"Office Chair" back

[jungle puma]

Posture/back pain issues have been mentioned several times before on these boards, so I know there are others of you with this problem. Basically, ever since I started working in an office since graduation, my back has been in a state of tensed-up pain. It's quite sensitive to the touch, as well. I sit at my desk for pretty much 9-10 hours a day with little opportunity to walk around. Granted, they were kind enough to give me an ergonomic chair that is quite nice, but it makes no difference. I've been going to the chiropracter, doing yoga, paying great attention to correct posture and anything else I can think of, with no change.

Perhaps no amount of therapies can fix the fact that human beings were not meant to be in a still seated position for most of their waking hours.

It's gotten to the point where I haven't ruled out the possibility of something more pervasive like fibromyalgia. Of course that's a doomsday scenario, but I don't know what else to think.

Anyway, has anyone else dealt with something similar? any words of advice?

[asm198]

Did you used to slouch before you got an office job? Did you spend much time sitting in a chair before? How long has this been going on?

It may take some time to get your body used to the chair and sitting in one place for hours at a time. Or the chair might be the issue. Do you have that problem with other chairs?

You've stated that you don't have much of a chance to walk around. Could you just stand up and stretch every hour or so? Beyond that, I've found that ibuprofen helps for back pain. I've also found that stretching daily at home works out the kinks and eventually makes things less painful, but only if it's done at least once a day.