Someone pointed out my monitor height was killing my neck after months of back pain

I've been working in my backyard studio for about a year now, and I kept having this nagging pain in my upper back and neck. Thought it was just getting older or sitting too long. Then a buddy who does ergonomics consulting stopped by last weekend and immediately said my monitors were way too low. I had them sitting right on the desk, which I guess is pretty common. He showed me how to stack some old textbooks under them to get the top of the screen at eye level. It feels weird at first but after three days my neck pain is almost gone. Has anyone else dealt with weird aches from their studio setup that turned out to be something simple like this?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_terry7d ago

Wait, so you're telling me my neck pain might be fixable with a stack of old textbooks instead of expensive chiropractor visits? I've been walking around looking like a question mark for the past six months because I thought that's just how you're supposed to sit at a desk. My setup is basically a laptop balanced on a closed guitar case on top of a milk crate, which my wife calls "the world's worst standing desk." Maybe I should try actual books instead of just hoping my neck will eventually learn to bend the other way. Guess I'll find out tomorrow if I can still look straight ahead without making that old man grunting noise.

perez.cole7d ago

Man, are we really acting like moving a screen a few inches up is gonna fix all your problems? I've tried that whole ergonomics thing before and it didn't do much for me. My neck still hurts whether my monitor is at eye level or down on the desk. Honestly, it probably has more to do with how much time I spend hunched over looking at my phone in bed at night. I just think people like to blame their desk setup for everything when really it's just general wear and tear from getting older.