Help me set up my computer at home so I'm not in pain

[Aubergined]

I've finally got some transcription work that I've been doing from home. It's low pay but I'm lucky I even have that. I'm using my living room table.

I have a laptop with a large screen, which I've put on a pile of books so as to get the top of the screen at eye level.

I also have a USB plug-in keyboard which is on the table, so the keyboard is at the right height for my arms. I can also type faster on it compared to my laptop keyboard. My typing pedal is on the floor.

Despite this I'm in a load of pain in my neck and shoulders. It was so bad last night that my DH had to give me a massage, which helped a bit but it still haven't gone.

In the past I've done temp work where I was covering people's holidays and wasn't allowed to adjust people's stuff, so I ended up spending lots of my pay on physiotherapy, which I don't want to do again.

And no, I can't just buy new furniture. I live in a small one-bedroom flat. Please help!

What are you sitting on?

A normal chair, a wooden chair of the type the many people have in their living rooms. It isn't an office chair so unfortunately it's not adjustable in any way.

Off topic but what is a typing pedal?

A pedal that controls the playback of sound files one transcription software. Most audio typists use one. It's a similar principle to the foot pedal on a sewing machine, so that your hands are free to type.

I think the chair is more.likely to be the source of your pain. Unless mine is spot on, I am in agony

Oooh clever

So is there anything I can do about the chair, given that is just a normal chair that isn't adjustable?

Everyone keeps going on about how working from home is the future. I really don't see how! There must be millions of people with backaches by now.

Try putting something to support your lower back, maybe a rolled up towel. Get a footrest so your legs are supported properly. Ultimately you may need to find a way of fitting a proper supportive chair into your flat especially if you’re planning to do more of this work.

can you set up a standing desk? maybe on a bookshelf elsewhere in the living room? It helps you keep moving.

We don't have the right kind shelves to make that possible, and anyway I'm working for many hours per day and can't be standing up for that long.

But yes, maybe more support of my lower back might help. Maybe a book could act as a footrest to make the pedal a bit higher.

It really is not possible to fit another chair into our flat, and even if it was, would probably cost more money than I'm earning. For anyone who doesn't know, audio typing is now one of those things that's done from home that they make you do self-employed, so I'm earning about £5 an hour. I don't have the luxury of just buying new chairs.

I do a similar job from home and have been for past 12yrs. My back & shoulders were really bad so I bought something similar to this:

Ergonomic Black Chair, Natural Wood https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00ASXUH0W/ref=cmswwrcppapiii_Gj8YEbS06NX30

Set an alarm to make sure you stand up every hour and walk round for 5 mins.

The stool also pushes under the table when not in use so ideal for small spaces.

Sorry, I don't understand how you'd sit on the chair. Do you have your knees bent and your feet facing backwards, in which case how do you use the pedal?

Bump

I had the same and I've had to bite the bullet and purchase a proper office chair. It's helped a lot.

If you google 'health and safety typing' there's diagrams that show the correct posture. Its really difficult to do without a desk and office chair.
www.wikihow.com/Sit-at-a-Computer

Use a typing keyboard, not the one supplied with the laptop. Your forearms should be level with your elbows, and your hands at the same distance apart as your elbows.
If you have wide shoulders use a split keyboard.

www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/how-to-sit-correctly/

Yes with that chair you sit as you described (colleague has one) so maybe it's not possible to use a pedal with it, most people who do desk work don't use pedals, so not a consideration. I don't know if you would be able to put the pedal next to the chair and operate it with your toes?

It's very likely that it is the chair, I've been full time WFH since mid March and started off on the kitchen island with a bar chair and it felt very comfortable but I developed quite serious back pain after a few days.

I simply didn't realise how bad it could be to work in the wrong position or that I'd be WFH for months but as I'm employed, I went and got all my normal kit from the office and set it up at home.

Ikea have well priced office chairs and deliver or are opening again on 1 June but I don't know what stock levels are like as there's obviously been high demand for office furniture.

Use a typing keyboard, not the one supplied with the laptop.

I'm already using one.

I live in a small flat. There isn't room for more furniture. I'm not earning enough money either.

Sorry OP you can't use the stool I linked to with a pedal (I don't use a pedal).

If you really can't buy an adjustable chair to support you correctly, you won't alleviate the problem I'm afraid. There's really not much else you can do, you require the correct equipment - the reason we all had/have DSE assessments. The only thing to suggest is regular exercise, stretching, making sure you get up from the keyboard regularly.

I have been working from home full-time during lockdown and very quickly realised that the normal dining chair I was sitting on was causing me pain (I have rheumatoid arthritis as well so need good support). I was considering buying a proper office chair, but thought I would try these support cushions from amazon first as a lower-cost alternative, and it is the best £20 I've spent for a long time! Can now sit comfortably for a couple of hours without any problems. And no extra chair taking up space.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07KDXZBMJ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?psc=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ie=UTF8

Unfortunately these specific ones seem to be unavailable now but there are lots of similar versions on amazon.

@VeraVioletVinn Thank you! Finally,. the sort of thing I was actually looking for