Back pain while painting?

[ghamilt1]

Hi all;

A sure sign that I'm getting older is that recently I have developed some pain in my lower back, especially if I sit for extended periods of time. It can get pretty painful after an hour or so and I'm sure there may be some of you out there that have similar troubles (or you will as you get older, believe me!).

Well I hit upon something that worked so well, I thought I would share it with everyone in the hope of bringing a little relief to my fellow sufferers. I just finished a couple of hours worth of painting while sitting on one of those padded heat/massage seat covers used for automobiles. I feel great! I just slipped it over my painting chair, plugged it in and Voila. In fact I'm thinking of installing one on every seat in the house! It cost me $89, but it was well worth it as I was able to continue painting far longer than I usually can before my back would force me to stop. So this looks like a great way for me to get more hobby time in. I would highly recommend this for anyone who finds their hobby time being cut short because of lower back pain.

Now if I can just find a remedy for failing eye sight....

Cheers;
Glenn

 

[vergilius]

Sounds logical 'cause the warmth relaxes the bones. I'm going to buy something like that too when I'm old and wise. Let's say in a year or 40

 

[megroot]

Patrick,
Sorry, but bone's don't relax. Muscle' s relax.

Glenn,
Warmth is going to releas pain, but the course of the pain isn't gone.
I think everything that helps to reduce pain is good.
Maybe another chair, or a chair that helpe's you to sit with relaxed muscles etc, is better then this warmt.
Something like this:

If you google under lowback pain chair you gonna find alot of solutions. An good excamination of your back is also good.

Marc

 

[vergilius]

My bones do, especially in the morning. I just can't get out of bed

 

[megroot]

My bones do, especially in the morning. I just can't get out of bed

I think there is another bone involved

marc

 

[Wlas]

My back starts aching after 5 minutes. This is what happens when you're 67 and have lived a life of sin. But, in truth, it was worth it.
I usually take an Aleve and shift the modestly priced orange crate I sit on and...
....Voila! I can crank out another half hour!

 

[Jeff]

Well I know of at lest two sculptors that sculpt while reclining in a chair. They both do this to relieve lower back pain. It may take a little work to come up with a desk that can fit over a chair that reclines but it may be something to think about if the pain is making so you can not paint.

 

[Anders Heintz]

Hey Glenn,

I have tried those chairs that Marc showed us, and personally I hate them. Totally uncomfortable and hurts more then a regular chair, although the one the chick is sitting on looks pretty comfy.

Id suggest that you come to Texas, help me shoe about 10 head of horses, then painting will make your back feel like new again

 

[PJ Deluhery]

I know you don't want to hear this, but ....... I used to have back pain when painting, then I began exercising regularly - just walking - and the pain went away.

 

[John Bowery]

Take two aleve and call me in the morning
Cheers
John

 

[socko47]

Speaking from someone who occaisionally has back pain, usually from muscle spasm, excercise is most important. These days the term is to strengthen your "core". The other that has helped me is finding the right chair and sometimes adding a small pillow to support the small of your back. The back stores have one that is 1/2 round in shape that has worked well for me as the one chair I have makes it difficult for me to gain any lower back support due to the long seat. It is great to sit back to read or relax but not leaning forward when painting or working at the computer.

 

[ghamilt1]

P.J. and Joe. Excersise!? Wasn't it the desire of mankind to free himself from needless excersise that prompted him to invent the automobile? Clearly your solution flies in the face of 100 years of technological advances. Seriously though, I think I hurt my back in the first place by playing indoor soccer, so I do understand the importance of staying fit. Still, a few sit ups now and then wouldn't kill me.

Anders, we have more than enough horses here in Alberta, and they would be better served if I stayed as far away from them as possible. I don't think I could even find a shoe horn big enough to begin the job, so I'll leave it to the pros thank you very much.
Thanks everyone else for your contributions. At least I know I'm not suffering alone.