When I had a regular job, I suffered a lot of pain from my work station. The trouble seemed to subside when I left work, but it's definitely back. Overuse is the cause, but I think the way I work has been a problem too.
The first step toward feeling better was my sewing table. Nick has built me a wonderful new table for my sewing machine!
The new table has rounded edges so I don't have to rest my arms on a sharp surface. This is a huge improvement over my old cabinet (it's made for the job, but is not well designed for comfort). I've also got more room to sit directly in front of the machine. The old cabinet would not allow me to sit far enough to the left, so I was always pressing my leg against a hard edge and twisting my back. This new desk is a wonderful treat and I love it. Thanks Nick!
Some other steps I've taken to avoid permanent damage to my nerves....
An ergonomic seam ripper. Much easier to hold than the old skinny kind.
I picked up a new ergonomic keyboard and mouse. I have a lot of trouble at the computer, I'm hoping these will help.
This mouse helps me relax my hand a little. I tend to tense up too much and put a lot of strain on my hands.
I've also got a nice tall cutting table and a good chair to sit on. I've placed an order for some squishy
sleeves for my crochet hooks, I've read lots of good things about them. It's important to set up your work area with proper ergonomics in mind. Take a look at
OSHA's website for some tips on how to do it. And remember to take breaks. Repetitive activities are soo hard on the body. I know this from experience. Be careful and take good care of yourself, or marry a handy woodworking type and he'll build you a gorgeous new desk. ;)
I printed out the Machine Needles guide. It's hard to keep track of all these little details so I love a good downloadable. Stop by & check these guides out, they might just answer that burning pin question you've had in your mind for ages.
