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Anybody have back problems when working in the shop?


OCtoolguy

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I started with the scroll saw due to back problems as I could not spend a long time on my feet. My lower back was fused and I have a bunch  of deck screws in there. I also have a metal hip and other things.  I suffer from chronic back and leg pain. More than a year ago I got an spinal cord stimulator put in and it helps with the pain. Now I am bionic, I have to keep my battery charged.

There is typically no one cure for back pain but a bunch of different things.

 

Note: Taking someone else's medication is not a good idea no matter what it is.

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  I am a lot like the others here with back problems, can't stand for very long.  One of the best things I have gotten for my shop is a drafter's chair, basically an office chair that can be raised to the height of a bar stool.  It has a back on it for support, and arm rests if you want them (I don't use them, they just get in the way).  It is on wheels so it is easy to move from one work station to another.  Most of my working career was as a drafter, so this was a no-brainer for me.

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2 hours ago, jollyred said:

  I am a lot like the others here with back problems, can't stand for very long.  One of the best things I have gotten for my shop is a drafter's chair, basically an office chair that can be raised to the height of a bar stool.  It has a back on it for support, and arm rests if you want them (I don't use them, they just get in the way).  It is on wheels so it is easy to move from one work station to another.  Most of my working career was as a drafter, so this was a no-brainer for me.

If I want to buy one, where would I go? Is it a Staples item or a specialty?

Ray

 

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On 28/01/2018 at 1:50 AM, octoolguy said:

How do you folks work in your shops without making your back scream at you. I can't stand on my feet anymore. If I sit, it makes my back sore. Anybody have any input on how you help your back? I inherited my Dad's bad feet so I have a terrible time getting shoes that are comfortable too. I'm a mess. I'm just curious as to whether anybody else fights the lower back pain.

Ray

 

 

I have 2 herniated discs in my lower back no chance of surgery yet too young and have not exhausted all avenues of pain relief yet so at the moment I take strong meds Morphine and codeine and diazepam for the spasms, I also have a regular epidural injections under xray to the affected area I have trouble sitting and standing for any length of time I tried all chairs stools etc in the end got fed up with trying and them not working so made  my own to suit my size height etc out of stud frame timber I now use that and stand sit as I feel comfortable to do then go walkabouts when it hurts too much but it has allowed me to carry on tinkering, at the moment I have my saw flat on the bench no angle I found this worked better for me for some reason at an angle it hurt more may of been the neck position looking down onto saw or something not sure but it is easier for me to have saw flat others find it easier angled but here is my chair I know it looks like Jack and the beanstalk giants chair but it is made to my exact height no struggling getting on or off and a great high back I also now have cushions pinned to the seat and back, I have yet to get her indoors to let me bring it in the house :) The main thing is to use something whether bought or made to keep you in the shop now and then as there is no better medicine than being in the shop no pill will ever be as good as making something with your hands and mind that is the best therapy for any ailment in my view so whatever you need to do to get there do that :thumbs:

20161202_120640.jpg

20161202_120652.jpg

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1 hour ago, stevan said:

I can relate but my issues are in my neck and I have thought about getting an adjustable chair/stool.  If you go this route, how do you use/control your saw foot pedal?  (I'm like all of 5'5" and my feet are not going to reach the floor if I'm sitting on an elevated chair).

Stevan, mount the foot control, so that you can operate it with your knee. Install a piece of wood on the chair or stand in a way, that it's comfortable to use your knee to operate it with. Doing his will cause you to have to learn to use your knee to keep the saw running, but that shouldn't take very long. 

Len

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I know I am just a pup and most of you have been working your butts off longer than I have but I am right there with you when it comes to back pain. I have been bucking shingles since I was 18 and there were a few times that I had some serious issues but since I was young and invincible I just kept working through the pain. Well now that pain never really goes away. Sometimes it's my lower back and I catch myself standing like a question mark. Other times it creeps up to between my spine and shoulder blades.

The "tens" unit that Kevin is talking about is basically a smaller version of what they hook you up to when you go the chiropractor. They stick different electrodes on the problem areas and then pump electricity through them. Its like a deep massage and feels really good. I bought a home version at walgreens and it is surprisingly powerful. It is no bigger than a small ice pack and runs for about 20 minutes. I spent around $30 for it I believe but you have to buy new sticky pads every so often,  $14 for 2 sets.

I wish I had a solution that really helped but I am to the point that the only thing the gets me past the pain is to grin and bear it.

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I worked in the  Machines shops standing on concreet floors for 8 to 10 hours a day, that's hard on the back too. I made me a wooden slatted platform to stand on and It really helped a lot I found that it was better than rubber mats. A wooden platform about 3/4 " above the floor would probably help. My shopn is a wooden shed 8''X12' with plywood floors. when sawing I useally take a break every  3/4 to 1 hour and I can work all day with out my back bothering me much at all. My saw is on a homemade stand wit the baack up about 2 " at the hight of standing with the stool that I use. I am 78 years old so pain in the back is a common thing but I just bear it.

IKE 

Edited by ike
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Going to say something, Ray,,, I think the reason there are so many back problems is probably most of us scrollers are getting pretty "long in the tooth".  We already spent many years abusing our backs and the rest of our bodies.  We are bound to feel pain.  Getting old is not for the faint of heart.  We just hobble along and wish we had been better keepers of our carcasses. 

Edited by Scrappile
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7 hours ago, blights69 said:

I have 2 herniated discs in my lower back no chance of surgery yet too young and have not exhausted all avenues of pain relief yet so at the moment I take strong meds Morphine and codeine and diazepam for the spasms, I also have a regular epidural injections under xray to the affected area I have trouble sitting and standing for any length of time I tried all chairs stools etc in the end got fed up with trying and them not working so made  my own to suit my size height etc out of stud frame timber I now use that and stand sit as I feel comfortable to do then go walkabouts when it hurts too much but it has allowed me to carry on tinkering, at the moment I have my saw flat on the bench no angle I found this worked better for me for some reason at an angle it hurt more may of been the neck position looking down onto saw or something not sure but it is easier for me to have saw flat others find it easier angled but here is my chair I know it looks like Jack and the beanstalk giants chair but it is made to my exact height no struggling getting on or off and a great high back I also now have cushions pinned to the seat and back, I have yet to get her indoors to let me bring it in the house :) The main thing is to use something whether bought or made to keep you in the shop now and then as there is no better medicine than being in the shop no pill will ever be as good as making something with your hands and mind that is the best therapy for any ailment in my view so whatever you need to do to get there do that :thumbs:

20161202_120640.jpg

20161202_120652.jpg

I like it. Plain and simple is the best way.

Ray

 

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1 hour ago, jollyred said:

Got mine at Staples.  I would imagine most office supply stores would have them or could order one.

I did a Google search for them and was surprised at how many different variations there are. And, Staple does have them. I will have to drop over and see if they have any that I can try. Either that or I'm going to build a stand for the Hegner as I did for my Dewalt so I can just use the same chair for both. I don't seem to have the problem when sitting at my Dewalt. Thanks for your suggestion.

Ray

 

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13 hours ago, blights69 said:

I have 2 herniated discs in my lower back no chance of surgery yet too young and have not exhausted all avenues of pain relief yet so at the moment I take strong meds Morphine and codeine and diazepam for the spasms, I also have a regular epidural injections under xray to the affected area I have trouble sitting and standing for any length of time I tried all chairs stools etc in the end got fed up with trying and them not working so made  my own to suit my size height etc out of stud frame timber I now use that and stand sit as I feel comfortable to do then go walkabouts when it hurts too much but it has allowed me to carry on tinkering, at the moment I have my saw flat on the bench no angle I found this worked better for me for some reason at an angle it hurt more may of been the neck position looking down onto saw or something not sure but it is easier for me to have saw flat others find it easier angled but here is my chair I know it looks like Jack and the beanstalk giants chair but it is made to my exact height no struggling getting on or off and a great high back I also now have cushions pinned to the seat and back, I have yet to get her indoors to let me bring it in the house :) The main thing is to use something whether bought or made to keep you in the shop now and then as there is no better medicine than being in the shop no pill will ever be as good as making something with your hands and mind that is the best therapy for any ailment in my view so whatever you need to do to get there do that :thumbs:

20161202_120640.jpg

20161202_120652.jpg

This looks like it’s missing electricity. Lol

reminds me of an electric chair. :)

a nice one tho!

 

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5 hours ago, Karl S said:

This one from Sears looks pretty comfortable, Yesterday it was $10.00 cheaper.

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-hydraulic-stool-red/p-00982941000P?plpSellerId=Sears&prdNo=4&blockNo=4&blockType=G4

I've got one very similar to that one but I'm not sure if it's exactly like it. Same shape and configuration. The back rest is too short for me and I don't get any use out of it. The seat is too small for my butt and the back rest is too close to the seat. Other than that, it's perfect. Ha! If you lived closer, I'd give it to you. 

Ray

 

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13 minutes ago, Sycamore67 said:

I have that Craftsman chair and it works and supports my back. 

How tall are you and do you consider yourself average size or ????????? I'm 6' 1" and I weigh 225 lbs. I found the shop chair that I bought from Northern Tool to be too small for my size. It looks like the Craftsman chair but might be smaller.

Ray

 

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