I am being completely serious with the title of my blog post. It’s not a play on words and it’s not a joke.
For the past several months I have been in a lot of pain in my back and neck. I’m one of those ‘see the worst’ kind of people. I never used to be but… life. When my back started hurting I ignored it because I didn’t think it could be all that serious. When my neck started hurting I thought ‘uh-oh’, but when I started to get a horrible almost indescribable pain at the base of my skull I though – oh shit, the end is nigh.
Sorry for the swear, but I really did think that. My neck started making grinding noises every time I moved it. My back cracked and pulled every time I sat up straight. Bending over became an issue and sleep almost impossible and as someone with an aversion to sleep anyway, this wasn’t good. I got pins and needles in my thumbs and sometimes my toes.
So off I trundled to the doctor. And there was the ‘ah ha’ moment.
See, I have really bad posture and when I’m writing I sit cross-legged and hunched over the laptop with it balanced on my lap. BAD, BAD ME. So now I have to go see a physiotherapist to strengthen my back again. Ooops. I’m relieved it’s something that can be treated and repaired. I’m also relieved that, as a resident of the UK, I can rely on the National Health Service to look after me. I don’t know how much physiotherapy costs in countries without a National Health Service, but I imagine it’s costly.
The stupid thing is, this could all have been avoided.
Had I used my brain, purchased a desk and sat up straight, I could have avoided the pain, the physiotherapy and the weakening of my spine. I deserve no sympathy, it is my own stupid fault for spending hours and hours every day hunched over my laptop. So for all of you out there that spend a lot of time on a computer, sit up and pay attention to your posture or you’ll end up thinking your head is going to fall off your neck, like I did.
I implore you, look after yourself! I assure you, it’s worth it.
emmalwicker.wordpress.com 
Reblogged this on Serendipity.
I hope you are feeling better soon.
Thank you, Austin. There’s no doubt it can be made good as new. 🙂
I hope so. I hurt my back a couple of months ago, and it was no fun…
I can imagine! I’d never had any problems before but I will be very careful from now on!
I was diagnosed with a fractured vertebrae when I was fifteen years old, so I’m super careful about my back. I have a traditional desk but for the times I want to move over to my bed I have a folding computer desk. When I’m not using it I just fold it up and slide it under the bed. Something like this – http://bit.ly/13a7Cpg. If I were you I would also invest in a firm bed rest. I’ve had mine since college and I use it almost every day. This is just a basic one but there are more expensive ones on the market – even ones that massage – http://bit.ly/1BY4Jqw. And, you should never have a laptop in your lap – the heat can do damage to the organs down there.
A folding computer desk sounds like an awesome idea, thank you. I got a new mattress about six months ago, a nice firm one 🙂 I am going to be super careful from now on 🙂 Thank you!
I had a similar issue this year. I’ve always had bad posture, but it was amplified by pounding out that novel of mine while using a laptop this year. One day, I started having excruciating pain in my right shoulder blade whenever I moved or sat up. The only thing that relieved it was sleep. I was almost put on short term disability from work because it prevented me from doing anything at my job.
When I went to a doctor, they told me I had injured my rotator cuff, despite having no reason to have sustained such an injury. They gave me a bunch of pills that did nothing.
Then I went to a chiropractor who x-rayed my very crooked spine and said “well there’s your problem.”
He adjusted me pretty frequently at first and put me on a regimine of shoulder and neck exercises. The first few adjustments helped, but I really think the exercises are what fixed me up. That, and the fact that I quit writing in bed 😛 Chiropractic is somewhat expensive in the US, because insurance doesn’t really cover it (it cost me $40 a session and I was going multiple times a week), so eventually I stopped going because I felt like the adjustments weren’t doing anything anymore. Now I know that whenever my back bothers me, a few stretches will surprisingly straighten it out.
Aww, belss you. Now that is worse than mine. They examined my spine and I’m pleased to say it is still straight but very weak. The exercises you mention are exactly what they have planned for me and they said it should strengthen it back up to how it should be. Sorry you had to go through so much pain but I’m glad that you now know how to combat the pain 🙂
Oh Em, I feel ya! Mine hasn’t gotten to where you are at, but I don’t have a desk either and typically sit in bed or on the couch, balancing my laptop on my knees. The thing is, my house is small and I don’t actually have space for a desk, so it’s not an option right now. I’ve tried propping my back up with pillows, which has helped some. Hope you’re feeling better!
I have room for a desk but it’ll be in my bedroom or I have a room that I can turn into an office space so I guess I’m lucky in that respect. Thank you. The physio doesn’t begin until the New Year and I can’t wait. Definitely had enough of it! 🙂
OMG I am a professional sloucher and your post has made me sit up fast. You poor thing!!! Hope you are psinfree now. Will try not to slouch tomorrow at work 🙂
Thank you. I just never thought it would cause such an impact!
Currently sat bolt upright 🙂
I hope you’re feeling better soon! Thanks so much for sharing about this. I tend to stoop myself when I’m working.
It’s so important, I know that now but I had to learn that hard way!
I have issues with my neck(whiplash from eons ago), so I really need to be careful.