If you start getting any of these problems, deal with it right away. Repetitive stress injuries don't go away with time, they get worse. Ask for a monitor stand, a different chair, put your computer on a box, the floor, get a new desk, whatever. Negative style points. Whenever possible, explain your ideas in terms of how they would benefit the other person, not how they would benefit you.
Women tend to be more sympathetic, so tend to expect sympathy more readily.
You have to make them understand why they want to do what you want them to do. It may be that the project is important enough that they are willing to do just that. Put it in writing and keep one for your files, even better. This is very important. The saddest case I ever saw of a woman not fitting into the culture was one of the sweetest women you'd ever want to know.