Neck/back pain

[Bizman]

Do you see yourself in this position: Bent towards the screen, shoulders over your ears, hanging your neck like a vulture with your lower jaw pushed forward...  

Advice #1 Consult a physiotherapist, preferably one who's specialized in chiropractic or osteopathic, they can give you relief in pain and the best advice to prevent it.

Advice #2 Straighten up every once in awhile, why not do it every time while in tower? Stretch your neck upwards like if someone pulled you up grabbing your back hair, simultaneously letting your chin draw back towards your throat. Mount a horizontal bar up in your doorway and hang there.

There seems to be several opinions about the height of the monitor. Most experts I've either met or read their opinions, say that the upper part of the monitor should be level with your eyes. Having to look upwards tenses your neck. They even used to make computer tables with a glass decks, having the monitors under the table...

[tassos]

You have Saitek X52,right?

[Pawz]

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

I had that problem in the paste but I adjusted my setup and I get up from my chair more often.

[FLS]

This is an excellent book for anyone interested in evaluating and treating musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction.

http://www.amazon.com/Maintaining-Body-Balance-Flexibility-Stability/dp/0443073511/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263579642&sr=8-5

[Bucky73]

Lower your armrests. If they are too high it will cause that. I had to put an extra cushion on my chair when i played a lot to get my arms lower otherwise i would have the same problem

[Chilli]

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".

 

That's me too for sure Shuffler. I too have horrible back  and sometimes neck problems that are aggrevated after long periods of play.  The beer advice unfortunately does the trick, but I drive for a living and the quantity of beer I would drink (I would be working to support Miller Brewing Co.) 

No matter what I do, driving, watching TV, playing game, etc.  I have to alternate between walking a bit, and sitting.  I do recommend the frequent trip to grab a glass of water and stretch 

TC, sorry to hear about the discomfort and injuries.  My wife uses a Tens Unit (electric shock  interrupts the nerve signal) and says it takes the edge off her shoulder (rotator cuff repair 10 yrs).  Insurance companies say it is voodoo and may not want to pay for it, but if it works and a Dr. approves it, it's worth a try.

Found this awesome lumbar support in the auto section at the local Dollar Tree (yes, it cost a buck).  It was my best find for all of 2009.

[Bear76]

I've had 4 major back surgeries so I can relate. I can recommend 3 things that help:

1. Caffeine
2. Codeine
3. Nicotine   

[daddog]

I have to be having a LOT of fun to play for more than 2 hours straight. Pretty much just FSO will get me on that long. About an hour is my normal length of time to fly. Some guys in this community can put in 4, 6, or even more. They just get up to use the restroom. I don't know how they do it. 

As others have said change your setup, but I would get up at least once an hour and walk around and do something else for 10 minutes.

[rod367th]

I believe reason we see heart atacks from players in game is Blod cots from sitting to long. sitting for 4 hrs is all the time u need to get blood clots.  shouldn't sit more than 2 hrs at a time. get up move around.

[Bear76]

I believe reason we see heart atacks from players in game is Blod cots from sitting to long. sitting for 4 hrs is all the time u need to get blood clots.  shouldn't sit more than 2 hrs at a time. get up move around.

I constantly flex my butt cheeks to provide blood flow. No heart attack and I have the tush of a 20 yr old

[2ADoc]

I had the same problem for a bit when I started.  One thing I did was get a bigger monitor so that I am not squinting and leaning forward to see targets.  For Christmas the wife got me a Home medic Shiatsu chair massager, with heat, that helped the back pain, but gave me another problem, Falling asleep.  THe cure for that is Vast quantities of frosty adult beverages, that way I have to get up every hour or so.  

[Bear76]

I had the same problem for a bit when I started.  One thing I did was get a bigger monitor so that I am not squinting and leaning forward to see targets.  For Christmas the wife got me a Home medic Shiatsu chair massager, with heat, that helped the back pain, but gave me another problem, Falling asleep.  THe cure for that is Vast quantities of frosty adult beverages, that way I have to get up every hour or so.  

I'm sure many of us have woken up with an imprint of our keyboards on our foreheads

[Belial]

I have a herniated disc and I have the same problems, those guys that play for 6 to 8 hours I can guarantee also feel the strain.  Like everyone else said take a break if it starts bothering you, the only other fix for backpain is situps...and we all know they are no fun.

[Bizman]

Like everyone else said take a break if it starts bothering you, the only other fix for backpain is situps...and we all know they are no fun.

I do them daily right after my morning leak. No backpains, and feeling those belly muscles work actually feels, if not fun, at least satisfacting. Add to that some pushups and stretching, not overdoing tho. Some 5 minutes just to wake your body up and get your blood flowing. Much more fun than running only to get back where you started from, IMHO.

[RufusLeaking]

I constantly flex my butt cheeks to provide blood flow. No heart attack and I have the tush of a 20 yr old

Is there any way I can un-read this?