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So I was in a really bad car accident a year and a half ago and have had serious back problems since (my avatar is probably the last pic of me ever being able to kayak again, if not for a very long time) . This obviously makes for some problems when I want to paint for over 15 minutes. Sitting back in the chair hasn't been productive for painting and I find myself hunched over unintentionally within 2 minutes. I've been using my back brace again but that hasn't help as much either. Suggestions? Painting while lying down seems relaxing but while it might seem great to do in a cushioned beach chair with a margarita it doesn't seem like it'd be very easy to actually paint.

Have you tried getting a lower chair?

I know it sounds stupid but if you bring your eyes to say model painting level(or bring your painting up to eye level) then you shouldnt need to hunch over as much.

It may be something to try.

can you sit up in the chair with your back to the back of the chair?? Or is that when the pain starts to happen. If you can only paint for 15 mins, take a break, go back a lil while later..

felixander wrote:So I was in a really bad car accident a year and a half ago and have had serious back problems since (my avatar is probably the last pic of me ever being able to kayak again, if not for a very long time) . This obviously makes for some problems when I want to paint for over 15 minutes. Sitting back in the chair hasn't been productive for painting and I find myself hunched over unintentionally within 2 minutes. I've been using my back brace again but that hasn't help as much either. Suggestions? Painting while lying down seems relaxing but while it might seem great to do in a cushioned beach chair with a margarita it doesn't seem like it'd be very easy to actually paint.

Try chiropractor, pain = body's way of telling you something is wrong.

I have tried sitting back but haven't been able to stay like that I always naturally hunch over. And as for a chiropractor I have a friend and an acquentince who both have been badly damaged by Chiropractors and my doctors have all told me they will not help my case.

I thought about it more and have two things I'm going to try:
1 find a way to tie my upper body to the chair haha it should restrict me from naturally hunching over
2 a heck of a lot of cushions behind my chair to prop me upright more might help

I will try sitting lower though! Thanks for all the suggestions

well if your not willing to try chiropractors, then maybe a massage therapist. I used to go to one due to badly injuring my shoulder. After a year of treatment I have little to no pain what so ever. Give it a shot

felixander wrote:I have tried sitting back but haven't been able to stay like that I always naturally hunch over. And as for a chiropractor I have a friend and an acquentince who both have been badly damaged by Chiropractors and my doctors have all told me they will not help my case.

I thought about it more and have two things I'm going to try:
1 find a way to tie my upper body to the chair haha it should restrict me from naturally hunching over
2 a heck of a lot of cushions behind my chair to prop me upright more might help

I will try sitting lower though! Thanks for all the suggestions

I know your worries, I have back problems since grade 5 due to snowboarding accident(s)
Do you get tons of back spasms? or re-occurring muscle spasms? If yes, its best to find a competent chinese acupuncturist prior to chiropractor.
After all, its crazy to pull any bones back to place if the spasming muscle wouldnt let go of it, ( even it it does that instant, it'll go back to that bad position )

I have a related problem, but mine is arthritis in my fingers. I use Icy/hot roll on, because it's less messy. It works like a dream.

LunaHound wrote:Do you get tons of back spasms? or re-occurring muscle spasms? If yes, its best to find a competent chinese acupuncturist prior to chiropractor.

That's the plan! Good thing I'm in Beijing for the next 3 months, huh? I know my tag doesn't always show that I am but we use a proxy for our internet most of the time so it'll show that I'm from different countries (if you look back at this thread I posted from the Netherlands this time just for fun =P)

warpcrafter wrote:I have a related problem, but mine is arthritis in my fingers. I use Icy/hot roll on, because it's less messy. It works like a dream.

Icy Hot helps but only so much. I made sure to bring a good supply with me!

felixander wrote:

LunaHound wrote:Do you get tons of back spasms? or re-occurring muscle spasms? If yes, its best to find a competent chinese acupuncturist prior to chiropractor.

That's the plan! Good thing I'm in Beijing for the next 3 months, huh? I know my tag doesn't always show that I am but we use a proxy for our internet most of the time so it'll show that I'm from different countries (if you look back at this thread I posted from the Netherlands this time just for fun =P)
!

The most important thing to remember is, you need to go both. Lots of foreigners claim chiropractors doesn't work , or acupuncture doesn't work, because they dont know the purpose of them!
To make sure you do "heal"

You need to go to acupuncture to sooth the inflamed nerves and muscles so they stop twitching and grabbing onto the wrong positions.
Then you need to go chiropractor to correct your body's position back.
Then you need to be so diligent to make sure your muscle and bone dont revert back to the wrong position ( it can be as easy as sitting on sofa watching tv for 1 night or bad sleep posture )
Then you need to do tons of exercise to build back the muscle that was in the wrong position so they can keep the bone in place.

Its hard work @_@...

You could try a weight lifting belt, Might prevent you from staying hunched for long.

I get a problem with my feet, If I paint for a long time I find that my feet sit on the hardwood a certain way that really hurts me after a while.

Best exercise to do after your body is back in place is...

yoga >.>

I know i know ( i have seen king of the hills ) xD

Before you subject yourself to either acupuncture or chiropractic, take a look at this link http://whatstheharm.net/

Well great now I definitely feel safer =P But seriously I appreciate the information!

How about lying on your stomach on your bed with your painting stuff on the floor in front of you? Would kill your shoulders, but at least your back would be OK-ish.

Lower your chair so that the painting area is at, or almost at, shoulder level. You won't be leaning forwards, hunched and curled, in an attempt to paint that model in your hands.

Or seek therapy for the back.

I guess I should clarify a little bit more on my situation. I have undergone a few minor procedures, been on every medicine possible (and my body rejected them all, not even when they had me on Methadone for a short stint did they help the pain), months upon months of physical therapy with no success at all, and doctors told me the only other option is invasive surgery. Which is my last choice. For the mean time I'm seeking Eastern medicine before I resort to going under the knife.

That being said I appreciate all the encouragement to seek further treatment, but I've got that on lockdown

I will try to find a way to lower my chair, which means just getting a new one haha (or perhaps raise my work surface?) I guess I shoulda thought of that myself, huh?

turn your chair around and sit back to front on the chair so that your chest is pressed against the back rest, it's pretty hard to slouch when in that position.. This works especialy well with those little office hairs with a small cushion or a back rest as you can scootch all the way forward... (sorry for miss-spelling)