Headaches after painting; am I the only one?

[Daeothar]

Last night, I had the opportunity to finally sit down and do some painting again. With a busy job and a toddler around the house, I find it harder and harder to find the time and energy to paint and I've not finished a single figure this year.

However, this morning, my shoulders are all locked up, as is my neck, and this results in a mild headache. Nothing serious, but irritating enough to make working behind a computer a rather unpleasant experience.

I used to attribute these pains to having yet another cold, as I'm apparently very susceptible to colds, and I'm usually sniffling about six months a year. These colds used to be accompanied by cramped up muscles in my shoulders and neck, resulting in those headaches, sometimes quite severe.

A hot bath or long walk (obviously well insulated against the weather), together with copious amounts of Ibuprofen tends to clear that up though, but I have to go through that process at least a dozen times a year.

But this is the very first instance this year, even though I've already had several colds.

And then it finally struck me; I always seem to get those locked muscles and headaches directly after I paint!

Probably the cold has an aggravating effect, but I now think that it's very likely that it's been my painting sessions that have been causing those headaches all along.

I'm theorising that perhaps it's my workbench, in combination with my chair and probably also my pose and (too) deep concentration, causing me to take too few breaks.

I built that desk myself, and made it higher than standard (approximately 85cm instead of 75cm), thinking that a higher desk might help with my pose (not too bent forward), but I'm now suspecting that that might not have been a good move.

My desk and hobby space will be moved to another (dedicated, yay!) room soonish, so when I build my desk there, I will give the whole height thing some thorough and proper thought.

So; does anyone else have this problem? And what do you do to prevent/remedy it?

[Cubs]

I built that desk myself, and made it higher than standard (approximately 85cm instead of 75cm), thinking that a higher desk might help with my pose (not too bent forward), but I'm now suspecting that that might not have been a good move.

Funny enough, I built myself a higher desk after suffering the same thing, but I also did my own slapdash version of an occupational theparist assessment. I tried to set up my lamp, a sponge elbow rest and proper chair so that I could paint in a comfortable position without scrunching myself up like a dying spider.

Of course, with a new little 'un in the house, it could also be the after-effect of general fatigue combined with close-up concentrating with tired eyes.

[zenbadger]

My desk is pretty comfortable but the eyestrain can bring on horrible migraines. I now take my glasses off to paint and work with my myopia rather than against it, the eyestrain is much more manageable without them. The only problem is that I have washed my brushes out in my whisky a few times.

[Nord]

Hunching forward is definitely not good. You might be doing this to peer into your light source if you have a desk lamp, I don't know your setup. I used to suffer from aching neck and back because I leant forward too much. The solution I adopted was to shift the light source, it's now just behind my left shoulder (I am right handed so hold the figure in my left hand). A flexible floor lamp, with daylight bulbs - not as good as real daylight, but I can paint sat in an upright position. You don't need to lock your elbows on to a surface to keep a steady arm, that's the cause of all the tension I reckon. So now I sit pretty much upright, can go for 3 or 4 hours (with breaks) before the shoulders and neck tell me to stop.

Not tried massage, I used to have a soak in a bath. Nowadays I tend to use a bar with weights in the garage, do some rowing exercises - stretches all the neck, back and shoulder muscles. Impresses the ladies too. 

[former user]

there can be several reasons combined
eyes:
need glasses?
using a magnifying glass?
good lighting?

body posture:
elbow rest?
maybe a hand rest occasionally?

too long sessions wanting to finish?

check out all these aspects, I am sure you will find something

I am having an elbow rest at all times, a raised working surface I can occasionally rest my hand on if it gets too fiddly,
a magnifying glass and a strong lamp
I used to get headaches with the wrong spectacles.
Also, assuming a fixed position for too long is not good.
If You are using a swiveling office chair, try to sit in reverse resting Your chest on the back of the chair, and not on Your elbows. get a stable box and rest Your hands at the height of Your chest

that would be my advice

[Cubs]

I now take my glasses off to paint and work with my myopia rather than against it, the eyestrain is much more manageable without them.

This is a very good point. If you are short-sighted, it will benefit you with painting and you don't need glasses!

[The Gray Ghost]

I'm theorising that perhaps it's my workbench, in combination with my chair and probably also my pose and (too) deep concentration, causing me to take too few breaks.

sounds about right
I've had problems with my new chair, will probably have to change it.
I don't keep a water cup for cleaning my brushes on my table, makes me get up every so often to go clean my brush.

[Jeff965]

Regardless of your posture, eyesight etc (all of which are important) if you paint infrequently then you will be straining muscles in your neck and back that don't normally have to work that hard. This in turn will cause the headaches you describe.
To avoid this you can do one of two things, either stop painting or do so much painting that these muscles build up and allow you to paint for longer without the muscle aching headaches.

PS I am not a doctor.

Jeff

[Emir of Askaristan]

The guys have nailed to a large extent. Typical painting posture is similar to sitting using a monitor and screen all day and what you have described sounds similar to the aches and pains associated with that.

To combat those I use a angle poise lamp with a daylight bulb and magnifier built in. I sit well back and more upright in my chair and have the lamp pulled towards me. So rather than painting over the desk, I paint in more comfortable posture and I can see the figure clearly. It's been a big help to me.

The headaches could be related to eyesight, lighting, glare from a shiny surface or (unlikely but possible) sensitisation to the chemicals in the paints, varnishes or glue you use. Get your eyes checked, improve your lighting and take regular but short breaks. Ventilation shouldn't be a problem but again if your painting in a big cupboard or small room and using solvent based products it could be contributory factor.

Lastly, keep warm. I used to paint in the garage and loft and neither were really warm enough in winter even with heaters.  The cold will magnify the effect of poor posture and cramps. Move about, take breaks.

Take a look online for info about using display screen equipment and posture - it's not completely appropriate for what we do, but it comes close.

[Daeothar]

Some good points and suggestions by all; many thanks. 

As it is, I think I will certainly be heeding the advise regarding over-the-shoulder lighting; I now have 3 lights, one of which swivels to light down on the desk just above my head. I already wanted to change to daylight bulbs (I now have one incandescent tube light and two small halogen lamps, a setup that plays havoc with photography too btw.).

As for the physical aspect; I work out three times a week, so that should cover it I reckon. Still; I'm a desk jockey most of my time at work, and my job is often quite stressful as well. So I might be more fatigued in the evening than I allow myself to be. I don't know how to fix that though...  More breaks probably?

My eyes were lasered about 6 years ago and are still perfectly fine, although I was warned that there might be some detail loss close-up. However; I've never really noticed that (I do have lesser night vision now though). But it might still cause some more eye strain than I think it does, so I'm hoping that the better lighting will help there.

Then the breaks; I tend to take a short break whenever the CD I was listening to ended. But just as often, I just press play again, because I'm 'in the flow'. Looks like I will have to be more strict there, as I recognize that as a major trap for me. I tend to be so happy I have the energy and drive to paint, that I want to take the fullest advantage of the time I have...

Bad idea, probably.

Also, the (new) desk will definitely be lower again.

My wife actually pointed out that when she uses my PC (on the same desk), for prolonged periods, she gets the locked shoulders and neck as well. So I'm now putting a lot of the blame squarely on the desk. Especially since I never had these issues before, when I painted not at this particular desk. And I know I painted a lot more back then.

It's served well for almost 8 years (already ), but since I will be relocating my hobby efforts to a different room anyway, I think I will now take the entire thing down. Maybe literally, if my wife wants to re-use part of it.

The current desk wraps around 3 sides of the room, has a built in unit to contain my PC, flatbed printer/scanner and sound system, plus two PC workstations in two corners. I built it over the course of 3 days straight back when, and it's bolted right into the concrete walls. It will be quite the undertaking to remove methinks...

But at least that will be honest physical work! There's some risk of injury, but definitely no locked muscles due to maintaining the same pose for hours on end...

Thanks again all! (LAF is dearly missing a thumbs-up smiley btw...)

[Lowtardog]

This is a very good point. If you are short-sighted, it will benefit you with painting and you don't need glasses!

Thatsd what I do too now

[Blackwolf]

All of the above And you can add in getting older

[Daeothar]

Slight update.

I've taken as much advice to heart as was possible with my current setup, and I must say that things have improved considerably.

I especially paid extra attention to my pose, and it amazed me how badly I was stooping over when I started taking note. Apparently, I unconsiously rested my forearms on the edge of the desk (because it's too high to rest my elbows), and I bent forward to catch the best light under my overhead lamp.

So I've changed the location of the lamp, I'm forcing myself to sit upright, with elbows on the desk (apparently I measured that before I built the desk; it's a perfect fit), and I'm taking small breaks, at smaller intervals.

The last bit is the hardest to maintain, but I'm batch/block painting a skeleton regiment right now, and I've limited myself to a regime of a small break whenever I finish a colour on each rank. So that's block painting 5 minis with one colour, and then 5 minutes of stretching and walking.

It helps to do small chores around the house inbetween too btw.

Of course I will be attempting to improve the current situation some more, but it looks like we're on the right track again! Thus far, I've been able to paint more in this weekend, than the entire previous year (without strain or headache). So; yay; many thanks for the suggenstions.

[Cubs]

Good to hear.

[Jeff965]

I still reckon my advice on painting more often did it for you