c-spine issues, and diagnosed but never necessarily proven TOS. Although my genetics and posture predisposed me to problems, it is because of repetitive stress dialing phones, computer keyboarding, looking as quickly as possible from left to right numerous times during phone calls for 12 hr. periods with few breaks, that I'm here.

Unlike many others who had to continue working thru this, I was months away from quitting anyway and was lucky enough that I didn't have to go through all that work. comp stuff. But, I went in to this job with full knowledge that the ergonomics were far from perfect, AND I DID NOTHING TO HELP MYSELF! It's as if I told myself - "This is cool, I'm sitting, I can wear whatever I want, this won't hurt me, nothing else has." And then for over 6 yrs. I slouched, I gained weight, we ordered out all the time, I had tense shoulders from the time I got in my car until I got out of it that night I didn't pursue other ergonomic possibilities, etc. etc. And of course, as always, the powers that be told us to take breaks, get up blah, blah, blah, but were very disturbed if we couldn't get to those calls in time.

So, if anyone out there thinks they need to change something about their computer environment, if possible (& I know it's not sometimes) do it. It's taken me soooooooo long to figure out that if you don't try to take care of the old body, it's going to just TURN INTO ONE HUGE SHOULDER/BACK ROCK HARD LUMP, only relieved by trigger point/myofacial massage. Carly posted a picture on the old board of a body all tied up - that was the best description of TOS I ever saw and if anybody has that and could post it again, I'd love to see it.

Repetitve stress is a mess - phoebe 2007