Gp receptionist in pain....neck pain!!!

[agnus_brown]

due to my posture at work i now suffer with neck pain radiating down my spine into my shoulder blades. i’ve had physio & still do the exercises. i’ve altered the position of the computers at work & bought a back lumber support. i’ve been given a headset to answer the phone too so as not to have to keep resting the receiver on my shoulder whilst i type. i don’t want to end down the medication route if i can help it. i’ve had a letter drawn up from my physio therapist and i have given this to my boss. nothing has been sorted on their part at all. the chairs are absolutely useless that we use with no back support what so ever. what else can i do to ease the pain apart from leave.

[Loving-life]

Hello sounds like you need to strengthen you neck.back and shoulder muscles. Sitting in the same position doing a repeat task can cause this. I had similar pain, i went to an oesteopath who realigned me over several session so i could start doing exercises properly without pain. You need to keep moving position at work, hard i know considering your job. Try standing up every now and again and do gentle warm up exercises this will keep you subtle and strengthen muscles. I do weight training and yoga to keep my back in order. See BHF website for exercises, they have some good ones to do in the sitting position. There is light at the end of the tunnel. You just need to programme your mind to remember to do these little exercises whilst at work. Hope you feel better soon.

[agnus_brown in reply to Loving-life]

Than you for your advice i will take this on board & look into self referring myself to a Osteopath and doing some yoga classes as I am currently subscribed to a gym so i’ll hopefully be able to get help & relief one way or another. Thank you again 😊

[Loving-life in reply to agnus_brown]

I go to a strengthening class at the gym i go to, does your gym offer this? Its only a 10 min class but really works at loosening all the muscles up.

[agnus_brown in reply to Loving-life]

i’ll enquire about this next time i go i’m sure there’ll be something they can do to help thanks 😊

[sandybrown]

Is it a very small GP practice?, Under H&S, employers are supposed to do assessment to understand man machine relationship!.

A screen, mouse, phone, key board, I have to look at the key board when I am typing, this was my main problem. If I look at the screen I made many mistakes.

You have a head set, (hands free kit came into an office environment long time ago!)

You may need new chair with wheels, an assessment to work out other parameters ( height of screen, angle of screen) ,towards better working conditions.

A physiotherapist may have example drawing on how to adjust computer environment.

Please do not let your boss file this letter " i’ve had a letter drawn up from my physio therapist and i have given this to my boss" Is your boss a doctor or an office manager?

I did a Google on this "ergonomic at work"

Please take a look at this link :

google.com/search?q=ergonom...

[agnus_brown in reply to sandybrown]

hi i don’t believe our practice follows the H&S T&C’s as i’ve been with the practice 7yrs now & ive never been assessed at my work station. We do it ourselves with a photocopy of a silhouette person sat at a desk with instructions on how to adjust our chairs monitors etc... then we have to sign that we’ve done it to go in our files for the CCG to look at...thanks for the link i’ll check this out ASAP...thanks again for all your advice 😊

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

I have worked in IT for decades. What I have learnt is you need five minutes break every hour without fail. During that time walk around, do stretches and focus your eyes on more distant objects. The human body is not designed to sit in one place for hours with eyes focussed at a fixed distance! If your employer doesn't like this just say you have to spend a penny!

Twenty years ago my manager agreed I could have a more supportive chair. This was ordered and it turned out the (cost cutting) accountant had cancelled the order. Following a heated argument it was ordered and delivered. You know what the issues are and no half wit manager or accountant should overrule. The next company got a complete set of new chairs. Whilst they looked good only a couple of people could get through the day using them. They were £30 each (2006) but Chinese tat!

[agnus_brown in reply to MichaelJH]

i believe our chairs are probably the same as yours back in 2006...cheap as chips...no good for anyone sat a desk for 10.5 hrs a day with or without breaks. Thanks for your advice on the doing stretches etc and focusing on a area in the distance i’ll give it all a go...as for my boss not putting anything in place all we get is there’s no funding left in the pot...but we can afford to by Dyson fans & pretty xmas decorations...there’s no perks while ever your working for the NHS apart from the pension at the end of it but at this rate i’ll be a cripple so i won’t even be able to enjoy it to its full potential...unless i can get things changed...watch this space!!!

[Shar28]

Hello, I do sympathise as I’ve had back problems for 25 years. I’d suggest seeing a good chiropractor - mine has kept me in work all this time and I just see him for a review every couple of months. He mainly does massage and it works a treat. Good luck in finding a therapist who suits you and your condition.

[agnus_brown in reply to Shar28]

thank you...a chiropractor you say...i’ll try anything to ease my pain. I’ll look into getting myself booked in to see one 😊

[jimmyq in reply to agnus_brown]

Or an Osteopath. They are similar.

[agnus_brown in reply to jimmyq]

thank you 😊

[Shar28]

Many years ago I was struggling to get a suitable chair from my employer so I told them I’d get one myself. They said I couldn’t for Health & Safety liability reasons and organised a workstation assessment for me...new chair and other equipment duly appeared. If your employer hasn’t had you and your workstation assessed you could consider trying that tactic.

[agnus_brown in reply to Shar28]

i like your idea i will try this tomorrow as i’m working with the boss on reception in the morning. Should be an interesting morning conversation 😂

[Salihyuksel67]

Hi there do you have hearth problems before? I was looking laptop 2 weeks ago and start pain my right shoulder and I tried all painkiller but not helps. Also I realised my one of finger kept getting numb. Are you sure nothing to do with hearth? I had by pass operation 7 months ago and I am really worrying.

[agnus_brown in reply to Salihyuksel67]

Hi not that i’m aware of & ive never been checked out for it. The physio it’s down to my posture so i’ve just taken their word for it 🤷‍♀️ as the exercises i do keep it supple & i’m able to day every day stuff but if i don’t do them then the pain & aching comes back.

[Salihyuksel67 in reply to agnus_brown]

Thank you

[sandybrown]

Since the introduction of computer equipment, H&S checks were introduced and the employer was responsible for the work station checks and the employee needs glasses for work it was paid by the employer.

Given the above:

1. You can ask your employer for the checks not self checking and signing a form!

2. Go for eye test, the way we use screen is very different to reading a book or news paper.

3. If a GP or GP practice manager is unable to understand this then there is a big problem for NHS.

4. You can bring this to the attention for other people in your practice.

5. If your management are trying to get away with this you have a case!

6. Chairs have to have wheels, for movement and also to look away from screen for the eyes to look a long distance view then looking at screen.

7. you can talk to Citation advisory bureau to get more information.

8. Typing, key board skills. Many people need to look at the keyboard for typing!

You are not alone on this:

patient.info/health/neck-pa...

The patient info article gives some help.

Avoiding neck pain - dos and don'ts

You can't always avoid neck pain, but simple day-to-day precautions can reduce your risk of suffering.

Do

•Turn your chair to face your computer directly and adjust your chair so the screen is at eye level.

•Stretch regularly if you're working at a desk or driving long distances.

•Keep your head back over your spine rather than hunched forwards.

•Consider Pilates, yoga or the Alexander technique (many councils have lists of local classes for all ages and abilities!).

Don't

•Sleep on your stomach. If possible, sleep on your back.

•Use a very firm or high pillow - it should support the natural curve of your neck.

•Tuck your phone under your chin by hunching your shoulders up.

[agnus_brown]

Since i started 7 years ago I’ve had physio numerous times for different areas due to my posture first my leg as i was getting syiatica & lower back pain then for my neck & now for my neck shoulder & spine. I’m slowly but surely becoming a cripple in the making. I will defo look into all the advice you have given me. Thank you again.

[Kimkat]

Go to a sports massage therapist, I see one and he always sorts me out, not only with massage but exercise to strengthen whatever part of the body needs help.

[agnus_brown in reply to Kimkat]

are they better than normal physio then & how would i go about seeing one of these can i self refer or would i need to be referred?? 🤷‍♀️

[Kimkat in reply to agnus_brown]

I originally saw one after breaking my ankle and needed to get back up to scratch for skiing but he sorted out my sciatica at the same time, that had been bothering me for years. I did go privately as waiting for a gp referral takes months but you should firstly have a word with your gp. I’m amazed that he hasn’t referred you to pain management before now though. Also I noticed that someone mentioned seeing a chiropractor, I’d be very careful with that as I know someone who came out worse than they went in, if your problem is a neural one, it’s best to see someone who doesn’t pull and crack at your joints, in case it’s a neurological injury. Hope you get sorted.

[agnus_brown in reply to Kimkat]

hi yeh i too have been told by a colleague of mine that they ended up in more pain than when they started after they’d had a few sessions with a chiropractor so i don’t think i’ll gonthat route if i can help it. I’m actually looking into going private as i know it can take a while to get a referral appt to see a specialist. Thanks for your advice.

[Kimkat in reply to agnus_brown]

You know I’ve been privately for my first consultation and the doctor has then referred me back to the nhs, it might cost you around £90 but it’s worth it.

[agnus_brown in reply to Kimkat]

i don’t care how much it’s going to cost me if means i’ll be pain free i’m more than happy to pay...then eventually i too may be referred to the Nhs...thank you for your advice again 😊

[Kimkat in reply to agnus_brown]

What area do you live in?

[S11m]

Do you have spell check software on your computer?

If you have, the typing accuracy is not important, as (most) errors are flagged up and easily corrected.

[agnus_brown in reply to S11m]

Hi sorry i’m not sure if this msg was meant for me as it’s not relevant. Many thanks.