Neck/back pain

[pervert]

I don't know if is should be in this section but was unsure where to post it. Basically after about 2-3 hours playing the game I develop unbearable pain in my neck and lower back and have to log off or I'll suffer the next day for it.

I've tried all sorts of different chairs etc nothing seems to help, just wondering if anyone else has the same problem and what they did to stop it?
 

[waystin2]

Rule #1-Get up about every 20-30 minutes to stretch and move.  I do this religiously!  It keeps you limber and relaxed.  This is supposed to be fun right?

Another suggestion is to really evaluate your flying setup.  Is it at a comfortable height?  Is it to close to you or too far away? A few inches left, right, up or down can be all the difference in the world as far as comfort.

PS-Are you using rudder pedals?  I have a couple of squaddies that regularly complain about a malady called "Rudder Butt".  Starts at the bum, and only gets worse the longer they stay in the saddle.

[1701E]

That typically happens with me if I have my set-up wrong...primarily if I have the monitor up too high.  I have to look up, causing my head to lean back and the back of my neck can only deal with that for a few hours...then I feel like I broke something.  Even a slight, very very slight, look up will hurt after a while, make sure you have the monitor at eye-level.

Your joystick base should be level or slightly above the arm-rest of your chair.  As with rudder pedals, I would suggest not having your feet on them all the time, unless your actively using them don't keep your feet at that angle, causes all kinds of weird pains.  Sitting up straight can help, as long as you don't have bad eyes like me, then it causes eye pains (I have to lean in to see anything even on a 32" TV).  Another thing to try is get the most comfy pillow you can find and sit on that, the cushioning on a desk chair wears out fast and that ends up hurting the back/bum pretty back...I have almost worn mine out in 2 months.

And as Waystin said, get up and move, that helps a lot.  I do it more often then that because I need constant liquid (dry throat in the winter), but that along with having set up right will help a lot.

Aside from that, it could just be old age.

 

[Shuffler]

I don't know if is should be in this section but was unsure where to post it. Basically after about 2-3 hours playing the game I develop unbearable pain in my neck and lower back and have to log off or I'll suffer the next day for it.

I've tried all sorts of different chairs etc nothing seems to help, just wondering if anyone else has the same problem and what they did to stop it?
 

Maybe your head is too big and putting a strain on the rest of your body. 

[greens]

DRgreens speaking here, to fix your problem with neck/back pain, logg off for a few hrs a few minutes even. log on later that'll do the trick. by the way i want you to pAY 14.95 for two months to my account for this session. ty DRgreens 

[Ghosth]

Pervert I'd agree about taking a fresh look at your setup. Something isn't right someplace.

Also taking a walk between sorties, anything to break it up.

But if all was as it should be, the pain wouldn't be there.
So something is getting stressed somewhere in the process.

[Anaxogoras]

How far does your arm stretch to reach your joystick?  I have found that it's more comfortable to have the joystick close enough so that you can fly with your elbow bent at a ~80 degree angle.  Stretching your arm to reach your joystick can really mess with your neck and spine because you are positioned asymmetrically.  Whatever you do with your other hand, you want both of them positioned equidistant from your body.

If you ever see pics where someone has a platform rigged to a chair for their joystick, that is the way to go.  I've never found a desk that made flight sims comfortable.

[Dragon]

I found that drinking large quantities of beer helps.  

The numbing quality of the liquid helps to lubricate joints and soften muscle tissue.  

The frequent refill - defill trips keep the legs moving.  

The times of high bladder pressure, caused by not being able to run to the defill room, provide moments of abdominal and pelvic muscle clenching and rocking back and forth from one butt cheek to the other.

   

[TequilaChaser]

I don't know if is should be in this section but was unsure where to post it. Basically after about 2-3 hours playing the game I develop unbearable pain in my neck and lower back and have to log off or I'll suffer the next day for it.

I've tried all sorts of different chairs etc nothing seems to help, just wondering if anyone else has the same problem and what they did to stop it?
 

pervet, I suffer from a handful of different injurys my self........  Right Torn rotator cuff ( this is 2nd time around on this injury in 6 yrs ), tore a 16" length span of legiments loose from left side of my spine mide section of my back, have issues with C6, C5 & C4 vertibrae, have nerve damage down my right arm and hand, and 2 surgrys on my right knee...... to get comfortable for the back/neck problem I use a Firm/Stiff Throw Pillow for Lumbar support to push against for my low & mid back sections....... and try not if I can to keep from leaning forward/hunching forward toward the screen....

I try to keep my Throttle & Joystick just far enough out that my arms are slightly bent ... so I am not bunched up close and I am not stretching out far to use the controllers... my adjustable chair sets to where my legs are not bent with knees angled up.... the thighs are level and my rudder pedals are sitting at what feels to be the most comfortable distance

I recently have not played hardly any at all, mainly because of my right shoulder/arm/hand and the nerve damage problem....

but the other things I mentioned regarding sitting position and the firm pillow for lumbar support have and will help releave some neck and back pain

I hope this helps....
and yes try and get up about every 30 minutes to stretch  or walk to kitchen and get ya some water,  this keep the blood circulating all over  
sorry for the long winded reply  

[CAP1]

I don't know if is should be in this section but was unsure where to post it. Basically after about 2-3 hours playing the game I develop unbearable pain in my neck and lower back and have to log off or I'll suffer the next day for it.

I've tried all sorts of different chairs etc nothing seems to help, just wondering if anyone else has the same problem and what they did to stop it?
 

be careful how you sit. when i'm in a fight, i tend to "scrunch up" my shoulders, hunch my head over, tighten up in the neck. this combined with me having to look slightly up from that point to see the monitor.....makes for sore neck, and sometimes back.

[Shuffler]

be careful how you sit. when i'm in a fight, i tend to "scrunch up" my shoulders, hunch my head over, tighten up in the neck. this combined with me having to look slightly up from that point to see the monitor.....makes for sore neck, and sometimes back.

Cap gets immursed in-game. He gets nose bleed and sometimes black out. You can tell when he blacks out.. you'll see something like this, "dfALOIEGFI".

[TW9]

be careful how you sit. when i'm in a fight, i tend to "scrunch up" my shoulders, hunch my head over, tighten up in the neck. this combined with me having to look slightly up from that point to see the monitor.....makes for sore neck, and sometimes back.

ya thats probably what it is. it doesnt matter what kind of chair it is if you are sitting in it improperly. I use to get this a lot when i drove for work.

[shppr01]

If you don't want to take a break, Up in a bomber on a reletivly long target and take a break as the a/c is climbing or getting to the desired location !

[texastc316]

That's all me cap and shuffler fly are bombers.

[hitech]

I don't know if is should be in this section but was unsure where to post it. Basically after about 2-3 hours playing the game I develop unbearable pain in my neck and lower back and have to log off or I'll suffer the next day for it.

I've tried all sorts of different chairs etc nothing seems to help, just wondering if anyone else has the same problem and what they did to stop it?
 

If you get this any time you sit at the computer for extended periods is most likely your monitor height. The middle of your monitor should be level with your eyes when you look straight ahead.