I've got a spinal injury that kinda forces me to a good posture and physiotherapy exercises, it punishes me (yay sciatica) if I don't stay upright, do my stretches and keep my core strong. I've arranged my sewing areas to support me and be well lit so I'm not craning my neck to see what I'm doing, also have a handful of dollar store reader glasses kicking around for when I do find I'm craning (I'm at that not quite ready for bifocals or progressives but having trouble threading a needle with my distance glasses on stage). I don't use my macnines much or for long currently but when I do have a project that requires me to be at my desk I'm probably going to have to take the stool away and sit on my yoga ball. Turns out the rabbit crate is almost a perfect height as my cutting table so that's where my cardboard cutting surface lives, and I put a glass tabletop on it so he can't reach the cardboard if he jumps up on the chair. I generally don't hurt myself handsewing (aside from bleeding on every project because it's just not done till I've stabbed myself somehow) because I don't do huge long time blocks, I get up and chase the rabbit, make tea, feed the rabbit, get a snack, find distractions, set timers to go knead bread, etc. I do get pain in the carpal tunnel area if I hand sew a lot of tight-woven fabric like some quilting cottons and I have an assortment of thimbles so I can spread the strain around if I'm sewing something thicker by using both hands. Most of my problems are inflammation-related and the best OTC solution I've found is combining the ibuprofen and acetominophen for a few days, sometimes I forget what everything hurting feels like. Cold usually works better for my joints, heat for my spine. My knees HATE being hot so good thing they stick out of my bathtub LOL
@@bookhoarding The older and more broken I get, the more it hammers home that lief is all about the workarounds. Figuring out how to do what you want in a way that you are able, regardless of whether other people need to do the things you need to do... because other people are not you, you have to do what works for you. Trial and error and rearranging your space and learning the hard way not to put an icepack near your spine. Life is all about the workarounds. ...and also I'm gonna get to my physiotorturist soon for a tune-up... a good one can be a great resource for figuring out how to figure out some of your workrarounds for your particular issues.
Some good advice here ! Definitely going to buy a few things from your links.
I am 60 & fairly healthy, but occasionally get sore or stiff.
Thanks ! 😁
Have fun! And thanks for watching
Set an alarm to make yourself get up and walk every hour. Doing that has helped me so much!
Alarms work!
What are your tips for dealing with sewing pain?
I for stupid reasons stopped doing my stretches. So now I’m stiff, sore and cranky. It’s important to remember to continue looking after yourself!
it's so hard! It's definitely a practice, and that's a real hard thing to be consistent on.
I've got a spinal injury that kinda forces me to a good posture and physiotherapy exercises, it punishes me (yay sciatica) if I don't stay upright, do my stretches and keep my core strong.
I've arranged my sewing areas to support me and be well lit so I'm not craning my neck to see what I'm doing, also have a handful of dollar store reader glasses kicking around for when I do find I'm craning (I'm at that not quite ready for bifocals or progressives but having trouble threading a needle with my distance glasses on stage). I don't use my macnines much or for long currently but when I do have a project that requires me to be at my desk I'm probably going to have to take the stool away and sit on my yoga ball. Turns out the rabbit crate is almost a perfect height as my cutting table so that's where my cardboard cutting surface lives, and I put a glass tabletop on it so he can't reach the cardboard if he jumps up on the chair.
I generally don't hurt myself handsewing (aside from bleeding on every project because it's just not done till I've stabbed myself somehow) because I don't do huge long time blocks, I get up and chase the rabbit, make tea, feed the rabbit, get a snack, find distractions, set timers to go knead bread, etc.
I do get pain in the carpal tunnel area if I hand sew a lot of tight-woven fabric like some quilting cottons and I have an assortment of thimbles so I can spread the strain around if I'm sewing something thicker by using both hands.
Most of my problems are inflammation-related and the best OTC solution I've found is combining the ibuprofen and acetominophen for a few days, sometimes I forget what everything hurting feels like. Cold usually works better for my joints, heat for my spine. My knees HATE being hot so good thing they stick out of my bathtub LOL
These are all great tips! Thank you so much for sharing.
@@bookhoarding The older and more broken I get, the more it hammers home that lief is all about the workarounds. Figuring out how to do what you want in a way that you are able, regardless of whether other people need to do the things you need to do... because other people are not you, you have to do what works for you. Trial and error and rearranging your space and learning the hard way not to put an icepack near your spine. Life is all about the workarounds.
...and also I'm gonna get to my physiotorturist soon for a tune-up... a good one can be a great resource for figuring out how to figure out some of your workrarounds for your particular issues.