This is what happens when people follow recipes blindly for something that isn't cooking: doomed to fail. First, I'm guessing the author's standing desk was si

This is what happens when people follow recipes blindly for something that isn't cooking: doomed to fail. First, I'm guessing the author's standing desk was simply not the right height for him. The "$22 Ikea" is a fixed height and I suspect he never adjusted it to something comfortable, customized for his height. Second, as someone said earlier, he approached it like it was some kind of marathon - he planned to stand at the thing all day, right away. You actually have to work up to using a standing desk -- alternate sitting and standing and slowly increase the amount of standing time.