Buying A Suitable Chair?

deannagone

I have rh arthritis (pains in all my joints, particularly hips hands and feet), and back problems.  I sit at my desk a lot.  I really need a reclining chair so I can alter my position when back and hips get painful.  It also helps to raise my feet when I've been walking and they are hurting (lots of nodules in my feet, surprisingly painful at times).  

But its finding a chair that will last, that is high enough and stable enough (I'm not enormous but a lot of reclining office chairs have footrests that are very weak).  I have tried assorted type of chairs standard office chairs, a very expensive Lazboy office chair (didn't recline, back sloped backwards so no support for back at all if looking at pc screen how they could describe it as ergonomic I have no idea), I've bought armchairs and put wheels under the legs to raise the height.,  but that one broke., I've paid for very expensive chairs and inexpensive chairs.  All had quite big faults.

I can't stand for long because of my feet/hips so a standing desk isn't an answer.  

I'm just wondering if there is a chair I can use for long hours at my pc, that will actually meet my needs of being able to change position and put my feet up.  I would be happy to buy a footrest if necessary but would be best if it all came as one unit.

Does anyone have any ideas?  The chair seat does need quite a bit of padding because sitting causes discomfort.  Those ring/coccyx support things didn't really help although the coccyx is part of the problem..

theoretica

For 'high enough' also consider a lower table - it might be a little help.

deannagone

The height of the chair is important to make it easier to get in and out of and for my legs when not using a foot rest.  I thank you for the suggestion but its not anything to do with desk height.  Even my sofa is high, I avoid low furniture I have to sit in. 

Savvy_Sue

Are you WFH, for yourself, or do you have an employer?

If you have an employer, they might need to call someone in for advice on your needs. 

If you're going it alone, could you approach your GP to ask for an Occupational Therapy assessment? specifically for this, but they may have other suggestions for the rest of life.

Is it worth approaching a local shop selling disability aids and asking if they have any recommendations? 

Or https://livingmadeeasy.org.uk/ (was the Disabled Living Foundation, I believe).

Alternatively I have no idea if https://www.posturite.co.uk/help-advice can be any help, they are not cheap, but their mouse is the very best I have ever had, and it's lasted well ... 

DustyBlues

Have you considered a height-adjustable desk to change your position and aid mobility of your joints throughout the day? It’s not all about the ‘right chair’ but the right overall set-up.

If you are employed, you should request an OH assessment and they will take body measurements to advise the best type of chair, monitors, footrest etc for your ailments. Things such as headrests, seat height/depth, arm rests, tilt action, adjustable lumbar support etc should all be considered when deciding upon an appropriate chair.

If not employed, do an internet search on ‘Display Screen Equipment workstation’ assessment and you’ll find information and diagrams indicating the best angle/distance to sit at your desk. 

You could also ask your rheumatologist for a referral to Occupational Therapy who could recommend stretches/ exercises you can do while sat at your desk to ease your discomfort.

In my experience, none of the above will cure the discomfort of sitting all day long, but together they go some way to mitigating the effects of arthritic pain. Good luck!

deannagone

I don't have any treatment for the rh arthritis, on the waiting list to go on a waiting list.  I did see someone about three years ago but I also have autism, and found the nurse I kept having to see a bit challenging to talk to.  Although I did write asking for a change, it wasn't offered so I stopped going to the clinic.  They would tell me I needed to change medication, hand out a leaflet that didn't really explain side effects, the nurse wouldn't and so I just stopped going. 

I could ask for an OT assessment but would rather purchase a chair myself if I can just find the right sort. I have limited mobility problems but don't need a riser chair, I just need it to be the right height so I am comfortable - too low a chair and I hunch over.  Its nothing to do with desk height, purely the chair height. 

 I am not employed.  I just spend a lot of time on my pc. I also have  really bad cataracts so seeing a screen isn't overly easy, I zoom what I can.  On the waiting list for an op but the waiting list is long.  I have a 27 inch screen and can manage as long as I zoom things.  But can't be too far from a screen.  Magnifiers don't help, they work on a limited surface area so you are moving around trying to see complete lines etc.  probably affects my posture, probably affects my back.

Perhaps I am hoping for too much.  Or not explaining enough.  Or just being awkward.  Apologies.

theoretica

Do you have another chair you are comfortable in for this length of time?  It just still seems easier to me to adjust the computer to you and where you are comfortable rather than adjust you to the computer. 

Spoonie_Turtle

deannagone said:

I don't have any treatment for the rh arthritis, on the waiting list to go on a waiting list.  I did see someone about three years ago but I also have autism, and found the nurse I kept having to see a bit challenging to talk to.  Although I did write asking for a change, it wasn't offered so I stopped going to the clinic.  They would tell me I needed to change medication, hand out a leaflet that didn't really explain side effects, the nurse wouldn't and so I just stopped going. 

I could ask for an OT assessment but would rather purchase a chair myself if I can just find the right sort. I have limited mobility problems but don't need a riser chair, I just need it to be the right height so I am comfortable - too low a chair and I hunch over.  Its nothing to do with desk height, purely the chair height. 

 I am not employed.  I just spend a lot of time on my pc. I also have  really bad cataracts so seeing a screen isn't overly easy, I zoom what I can.  On the waiting list for an op but the waiting list is long.  I have a 27 inch screen and can manage as long as I zoom things.  But can't be too far from a screen.  Magnifiers don't help, they work on a limited surface area so you are moving around trying to see complete lines etc.  probably affects my posture, probably affects my back.

Perhaps I am hoping for too much.  Or not explaining enough.  Or just being awkward.  Apologies.

Actually this might be ideal.  An OT can give you a professional assessment and they won't be constrained by official budgets for recommendations or by guidelines that only allow the minimum relief, or even by the range that NHS suppliers offer.  Buying privately also means they can tell you what you need to look for, rather than (again) only being able to recommend from a limited selection.

MovingForwards

After nearly 2 decades, in various roles, I've finally been provided with a chair which is adjustable to my needs and sounds like what you're after. 

Make: Agitus

Model: Senator

Height adjustable.
Seat base slides forward / backward to get it in the right position.
Backrest slowly reclines if I lean enough weight on to it, rather that rest on it. Can be put in a fixed position. There's also height adjustable support in it. 

Downside is they are not cheap, there may be similar cheaper ones on the market, with less bells and whistles.

There's various foot stools and some are height adjustable, some are at an angle, prices range from £10 - £100 new. My favourite is the posturite adjustable footrest (SKU 5774).

deannagone

Thank you so much for that MovingForwards, looks like a really good chair.  Having slight problems finding a supplier and price.  It does look expensive from the one price I did find but I can save.

I know people have suggested OT.., I did see OT about my kitchen.  I found it quite a difficult process, they are very very overworked, limited in what they could do, changed OT a number of times because they kept leaving, and to be honest, they got a bit irritated with me so I won't go that route again if I can help it.  There's very little understanding of autism professionally so I don't go to professionals anymore, try to solve any problems I can myself.  If I can't, they just have to be put up with. 

We desperately need a shower, in council housing (which I totally appreciate I was lucky to get), but in a maisonette, and water pressure problems would have to be sorted before a shower can be installed, the boiler system (fairly new) in the property is not really shower friendly.  And the actual process of having the kitchen installed was so so stressful (handled by a private contractor who were absolutely awful - to them its just a job to be completed.., how they did it maximised stress, I was left a total mess swaying in my chair like a zombie a few times which I have never done before with no one from the company helping sort some problems out).  So I am afraid I would literally rather die than apply to have a shower installed.  Although the OT said I needed one along with a partly adapted kitchen.  Unfortunately, then she was out of the process and housing took over and they were so awful.  They were actually visibly laughing at me.  I'd never have anything done again.  So no OT assessment for a chair lol. I still don't have any handles on the cupboards in the kitchen because the ones they wanted to install were hurtful to my arthritic hands and the OT hadn't specified anything special.  I can't face contacting OT again for anything.  

Thinking its probably me, how i communicate I looked for an advocacy service.  There is no advocacy service in the area, I've looked and asked endlessly.  When I phoned Housing and asked if there was anyone who dealt with housing and special needs, they didn't have a clue what I was talking about lol.  Supposedly Social Services (the specialist autism team in my area) don't deal with Housing.  Yep, thats what I was told.

MovingForwards

I do feel for you. I've experienced similar with various occ heath people over the years, I point blank refuse to be referred to them. 

With the chair, I have seen them occasionally pop up on eBay. Downside is they are second hand. However, you now potentially know what type of chair to look for with other companies. 

I've got a normal electric shower fitted in my home, deliberately picked a property where it didn't have a bath. The water temperature is slightly cooler in winter, compared to the rest of the year, but it's made a huge difference to my life. Electric showers are not badly priced, I'm not sure how much they cost to fit from scratch nor do I know if you could get permission to alter the bathroom if you paid for it yourself.
- I'm assuming you also face difficulties getting in / out, or maybe from sitting in the bath. If getting in / out is possible, then save and fit an electric shower.