Bizarre question : help me suffer less...

[Lileya]

Sorry I couldn't resist the stupid topic title!! XD Hopefully that is in the good section...

I have been cross stitching a good 6 hours per day in average lately and my neck and back are killing me after only a couple hours now... What are you guys trick to not end up in pain all the time?

I'm using a stand to hold my q-snaps and the thing is like 4 feet tall, so I don't really have choice to lower my head when I work. But I don't really feel I can find anything much taller...

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!!

[tnitnetny]

Honestly, I just pop some advil before I know I am going to enter a long stretch. I also quilt and cross stitch while watching TV. So between every show, I force myself to get up and do something, get a drink, go to the bathroom, etc.

You are getting sore for 2 reasons, not moving the muscles differently and moving the same muscle over and over causing them to overwork (hence the advil).

[blackmageheart]

For cross stitching, I have found that the chair I sit in makes a LOT of difference to my muscle pains during a long session. You want something that will comfortably support your back without being too rigid, but nothing that is really higher than your neck. I have what's called a tub chair, and since I got it my back/neck problems have been minimal! Just wrist/finger aches to deal with now!
If you can't change your seat, try changing your sitting position. Some positions force you to lean forward or look down too far and that's not only bad for your neck but most of your back too.

Apart from being aware of how you're seated, regular breaks with stretching etc is good and so are painkillers!

[Lileya]

Thanks for the advices guys (or girls!)

I will definitely try to find a better suited chair than my crappy couch. I don't get to sit straight on this couch so I'm sure it's part of the problem. I wish I had my ergonomic computer chair from work... I feel it would be perfect to give me optimal back support. But that thing is like 500$ so I guess I can't really afford it right now! XD Maybe I should give Ikea a visit for a tub chair! :o

That's a good point, I should really get up from time to time and stretch... I'm such a couch potato that I never bother getting up out of laziness, but I will start making a real effort this time, like it's worth it!

Do you mean you take advils everytime you cross-stitch for a while? Because those gave my brother a stomach ulcer once, so I try to limit my use of advils! Or any painkillers. I used to take too many so now they have barely any efficiency on me...

Thanks again!

[MeiTow]

Is there a way to set your stand on something a little higher like an upturned laundry basket or a exercise step or step stool or some such? That might solve your problems as well. I get the same problems when I lean over too much and I just force myself to sit up straight and take a five minute break every now and then.

I hope you find a way to lessen your pain!

[monkeypeaches]

Have you tried stitching in the hand? I started out using hoops because I also love to embroider, but I've found that stitching in the hand works best for me. This would remove your need for the stand, and bending over it all the time.

[blackmageheart]

Have you tried stitching in the hand? I started out using hoops because I also love to embroider, but I've found that stitching in the hand works best for me. This would remove your need for the stand, and bending over it all the time.

Yes, try it. I prefer stitching in the hand as it's less pain in my wrists. You'll still need to take breaks though, and it will take getting used to if you're used to hoops and q-snaps etc.

[funkymonkey]

I have a nice armchair I always stitch in and it somehow suits me perfectly; i don't get any more pain that sitting in any chair for 8 hrs at a time would give you.

[Lileya]

Is there a way to set your stand on something a little higher like an upturned laundry basket or a exercise step or step stool or some such? That might solve your problems as well. I get the same problems when I lean over too much and I just force myself to sit up straight and take a five minute break every now and then.

I hope you find a way to lessen your pain!

I tried it and it works great! My stand is fairly crappy so it only works for small project (if it's too heavy, it doesn't hold properly), but by putting in on my crappy foot rest, I can almost look at it at a 90° angle. Thanks for the idea!

Have you tried stitching in the hand? I started out using hoops because I also love to embroider, but I've found that stitching in the hand works best for me. This would remove your need for the stand, and bending over it all the time.

I can't stitch without my cloth being really taut, otherwise I find my stitches end up looking really ugly... Maybe I should try it I guess, try to master it better over time.

I haven't been stitching as much recently, and by putting my stand over my foot rest, or keeping my q-snaps in my hand, the pain is almost gone now!

Thanks for your help everybody!

[Knittenkitten]

I would suggest only using the hand-stitching for small projects if you're just getting started. Anything bigger than say a 5x7" piece or so I would use a hoop or a frame. LIke I'm using a frame for my Big Buck project which is on 28ct and using a size 10 hoop for my quilt squares. I have a smaller size 7 hoop but I don't use that one very much.