I have taken to standing up in my office in an attempt to hinder the inevitable disintegration of my lower back.
Here is a picture of my newly-adapted desk. Hi tech, I'm sure you'll agree.
Yes, I have a Skegness poster on my wall.
I was previously standing at the filing cabinet in the corner (not pictured - maybe next time), which had the advantage of no one being able to see whether I was in my office or not from the outside. It had the disadvantage of not allowing me to use my speakers.
Standing up in here is very weird. My eye level is about two feet above where it usually is. I am literally experiencing vertigo by standing up – because I'm so used to sitting down in this location.
Funny how my brain has imprinted its spatial picture of this room as being four feet off the ground to the point where I don't recognise it at six feet up.
Next week, I'm going to try sitting on the floor.
There is a wonderful shop in Marylebone called The Back Shop. It also has a website. There you can purchase ergonomic chairs that may help you to sit in a manner more relieving for your back. Or maybe some Inversion Therapy table/bar.
ReplyDeleteHaving experienced back pain myself I would also recommend that you deal with it now as it rarely gets better. A good osteopath/sports massive therapist, weekly, will help... but at the end of the day stretching and mild exercise is all that can really help... going to Amazon and typing "back exercises" into the search bar will bring up a number of tomes that may well impart the necessary for you... or maybe consider The Alexander Technique?
Apologies I meant sports "massage" therapist.
ReplyDeleteThanks loose_tooth. I'll look The Back Shop up - my gym does Pilates classes, which I am tempted to go to... I have just adapted my desk set up a bit more by adding two large pieces of sponge to stand on as my feet were hurting. Much better!
ReplyDeletePilates is good but it is an obvious commitment and you sound like a busy man, that is not to discourage you, but it is hard to re-prioritise your life to go the necessary (in the beginning) two or three times a week to see progress.
ReplyDeleteI remembered after I made my comments one quite simple thing that I have done that has made an immense difference for my lower back pains.
Basically what you have to do is elevate your legs when you sleep, it allows your lower back to release, instead of your legs pulling down on the arch of the bit that is in spasm.
The two ways of doing that is to put something under your ankles or to put something under your knees. I prefer the latter as it is more comfortable, the blood does not drain from your legs over night. I would recommend a yoga bolster (yogamatters.com) or I actually use something called the Liberator Wedge (designed for something entirely different but perfect in size and shape).
I sleep foetally so I initially found sleeping on my back difficult, but I cannot stress how much difference it made for me, basically turning me from a person who could not bend down into someone with mild back ache (obviously you may have different problems to me, my basic problem is that bad posture and lack of exercise have created a weakened back).
Finally there is a great website shop called "physio-supplies" which started out as suppliers to physio-therapists (sorry if that looks a little obvious) but the great thing about them is that they do plenty of cheap things that may help you... for example lying prone over a gym ball, or lumbar supports/coccyx cushions etc.
Getting old is pisser. If this is the beginning of it then I shudder for the future.
Ha ha. What I'd like to know is where is all the wisdom and respect that is supposed to be the quid pro quo of getting older? Thanks for the advice and good luck with your own back.
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