I have had moderate to severe chronic pain in my neck, shoulder, and right arm since 2006. My husband and I have flipped houses in real estate off and on for 30 years and all of the physical work has paid a toll in those areas. I have painted thousands of square feet inside and outside of houses, and have done a lot of demolition work and heavy lifting. In 2006 we were lifting railroad ties to place around a flower bed and I was also putting in a slate patio with cement which really strained my body. Since then, I have had constant pain.
Growing up on a farm and doing heavy lifting as a young child and all that farm work has caught up with me after all these years too. When all of us kids were little we probably lifted things that were too heavy, but we did what we had to do, and I was such a tomboy anyway and wanted to do what my brothers did.
I will be seeing a chiropractor for the next several weeks to see if he can help. I had my first appointment yesterday, and he advised me that I shouldn't be house painting anymore, and that includes my art as my head has to look down while I paint which puts a strain on my neck.Sitting all day long doesn't help my spine either. I told him that I can't stop painting my art for goodness sake and I still have some painting to do on the house we moved in last year. After I get the little bit of painting that is left on the house, I probably won't paint anymore houses. The Doc said I may have arthritis in my neck and shoulder, and I will bring my last x-rays of my neck and shoulder to the next appointment so he can get a better look. I really like him and he explains how the body works and knows exactly where my pain areas are. I really think he can help me where other doctors haven't been able to in the past.
So...I was thinking that if I elevate the area where I paint my art so I don't have to look down so far that it might help my neck. I will come up with something this afternoon to elevate my painting work area and adjust my chair and see how that feels. I'm not giving up my art! lol
Growing up on a farm and doing heavy lifting as a young child and all that farm work has caught up with me after all these years too. When all of us kids were little we probably lifted things that were too heavy, but we did what we had to do, and I was such a tomboy anyway and wanted to do what my brothers did.
I will be seeing a chiropractor for the next several weeks to see if he can help. I had my first appointment yesterday, and he advised me that I shouldn't be house painting anymore, and that includes my art as my head has to look down while I paint which puts a strain on my neck.Sitting all day long doesn't help my spine either. I told him that I can't stop painting my art for goodness sake and I still have some painting to do on the house we moved in last year. After I get the little bit of painting that is left on the house, I probably won't paint anymore houses. The Doc said I may have arthritis in my neck and shoulder, and I will bring my last x-rays of my neck and shoulder to the next appointment so he can get a better look. I really like him and he explains how the body works and knows exactly where my pain areas are. I really think he can help me where other doctors haven't been able to in the past.
So...I was thinking that if I elevate the area where I paint my art so I don't have to look down so far that it might help my neck. I will come up with something this afternoon to elevate my painting work area and adjust my chair and see how that feels. I'm not giving up my art! lol
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