Brainstorming ideas please!

[Weezy]

Hi everyone! I need to tap into the creativity you all have because I'm stymied. Here's the deal: I need and want to get back to work (Doc Weezy's Academic Services--mostly dissertation/thesis consulting and editing). I'm lucky because I work at home.

Here's my problem: I can't sit at my desk for more than a few minutes at a time! I'm two weeks out from my RTKR and my knee still swells quickly when its not elevated.

Here's my benefits: hubby can and will build/modify just about anything, and we have lots of computer equipment including laptops and extra monitors. We also have an adjustable hospital style table.

Here's what I'm doing now: laptop on a pillow (lap desk), in my lap, with me sitting in a recliner and my legs up. It quickly becomes uncomfortable because of the weight of the computer and its a lousy keyboard position for doing editing and lots of keyboarding. I don't want to cause neck and shoulder problems and because I often get so involved in my work that I don't realize I'm sitting poorly and/or stressing my body.

Any ideas? I need to keep my knee moving somewhat, at least be able to keep flexing it, although I'm doubtful that I will stop every few minutes to get up and move around. I also need to have things where I can work on the computer and have a comfy keyboard placement and keep my knee elevated. I'd love to be able to comfortably ice and work at the same time!

I keep thinking there ought to be a good solution! I don't want to wait another couple of months before I go back to work...I'm getting bored now and want to put my ads back up and get some new clients (its the peak dissertation season coming up). But I also don't want to hinder my knee healing or cause more orthopedic problems from bad ergonomics.

Any and all ideas will be greatly appreciated!

Weezy

 

[Judles]

Weezy,,,,,,,you sound so organized I can only think of 2 minor things for you,,,,,absurdly simple,,,,,,a timer set so you can stop your work to get up and move around & a portable freezer for your ice! Otheer than that,,,,just make time foe Weezy!

 

[execk2]

Hi Weezy, how about something like this. I am sure it can be made easily.

broken link removed: https://www.laptable.co.uk/

 

[Josephine]

I've already addressed that, Weezy! I bought one of these! is complete with fans to keep the LT cool! And you can fold the legs and use it as a tray as well! Haven't received it yet but will let you know my opinion as soon as I do.

Oh!!! here's the broken link removed: https://cgi.ebay.com/Foldable-Laptop-Desk-Table-Stand-Bed-TV-Tray-w-Two-Fans_W0QQitemZ250370142556QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Home_Garden_HomeOfficeFurniture_SM?hash=item250370142556 from the same seller on Ebay.com

 

[Judles]

Whoa! And here I thoght all she needed was to move around when she worked! Whoops!

 

[Josephine]

Oh the timer is a great idea, too, judles! Something I shall be utilizing! I can remember days I have been so engrossed in working on this darned computer that I haven't stood up for hours!! It wasn't until I told my chiropractor I was having occasional staggery moments when I got up and he told me all my leg muscles were flabby I put two and two together. That was when I decided to enrol in the gym. So, yes - the timer is a great idea even if I only do passive movements by lowering and raising the recliner. Better than nothing!

 

[Weezy]

Whoa! And here I thoght all she needed was to move around when she worked! Whoops!

You're right about the moving around...and I'm going to try the timer. Unfortunately, I do tend to get so involved that I ignore other things like timers! Of course, what I REALLY want is something that makes working with my still-recovering knee the same as if I was fully recovered... :0

And do NOT think that I'm organized! Sheesh! If my hubby saw that he'd be laughing for hours. You should see my desk and office and the mess I left them in before surgery. A friend calls me a "pilot" as in "I pile it here and I pile it there and I pile it everywhere." I'm just bored right now and want the distraction of working on dissertations (and of course the $$ doesn't hurt either!).

Weezy

 

[Josephine]

A friend calls me a "pilot" as in "I pile it here and I pile it there and I pile it everywhere."

 

[Judles]

For sure, Jo,,,,,plus your motto,,,,RIce,,,,But I can't remember what the C is again
Rest
Ice
C. ?????
E Elevate
(Does it mean look CUTE doing it????,,,,or concentrate?)

 

[Weezy]

oooo....I never even thought of a lap TABLE! That would be flexible too and I could vary where I sit.

I gotta show hubby as soon as he comes in from playing with his new forklift.

Weezy

 

[Josephine]

Rest
Ice
Compression
Elevation

 

[Judles]

Forklift, Weezy? You have him cleaning your desk already????

 

[Josephine]

Incidentally, Weezy, I'm planning to attach runners between the side feet so I when I have it on the recliner, it won't matter that the back feet are most probably not able to be on the seat. Considering the size of my belly, that would pretty much be a given!

 

[Judles]

Jo,,,,,,Compression, of course! I think my brain has been a little too compressed lately! Thanks so much!

 

[Weezy]

Forklift, Weezy? You have him cleaning your desk already????

oooooo....good one Judles!!! Nope, he's not cleaning my desk. Geez, THAT would be a catastrophe! I love this man, but his idea of organization is worse than mine.

Hubby bought a big construction forklift a couple weeks ago, now named "Forky," that he and his 16 y.o. son are fixing and restoring (obsessing on would be better description). Of course, in between the restoration work, they've got to find heavy things to lift and move about. However, I did NOT appreciate the suggestion that they could use Forky to lift me into the hot tub while my leg was still sore!

Weezy

 

[Judles]

Not unless hubby wants to go flying,Weezy! Boys with their toys!

 

[Simon]

Weezy

I also work from home and what I found that works great is this rolling lap table. Here is a link for a general picture but I picked one up at the hardware store for $40.00. Mine has a very thin base that slide right under the side of the recliner and was adjustable. The advantage is that the tray is not on the chair itself so you can move around more. I would keep the peddler close by and I could just push the table out of the way and peddler for a bit.

Simon

broken link removed: https://www.levenger.com/PAGETEMPLATES/PRODUCT/Product.asp?Params=Category=5-22|Level=2-3|PageID=6604

 

[Josephine]

I saw those - I would have loved one but my settee sits up against the wall at the end I sit and there's nowhere for it to stand. Shame, cus I thought they were neat!

 

[backbay38]

Weezy that table sounds great . Honestly I do alot of my reading and some email on my iPhone while I'm stretched out icing my knee. I have a very small light laptop which is easy to use anywhere. I also get lost At the computer researching and writing but try to make myself get up for any little excuse. But it's been hard to sit with my leg down for any length of time. Maybe the table with a good chair and footstool would work? Writing now on the iPhone. Tedious

 

[Weezy]

Weezy

I also work from home and what I found that works great is this rolling lap table. Here is a link for a general picture but I picked one up at the hardware store for $40.00. Mine has a very thin base that slide right under the side of the recliner and was adjustable. The advantage is that the tray is not on the chair itself so you can move around more. I would keep the peddler close by and I could just push the table out of the way and peddler for a bit.

Simon

broken link removed: https://www.levenger.com/PAGETEMPLATES/PRODUCT/Product.asp?Params=Category=5-22|Level=2-3|PageID=6604

I like this idea too....did you find this exact one at a hardware store? or something similar? This one is like a work of art!

Weezy