pocket too much.

 

I would recommend time out for a few strectching exercises,or a short walk so that you can get some fresh air. Hopefully,this would allow you to get straight back into your work,without too much fuss. I use a stool in the kitchen for cooking, or to read a magazine whilst having a coffee. I have had to learn to adapt over the years,so I would encourage you to think out of the box a bit,and enjoy finding ways of making your life easier.

 

 

Again good luck

 

 

If I think of anything else I will let you know.

 

 

Regards

 

Michelle

[Hezza]

Hi Badger,

 

thanks for the advice so far, I agree that the set up I am using is probably far from ideal as far as ergonomics are concerned. However one of the challenges is that I work from home as a matter of course, rather than because of my MS - in fact my employers are not aware of my diagnosis and I intend to keep it that way the time being at least.

 

It really doesn't matter why you work from home if your employer allows or expects you to do so then they have a responsibility to ensure that the environment in which you're working is a safe one. However, as I said earlier I know that sometimes these things are easier said than done.

 

I do think that a good, supportive, office chair drawn up to the table would be a good start. I know all about space considerations as we don't have a lot of space either. In my case using a dining table isn't an option because we don't have space for one

My office area is a corner desk squeezed into an alcove in the hall, before I moved it to the hall it was squished into a corner of our sitting room and hidden behind a screen when I wasn't using it. The reason I ended up moving it to the hall was because I needed to be able to get completely away from it during my breaks, I never properly relaxed when it was in the sitting room because I could always see it!

 

I'm sure both Cara and I would instruct you to make up an Action Plan,so that you can plan how you are going to attack this problem.

 

Let us know how you get on.

 

Michelle you're right! All I'd suggest, Badger, is that if you think that any of our suggestions might work for you, financially and logistically, try them out for size. Perhaps you could ask around to see if anyone has a chair, stand or whatever that you could borrow and try before laying out any money yourself?

 

Do let us know how you get on, you're not the 1st to have to work this out and I'm sure you won't be the last so your solutions might help others too

[Dianni]

Hi Badger

 

I don't know a great deal about this so am more than happy to be corrected but if you have an OT, maybe they could make some suggestions. In my home town we have a centre where paople can go and try all manner of gadgets, chairs, mobility aids etc before buying or borrowing. Perhaps you have something similar.

 

My other thought is would you be able to get any help from Access to Work? As I said, I don't know very much about this, but I have friends who have been provided with special chairs, desks, footrests etc.

 

Someone here will be clever enough to give you the contact/website or more details, I'm sure

 

Hope you get through everything you need to do in the next few days.

 

Hugs

Di

xxx

[Badger]

Hi, thanks, I do not have an OT - I was diagnosed in 2005 I think, after developing optic neuritis. It came back in 2007 with a vengeance and left me blind in one eye for quite a while. I am not on any meds, and apart from a routine hospital visit about every 18 months, and one meeting with the MS nurse, right at the start, I have not seen anyone about my condition.

 

I suppose I am wondering, really, is whether my inability to get comfortable is at all MS related (I didnt used to feel like this!) - I am shattered a lot of the time too. I probably just need to sort out my physical environment. I will look into borrowing or buying an office chair.