Sharon,
Check out this little table:

http://www.potpourripieces.com/#Needle_Artists_Caddy

I've seen it in action and it really helps.

eileenkny

Sharon, I know it might not work for applique, but one thing I have just recently found for hand quilting is using the kitchen table. My neck has given me problems for years because of a car accident in high school. What I do is I sit at the end of the table with the table on my left side. I rest my left elbow on the table and balance the frame/hoop on my left hand, then angle it up till the work is almost perpendicular to the floor (work surface facing toward my chest/face.) This way I can work on my quilting or embroidery, even pulling it up to my eyes if need be, without bending my neck too much. It has done wonders for me since I am no longer stooped over my floor frame or slouching in my armchair.

A few moths ago...I found myself almost inside the sewing machine..my neck was in pain and my back i wont mention.......All I needed was new glasses So check it out girls, maybe you just need new glasses too;)

Eileen, handwork is my favorite thing to do. I've done quite a bit of needle turn applique and really enjoy it. The thing is, I still have to bend my neck down to do it. I could possibly use a pillow or something to raise it up and not bend my neck so much.

You should see me knit!!

Take care everyone and stay warm, Sharon in TN

Sharon,
What about hand piecing? Have you tried that? It's a slower process but it's sure to be easier on the neck. Then maybe you can trade quilting for binding.
Just a thought,
eileenkny

Hey Brink, Maybe you can do a video to show us what we should be doing and how we can know if what we are doing is right.

WOOHOO! Brink is coming!!! You could go from house to house. I'm sure everywhere you stay will have lots of good food and of course, wonderful hospitality. Do you want us to send you our names and addresses and you can work on your itinerary? Just kidding, but it would be nice to have some help. Right now, I'm not sure I'll sew again, which is not a good thought at all. But I can enjoy what everyone else is doing, without spending the money on fabric or hurting my neck and back!!

Take care everyone, Sharon in TN

I am so sorry to hear You cant get the help You need to set up a healthy workspace!!! I may have to come visit You all...free of charge
Never the less..try to figure out a way to keep up quilting and everything that bring sunshine into Your life, even though the body fights us we can bring nurishment to the soul!

Sharon,
The doctor called in a prescription of Lyrica for me!! Never thought I'd get so excited over a couple of pills.
I was weaning off kind of slowly-I went from 100mg in the am to only 50. That was enough to send me screaming for the other pill.
I'm working on a custom quilt from the front of my machine and it has a lot of SID, so I'm feeling it in my neck. Other than that, I had an IME yesterday for workers comp. Now I'm playing the waiting game. I'll let you know what happens.
eileenkny

Brink, you're right about the chair and foot pedal. When I was sewing a lot, I spent most of my time chasing the foot pedal and pulling it back. I've also read how to figure the height of the table you're working on and I have an adjustable chair. I've had the chair up as high as it will go and down as low as it will go, and lots of places in between, but still my neck and shoulders hurt. I think they would hurt no matter. The rainy weather this week isn't helping a bit, either.

I wish we could have someone come to our home and help us, but as Eileen said, that's impossible for most of us. We'll just have to learn by trial and error.

Eileen, how are you this week? I hope you're feeling better.

Take care, Sharon in TN

Brink,
Thank you for the information. In the US, we have health insurance policies that cover specific things. Very often, it won't cover someone coming to your home unless you are incapacitated. Therefore, it would be out of pocket and the cost could be beyond many peoples' budgets. It's my opinion that our health care in the US is reactive, not proactive. They'll look for a cure after the fact rather than trying to prevent illness and injury.
I'm not trying to start an argument, just stating my opinion.
eileenkny

I am educated as an occupatiolal therapy assistant (my 1st carriere). And for all of you with pain in back, neck, sholders and arms I would strongly suggest to get an occupational therapist to come to your home. We all sit and work by preadjusted tables and he/she can help you adjust table, chair, workingtables...anything to be the rigth hight for you. My chair is standing on (i dont know what its called in usa...but a kind of mat that you will put under your rug so it wont slip)...same material under the footpedal for my sewingmachine. It does help a lot...chair dont run away....and my pedal stay in place.

Jessamina,
Good luck and Godspeed tomorrow. I'm sure everything will go just great.
I'm the one with the hubby in denial. I had the rheumy talk to him last week and now he understands much better.
eileenkny

Jessimina, you will be in our thoughts and prayers for a quick recovery. Please keep us posted!