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How do you handle or prevent health issues?
5

How do you handle or prevent health issues?

How do you handle or prevent health issues?

(OP)
I love working behind the computer doing CAD but these past few months, I have been getting some health issues that cause me discomfort and mild pain, enough to throw my attention off.

Doctors are idiots. Since they seem to not figure out what it even is, let alone what I can do to help it. The obvious thing might be to exercise, but is that myth or fact? I can think of many possible things that could potentially crop up with heavy computer use: wrist pains, eye strains, neck soars, back pains, butt pains (which sadly I have), elbow aches, etc...
 
So, what do you guys do to help cope with or prevent health issues from getting in the way of getting your work done?

Certified SolidWorks Professional

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

PRIO lenses changed my life!
http://www.prio.com/

Got rid of my blinding headaches and shoulder pain overnight.

If you go this route I recommend two things:
1.) Go to a doctor that is in private practice, not a chain place like D.O.C.
2.) Order lenses that have the entire surface as PRIO, not a bifocal or narrow-zone lens.

The website used to do a better job at describing how it works.  Basically, the eyes at rest focus on a point 8 to 16 feet ahead.  PRIO takes that rest position and makes it so that the resting focus distance is at your computer screen.

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

And there ought to be a case for making the employer pay. I know at my last company because we used the computers our glasses were paid for.
 

JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com

 

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

Exercise is a fact, so is diet.
A correct posture while sitting and standing will release tension and help reduce stress.
Stress is one of the leading causes of poor health.
Not all doctors are idiots, it's the matter of finding the right one and describing your entire issue so thay understand you. They are people too.

Chris
SolidWorks 10 SP4.0
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

Agree with above.  I have a friend who is a crackerjack CAD design engineer who is a heart-attack or stroke candidate because he plops his corpulent self into his workstation chair and doesn't get up until it's time to go home.  Some suggestions to add to above:

(1) Exercise may be the key here.  Sitting at CAD station is sedentary, not what your body was designed for.  Have the discipline to get up on regular basis, stretch, walk, bend, squat, remove your glasses and let your eyes rest.  Your pain is a symptom of inactivity.  Discipline yourself to get regular sufficient excercise.  You don't have to be a ripped, 2%-body fat fitness model, but you need something which will include lots of stretching and deep breathing.  My entire family gets chiropractic care and deep body massages on a regular basis not because we need it but because we want it and it (IMHO) helps keep us healthy.

(2) Review your diet and make changes as necessary.  

(3) Manage the stress factor.

(4) Use doctors when needed, but beware of docs throwing pills at problems.  Most problems can be handled with lifestyle changes, but that requires initiative and discipline on your part.

TygerDawg
Blue Technik LLC
Virtuoso Robotics Engineering
www.bluetechnik.com

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

If you're with a larger company, inquire with the Health and Safety department.  Often, they can do an ergonomics assessment, and are willing to swap out chairs, provide keyboard extensions, etc, some of which may be actual benefit.  

I suffer from back/neck/shoulder problems, and the best thing I've done to date is strengthening my core.  I went the P90X route (not for my own health, but in sheer reluctance to be the fat guy at my good friend's wedding), and it's done more than all the chiropractic, site injections, and pills they've thrown at me.   

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

In my exercise program I emphasize flexibility, then reps, then weight.  As noted above, not looking for the 2% ripped look, just reasonable fitness and find that maximum range of motion is the most important for me to avoid aches and pains.

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

Proper ergonomics can go a long way to prevent unwanted strain and fatigue.  Get a good chair, watch your posture (don't sit on the edge of your seat).  Exercise doesn't have to be triathlon training.  It can be as simple as walking somewhere for lunch instead of driving, or instead of taking a break surfing on the intertubes, you can take a walk around the shop or plant.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

Have you read FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies to make the best use of these Forums?

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

If I recall correctly, back in the UK, if you worked mostly at a computer they were meant to let you have a 10 minute break from the PC every hour or something like that (not necessarily a break from work though).  Now I'm in the US I make a point of finding an excuse to get up and leave my desk with similar frequency.

Posture and exercise would be obvious concerns, as would how good your chair is ergonomically speaking.

Find a Doctor, or suitable health care professional, that you're happy dealing with and speak to them to get a better idea.

Posting guidelines FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm? (probably not aimed specifically at you)
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

I had terrible shoulder pain and numbness a couple years back, to the point I was losing sleep and work/family life was starting to suffer.  The doc and his pills helped me get the pain under control, the neurologist and his steroid injection got the nerve inflammation and numbness to quiet down...but the physical therapist and his directed excersize routine is what ended up making the longest lasting, best improvements.

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

Funny, I put physical therapist in my post then took it out as I know folks get upset about people talking out of their sphere or expertize.

Of course, a decent doctor will be the one sending you to physio (mine did) though perhaps dependent on what your health care covers.

Posting guidelines FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm? (probably not aimed specifically at you)
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

Health care coverage is the easy part.  Trying to find a physio open past 4:30, 3 days a week on the other hand...

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

I have been working on computers for a long time.
My wife recently talked me into going with her to get a manicure.
Being a guy, I naturally resisted at first, but gave in to make 'her' happy.
After the manicure, the girl massaged my hands, wrists, and forearms for 10 minutes. Damn that felt good!
It not only relieved stress, but helped my hands and wrists feel better at work. I go once a month now, may change to every other week.
No, no color added to the nails.

Chris
SolidWorks 10 SP4.0
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

I figure that any post from someone purporting to be a professional who dismisses a complete category of professionals as 'idiots' is hardly worth reading.

That said, eating properly and getting exercise is key to being healthy.  If you have a physical ailment, a good physio is a gift from the heavens.

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

A while ago, I got scolded for taking walks on my lunch breaks, my boss saying "It looks bad, like you're not busy enough".  Six months later, the head honcho sends a mass email saying, amon other things, "Get away from the computers at lunch, read a book or take a walk or something!".

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

(OP)
I have been to many doctors visits over the past year. I tell my story, they send me off to get a scan, scan shows nothing abnormal, "sorry i cant help you anymore".

Idiots may have been the wrong word for it, that infers at least that they can't help it. But they can, they just don't care. If they were running a business they'd lose all their customers! But what're ya gonna go? That's right, go to another doctor – rinse repeat.

Also this pain came suddenly, when sitting on a bad chair for a few weeks. For the rest I feel great. That's why I have my doubts in the cheesy adages that are exercise and diet.

Certified SolidWorks Professional

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

So doctors are idiots and exercise and diets are cheesy adages.  Quit wasting your time (and ours) here and go heal yourself.

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

Just because you have pain doesn't mean a doctor will find it with a scan. It doesn't make him/her an idiot.
"Also this pain came suddenly, when sitting on a bad chair for a few weeks".
Then purchase a good chair!

Chris
SolidWorks 10 SP4.0
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

@ Kenat: In regards to the sick time - sure, that can work, but with only 40 hrs/yr, multiple visits weekly over the stretch of several weeks/months adds up in a hurry.  I'd been screwed that way once before thanks to a shoulder injury as a kid.

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

"Doctors are idiots."  and engineers are experts in health care?
I don't trust a lot engineers to do engineering work.  
True some doctors don't have the patients to deal with hypochondriacs.

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

OK, I'll give this one shot, but that's all.  Diet and exercise are good but if your diet is very bad and you are out-of-shape and overweight, do not jump into something overnight.  Work up to it slowly or you will become discouraged and sore.

Arm, wrist, neck and upper back pain can be posture and /or stress.  To fix your posture, strengthen your core muscles, especially upper abdominals.  Do not slouch at your desk.  If you do not know what your core muscles are, work with a trainer.  Deep tissue massage can be beneficial as well, but you still have to do the physical work to get any benefit.

The 'butt' pain sounds like sciatica.  Google 'stretches for sciatica.'  There are a ton of websites.  The most valuable exercises for me is to stand up and stretch my hip flexors which are compressed while sitting.  Also, crossing your ankle over the knee on the other leg, then bending forward slightly will help to open up the hip joint.  And if you can tolerate the medication, ibuprofen will help reduce swelling that may be pinching the sciatic nerve.


For lower back pain, try bending forward and placing your elbows in front of your knees, then relax and move your lower spine LIGHTLY up and down.  It's kind of a 'going number two in the woods' kind of posture.  Not pretty, but does the trick.  It works well to do this in the shower with warm water running on your lower back.  It helps loosen the muscles.

And one final thing, wear looser clothing without a bunch of stuff in your pockets.

"Gorgeous hair is the best revenge."  Ivana Trump

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

Just remember that you are not really in the woods when trying that lower back pain exercise.

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

One of the problems with computer workstation related pain is that it creeps in.  You don't notice the pain until you've alread sat the wrong way for a while, and it can take some time to undo.

Another problem is that the location of the pain is not always close to the source of the problem.  It can be wrist pain from sitting too low or it can be shoulder pain resulting from squinting and hunching.  Sometimes even the sound of your computer can cause stress.

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

This is a Workplace Health and Safety issue.  Your company should have an ergonomic assessment program and your equipment should fit you and not that you are made to fit the equipment.  

Ergonomic assessments for computer work stations should look at for example; screen height, chair height, chair support, leg positioning, keyboard height, keyboard style, wrist angles when mousing and typing, posture etc. There are ideal body positions to minimize stress and repetitive strain injuries.  There are also stand up work stations that may be more suited for certain activities.

Ideally... you should advise your supervisor of any work related injuries and they should want to provide you a safe and productive work environment.  

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

Your boss owes you a safe workplace. Just because you're not a 7 fingered shear operator, don't think that there are not potential hazards in your desk job. Google 'hazards of a sedentary lifestyle' if you want to get depressed.

Talk to your local workers comp board to find out your rights, and THEN go on the record with HR. They should answer your first mention of on the job pain with an incident report form, if not, well... maybe better to find & fill out the form after you talk w/ WCB, then go to HR.

I have dealt with remarkable pain, because I didn't know better. I developed worsening wrist pains 6 months into a call center job. I had shooting  pains, soreness, numbness & parasthesia sometimes from fingertip and wrist up as far as the shoulder. Seen a number of doc's of varying pedigrees, skill levels and levels of attention, dealt with concern & ignorance at many levels. Been on OTC meds (ibuprofen- bad for your stomach, naproxen- much better) scrip meds(celebrex-allergic, vioxx, banned). I have dealt w/ the condition on & off since 2000.

Best remedy of all:
Get away from your desk and move around, frequently, for a good chunk of the day. You can even do a fair amount of your job standing up at a call center. Ride a bike or walk to work.

Followed by:
Ice cube on inside of wrist, hold it there till it's gone, it'll hurt a bit. More specific to my problems.
Pro active tinkering with workstation, posture, motions at workstation.
Stop drinking coffee.
Manage job stress, work intensity & volume.

I've looked into a standup desk, not sure my boss was into it. A few neat examples at instrucables.com

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

Victor Herbert, popular composer of operettas of the early 1900's, composed while standing up. It was the opposite of reclining or sitting, which is conducive to sleep. The heart rate was probalby higher than when sitting.

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

We have two people (peers, not pointy haired types) at work who are trained in workstation ergonomics.  Upon request, they come in as a team to observe and review your office furniture and set-up, posture, work habits, take a history, etc.  Then they recommend modifications, order new hardware, talk about work habit changes, etc. to help alleviate your symptoms.  I had  two issues come up in the past and they were spot on with the fix each time!  Maybe your workplace has the same or could benefit from this approach.

Good luck,
Latexman

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

plasgears

2 jobs ago, the manager of engineering had a standup cubicle- counter height desk, no chair. Animated, energetic guy, it suited him. I saw his name on some big, 20-30 year old pencil drawings, probably stood at his drafting board as well.

Regarding the OP, I've been misdiagnosed, asked by my dr. when I was going to get carpal tunnel release (wrong nerve!). Muscle spasm, muscle tone and chronic tension or inflammation probably won't show on most scopes or films.

It's discouraging when no one else sees your problem. At least you know that you have to do something about it. You probably have another 40 years +/- with that sack of bones, see how you can actively participate and keep it in good shape.

John Kabbatt-Zinn's books Full Catastrophe Living, and Wherever You Go, There You Are offer useful perspectives and practices for chronic pain and stress.

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

(OP)
Moon,

Glad to hear I'm not alone with this, and I could hardly imagine I would be.

I have read about stand-up desks too (or even ones with a treadmill) but I dunno. It does seem like you would have more energy standing up, it all sounds great except for that friggin' gravity!! Seriously, standing still really puts some pressure on your feet and ankles. The fact your human body can't even seemingly handle as simple as standing still.

Or am I wrong? Do you get used to it? Do some folks here stand up?

Certified SolidWorks Professional

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

Standing on your feet all day without moving around doesn't strike me as a recipe for success, I used to do that running a production lathe. However if you can combine standing at your desk with walking around the office/workshop I'd have thought that was pretty much what the human body was designed for.

Cheers

Greg Locock


New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies  http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

At my last Job I convinced my boss to buy an adjustable height desk. It's a desk with electric actuator in the legs so you can have it at normal sitting height and when you feel the need to stretch up a bit you push a button and then you can have the desk at a required height to work standing up.

It's a pretty cool desk to have but it's pricey. At first I thought I would be able to work 70 to 80% of my time standing up and sitting only to rest a bit. It's been the complete opposite, I was working almost all of my time sitting except a couple of times a day I would stand up for 15 to 30 minutes.

I would say if you have the money then it's good but if you don't just make sure you take a walk every hour and you will be fine.

Now I have a standard desk and I just make sure I'm sitting straight and that I have the proper ergonomics as mentioned earlier: Monitor height, chair height, keyboard, etc.

Patrick

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

I agree that Doctors don't always get it right, and it can be quite frustrating at times.
That's why they call it the practice of medicine.

"Good to know you got shoes to wear when you find the floor." - Robert Hunter
 

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

When I was working in an office, I would make sure every 15 minute break to walk around the block for as long as possible.  Also I would at least every hour stand up and get a glass of water in the break room.  I would also try to chat up any of the higher up Engineers about projects so I could also be on my feet while learning at the same time.

I became very close to a lot of project managers doing this.  And who is going to be upset that you are getting glasses of water throughout the day and going to the bathroom?  I also later found out that my buddies doctor said that the walking every day saved his life, he had bad kidney's.

You could also try yoga?  I like to run so I try to run 4 miles at a time, at least 3 times a week.  And try to see the gym at least 3 times a week too.  You obviously have to find something that you like doing.  Running clears my head and lets me think.

B+W Engineering and Design
Los Angeles Civil and Structural Engineering
http://bwengr.com

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

I workout almost daily and try to only eat good low fat, low salt unprocessed foods in moderate amounts.

Your activity and what you eat are things that you can control and those things that will have a huge impact on your health.

If you see it in an ad, you don't want to put it in your mouth.  Many things sold by "food" companies as "foods" or "snack foods" are really low grade toxic materials with no nutritional value.

Don't eat in restaurants where the majority of the customers are obese, and unhealthy.

I'm not at my goals for weight, but I do swim about 3 miles a week and have fair calistentic strength workouts in between (30-90 pushups per session, 100s of stomach exercise reps.  I'm 55, I see people 1/2 my age with obesity, and blood pressure problems that I don't want.


 

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

BTW don't do what I did when I was working 80+ hour weeks and bring a Costco case of Red Bull or Monster, put it under the desk and drink drink drink.  I didn't gain much weight but I had 2 root canals because of that!  I could only imagine how awful those 2 years of doing that were for my body.

Also, bring some lemons and honey and make some tea each morning.  My old PM would do that and also had a bag of peanuts in his office.  One of the principals would come in and they would talk while cracking them open and chomp away.  So some of this better food sitting at your desk might invite the right people over as well as give you something healthy to eat.

B+W Engineering and Design
Los Angeles Civil and Structural Engineering
http://bwengr.com

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

Here are a few things I use to help improve body function and keep problems at bay:

http://fitness.scoobysworkshop.com/traps.htm (free weights)
http://www.trxtraining.com/
http://tptherapy.com/shop/smrt-core-products/the-grid-121.html (helped with upper back and neck pain significantly)
http://www.whartonperformance.com/ (get their books)
http://www.thestick.com/
http://www.callawaygolf.com/Global/en-US/Products/GolfBalls.html (any golf ball will do for plantar fasciitis)
Chiropractor
Bicycle
Running shoes

Ensure everything fits and is appropriate for your body's little nuances here and there, e.g., different limb lengths, scoliosis, plantar fasciitis, torso length, fused vertebrae, etc.

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

(OP)
I'd like to add. I got one of those "nasa approved" tempur seating cushions, and my discomfort and pain is nearly all gone. You can't trust on doctors but you can on NASA! (unless you want to go beyond low earth orbit)

Certified SolidWorks Professional

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

I found a Chiropractor who is a Sports Medicine/Extremities Specialist.  He has done wonders for my wrist, elbow and shoulder not to mention my knees and ankles (victims of my aerobics program.)

He (and his type) can find stuff that no MD can find with a scan because for one, they know where to look and where to apply pressure.

Try it - you'll like it.

rmw

PS: @ bjc

Quote:

True some doctors don't have the patients to deal with hypochondriacs.
  I love it!!!!!  Brillent play on words.

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

KevinDeSmet,

I came late to this one... you already had an answer i was going to say...

I had a buttox (as Forest Gump would say) problem. After a number of Doctors and test. An old doctor said to get a good seat cushion - mine is not nasa approved sad -and to keep my wallet in my front pocket and see what happens.

It worked extremely well, I still kinda have pain sometimes but not that often and not as bad. Evolution did not intend for use to sit 60+ hrs a week.

Good luck, I know it sucks working pain...

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

(OP)
Yeah, it's amazing how a cushion can help so much. Granted mine is a visco-elastic memory foam, pretty advanced material. But still we are in the 21st century and the best I can bet on is a cushion? Damn!

Certified SolidWorks Professional

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

Last job I had where they bought me a chair I opted for a chair without arm rests. The idea was very simple, without arm rests I could pop in and out of the chair faster so it was a lot easier to stretch from time to time as I am one of those people who can get lost focusing on a job and forget about time or exercise.

Fortunately I had a picture window to an empty field which allowed a change of focus frequently since I had my screen facing the same way the window did. This removed glare also. And the wild turkey and deer were an added bonus.

I've come to the conclusion water is the best CAD drink. Used to guzzle pop but I'm paying for that now. Even coffee has it's limits.

My eye doc has prescribed bifocal computer glasses for me. Top is for the screen and bottom for reading. I chose rimless so it is easy to peer over the top and see far away.  

TOP
CSWP, BSSE
www.engtran.com  www.niswug.org
www.linkedin.com/in/engineeringtransport

"Node news is good news."

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

Armrests are bad for me. I lean on them and compress the nerves in my forearms.

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

get checked for osteoarthritis and get you some soma.

i have Spondylosis and it's a...well, pain in the _____ .
nerve damage and muscle spasms.

better posture, exersise, and a trackball is what i had to do.
along w/ NSAIDs and muscle relaxers.
 

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

I have to second fuzzdoug's recommendation...

I used to have frequent severe shoulder pain from flipping a Honda CVCC back in my youth, and really didn't want someone to cut into my shoulder to take a look, so decided to try to live with it.
It sometimes got so bad, especially in tense situations such as deadlines quickly approaching, that I would often pop out to the chiropractors for an adjustment, which did indeed help (for awhile).
I was then fortunate enough to find a GP who suggested I try Soma for the shoulder.  For me it is a miracle drug, and that pain is a distant memory.  Also fortunate for me, I don't get that "drugged" feeling that is a common side effect for many.  

That said, YMMV; best to talk with your doctor about its suitability for your situation.
 

"Good to know you got shoes to wear when you find the floor." - Robert Hunter
 

RE: How do you handle or prevent health issues?

// Yeah, it's amazing how a cushion can help so much. Granted mine is a visco-elastic memory foam, pretty advanced material. But still we are in the 21st century and the best I can bet on is a cushion? Damn! //

Check out the Gaymar (or Stryker, since the buyout) Sof-care seat cushion. I did testing on them, they're deceptively simple.

http://www.symphonymedicalsupply.com/sofand149careandregchaircushionfromgaymar.aspx

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