Anyone get migraines (not headaches but real migraines) from working on their computer too much?
I just got three in three days forcing me to take a day off. When I'm not on the road doing the tours (which is good on the eyes/brain ) I am behind my computer working 16-18 hr days near compulsively (admittedly). I rarely take breaks but apparently that is breaking me! I'm going to have to start some new habits of taking better care...
Curious how others might manage the long hours of computer/photo work?
Curious if anyone else has the same struggle?
Mark
Posted by Brad Mangas on October 6, 2011 at 10:48 PM
You pretty much answered your own question Mark, to do anything obsessively for 16-18 hours a day well inevitably lead to health problems physically and mentally. If one has a profession that requires such hours then in my opinion they are missing out on the enjoyment of what they do and possibly have lost track of why they do it in the first place. If one is doing this for the survival of their family I could understand and sympathies but I gather that is not the case.
I have lived with a very close family member that suffered from migraines for many years and please understand this is only my opinion, from witnessing these first hand I would question whether migraines are what you are experiencing. A true migraine can and normally does put a person out of commission for a day and very likely 2-3 days (a single migraine) with even the hint of light totally unexceptionable to the point of additional pain. 3 migraines in 3 days I could only imagine (again from my experience) would require nothing less than large amounts of narcotics just to deal with and possibly hospitalization.
Take a break man or your love of photography will make you take a very unwelcome break possibly for an extended period of time. Remember why you have the love of photography, I'm thinking it wasn't to set in front a computer for 16hrs. a day.
"You pretty much answered your own question Mark, to do anything obsessively for 16-18 hours a day well inevitably lead to health problems physically and mentally."
I agree with Brad, Mark. You are likely suffering from eyestrain and a lack of good rest. If your eyes are very dry, you may also be suffering from dehydration which will exacerbate the strain on your eyes. If you haven't had an eye exam lately, this would be a good time to do it. Like it or not, our eyes age along with the other body systems. As our eyes get weaker with age, we work harder to focus them, the eyes get tired, and the more we push them, the greater the strain. The headaches you are having are likely not migraine. However, it's a good idea to see a professional to check things out.
Ayup. Add in florescent lighting or poor lighting in general and it's a wrap.
Posted by Ron Bielefeld on October 7, 2011 at 8:28 AM
I spend a lot of time looking at a monitor for my professional job and in image processing. I was getting headaches everyday for a bit, so I went to see the eye doctor. I am 45 years old and never needed glasses. I wear them now. It turned out I needed a pair of bi-focals with the upper main part of the lens made for viewing at the distance I have my computer monitor and the bottom part for the distance I would read a book. Ever since I started wearing my new glasses, no more headaches. I too recommend you go see an eye doctor and have your vision checked. You may find part of the solution to your problem. Good luck and get some rest.
Ditto on the consult with an opthamologist.
And, "All things in moderation."
Posted by Angela McCain on October 7, 2011 at 9:53 PM
Also. Be sure that your computer monitor is in a "neck neutral" position. Those bifocals won't help if you tilt your head forward or backward in order to get them in the right position. Many people have their keyboard/mouse too high. This causes the muscles in the upper back (trapezius) and neck to contract more and compound the problem. When you do take breaks, try some range of motion exercise of your neck. Better yet, tell your significant other that massage 3 x week has been recommended
Thank you everyone for your helpful advice and contributions. It is helping.
1. it is migraine (how about going blind in one or both eyes and debilitating pain)
2. I love my life and work and am not missing out on anything
3. sometimes you simply have to push extra hard (deadlines and such)
4. no eye problems (very fortunate here - I'm 44)
5. no brain problems (had 2 cat-scans)
6. learning to take much more care!
7. appreciate the caring feedback
Please forgive me for being blunt, but regardless of what name you give these headaches, there is something going on that seriously needs to be investigated. To do otherwise may be very risky.
--P
Posted by Bill Fach on October 11, 2011 at 2:40 PM
Mark: As an eye doctor I see a lot of headache patients. There's a common conception that eye problems cause a lot of headaches. However if I help 5 or 6 out of a hundred folks who present with headaches I've done well. That said, there are indeed issues with viewing a screen for prolonged periods of time. Screens themselves are not harmful and you're not being irradiated by UV or other harmful stuff. Bear in mind that what we see is either reflected or emitted light. When you view the environment you are seeing light reflected off the surfaces. Much of the light that strikes these surfaces is absorbed. In a sunlit scene for example a red t-shirt absorbs all of the light except the red that is reflected into our eyes. White and light colors reflect most all of the light while black and darks absorb most all. A computer, TV, neon sign, etc. are light sources and emitters. Therefore they put out a lot more light at a much higher intensity than reflected surfaces. It actually requires more focusing effort to look at a newspaper than a computer but the higher light emission of the screen causes pupil constriction and even squinting. Also, if you ever observe someone looking at a screen intently you'll notice that they won't blink very much which does contribute to dry eye symptoms. Of course thinking about blinking is like thinking about breathing, you just won't do it long. Many ergonomic adjustments can make a huge difference. Room lighting should be dim. At my computer I have a small desk lamp to light any paper I'm looking at but keep the overhead lights turned off. This allows me to keep the screen brightness dialed down. If the room is bright then the computer has to be boosted up to overcome the ambient light. Think of the dash lights in your car. They are relatively dim yet if it is dark they are easy to see but in the middle of a bright day you can't really notice them.
At 44 you are at the cusp of needing reading lenses. The only cure for failing near vision is to get younger. If your distance vision is good then try some simple +1.00 readers from the drug store. They are not a substitute for a proper ophthalmological evaluation but in general there is no harm done and they can help.
Finally, true migraine is most often the result of low blood pressure/blood sugar. It is a complex syndrome that I can't expound on here but the term migraine is too often generically applied to any bad headache. If you get a vision disturbance, light headedness, cold sweats, nausea, and/or head pain you may indeed have the genuine article. Some folks only experience one or two of these symptoms. Headaches brought on by space occupying lesions in the head are less transient and are often accompanied by other neurological signs. A lot of my work revolves around ruling out the ugly possibilities. Hope this helps and please contact me if you want more elaboration.
Wow Bill that was EXCELLENT information and thank you very much! "The only cure for failing near vision is to get younger." I love that line! I hoping good genetics! But I doubt my hope... :)
Thank you Preston I very much appreciate the admonition. I can assure you (and myself) that I have. I get Migraines. Have occasionally since I was a kid. Usually exercise induced but sometimes other stressors trigger it. Apparently there is no cure and various stressors are triggers but not the cause. The cause is apparently unknown. I have taken much of the advice above and others I have recently received and am simply taking better care of myself and they have left. I think this is a good thread for others who put in the hard hours behind the computer. These migraines are very common.
Discussion
10 repliesI just got three in three days forcing me to take a day off. When I'm not on the road doing the tours (which is good on the eyes/brain
Curious how others might manage the long hours of computer/photo work?
Curious if anyone else has the same struggle?
Mark
I have lived with a very close family member that suffered from migraines for many years and please understand this is only my opinion, from witnessing these first hand I would question whether migraines are what you are experiencing. A true migraine can and normally does put a person out of commission for a day and very likely 2-3 days (a single migraine) with even the hint of light totally unexceptionable to the point of additional pain. 3 migraines in 3 days I could only imagine (again from my experience) would require nothing less than large amounts of narcotics just to deal with and possibly hospitalization.
Take a break man or your love of photography will make you take a very unwelcome break possibly for an extended period of time. Remember why you have the love of photography, I'm thinking it wasn't to set in front a computer for 16hrs. a day.
I agree with Brad, Mark. You are likely suffering from eyestrain and a lack of good rest. If your eyes are very dry, you may also be suffering from dehydration which will exacerbate the strain on your eyes. If you haven't had an eye exam lately, this would be a good time to do it. Like it or not, our eyes age along with the other body systems. As our eyes get weaker with age, we work harder to focus them, the eyes get tired, and the more we push them, the greater the strain. The headaches you are having are likely not migraine. However, it's a good idea to see a professional to check things out.
--P
And, "All things in moderation."
1. it is migraine (how about going blind in one or both eyes and debilitating pain)
2. I love my life and work and am not missing out on anything
3. sometimes you simply have to push extra hard (deadlines and such)
4. no eye problems (very fortunate here - I'm 44)
5. no brain problems (had 2 cat-scans)
6. learning to take much more care!
7. appreciate the caring feedback
Please forgive me for being blunt, but regardless of what name you give these headaches, there is something going on that seriously needs to be investigated. To do otherwise may be very risky.
--P
At 44 you are at the cusp of needing reading lenses. The only cure for failing near vision is to get younger. If your distance vision is good then try some simple +1.00 readers from the drug store. They are not a substitute for a proper ophthalmological evaluation but in general there is no harm done and they can help.
Finally, true migraine is most often the result of low blood pressure/blood sugar. It is a complex syndrome that I can't expound on here but the term migraine is too often generically applied to any bad headache. If you get a vision disturbance, light headedness, cold sweats, nausea, and/or head pain you may indeed have the genuine article. Some folks only experience one or two of these symptoms. Headaches brought on by space occupying lesions in the head are less transient and are often accompanied by other neurological signs. A lot of my work revolves around ruling out the ugly possibilities. Hope this helps and please contact me if you want more elaboration.
Thank you Preston I very much appreciate the admonition. I can assure you (and myself) that I have. I get Migraines. Have occasionally since I was a kid. Usually exercise induced but sometimes other stressors trigger it. Apparently there is no cure and various stressors are triggers but not the cause. The cause is apparently unknown. I have taken much of the advice above and others I have recently received and am simply taking better care of myself and they have left. I think this is a good thread for others who put in the hard hours behind the computer. These migraines are very common.