Back Pain on Comp

Reckless

Hey guys.

Lately I've noticed a good bit of back pain when sitting at my computer for more than 15 at a go. Getting up and stretching helps, but once I sit down it's right back again.

What do you all suggest? I'm thinking a visit to the Chiro is in order. I've never gotten a professional massage before, but all the amateurs that have given me one always comment on how knotted up and stiff my back is.

Thanks for any help.

gneGne

Get a better chair that supports your back and is made for long sittings.

zhen_rogue

A visit to the chiropractor would be the first step - determine the extents of your mis-alignment and visit with the doc about chair type/height/etc. to best suit you for computer use.

It will take several visits to re-align your skeletal system, during which a bit of massage will help greatly.
The bones won't stay put in the "right" place, if the muscles attached to them are tight as a drum.

Look for a professional, nationally certified massage therapist that performs technical work.
Explain the situation with the computer and chiropractor - the therapist will know exactly what to do.
The therapist will also be able to provide solid advice on stretches you can do to help speed your recovery and prevent future injury.

Getting 1 adjustment and 1 massage per week for 4-5 weeks will likely do you a world of good.
Then, provided you adopt better posture/ergonomics, you might only want to get an adjustment/massage every few months.

Don't get the adjustment and the massage on the same day.
Get the chiro adjustment, then get the massage about 48 hours later - you don't want to tax/overwork the muscles.

Good luck!

NexusSix

Chiro might be able to help a bit.

Some other things:

I pulled a muscle in my lower back a few weeks ago. It was stupid: all I did was bend over to pick up some trash bags--mind you, I had nothing in my hands and wasn't lifting anything yet--and I felt a spasm in my lower back. The next day I couldn't get out of bed due to the pain and cramped muscles. I ended up picking up some IcyHot back patches. I was dubious about these things actually working, but they really helped. They'll give you a good 8 hours of hot and cold topical relief.

Making sure you have a good ergonomic setup on your home PC is also a good idea. OSHA has some good guidelines on this: OSHA.

Xaquin

I get pains in the underside of my thighs lately at the computer

getting up and stretching helps, but the second I sit down it's back. I have a nice chair with lumbar support etc.

It's kind of annoying =/

DynamiteKid

It might be muscle rather than bone. Try and determine that so that you know whether you need to go to a physio or a chiro. If it's muscle, that's a bitch to heal. I'm still here three years later after one stupid accident because a lot of the time I don't have a choice but to do stuff that's bad for my back (i.e. school bag)

stixs4321

Where exactly is the pain?

For lower back pain try to stretch your quads and hip flexors when you get up from the computer. When stretching the hip flexor via lunge stretch make sure to keep your upper torso upright, the lower abs pulled in/tight and squeeze the glute of the back leg(the stretching side) tight. Hold each stretch for 20seconds.

Screw the chiro unless hes really good. I've met chiros who are only good for a few visits and after that they fail to get anywhere further. Active Release Technique(A.R.T.) is something to look for, its like a massage but times 10 in effectiveness. Look into a massage or A.R.T. then if the problem persists seek a physio therapist.

HolyHesus

Hey! i understand your pain, i have close to sever scoliosis and have to go to physical therapist for my back.

A good stretch is to lean against a wall and have you back as flat against the wall as possible and legs straight out like a pike stretch. Another thing is this yoga move called childs pose that really relaxes the back muscles and stretches them out. Last is this odd things that she does to me, so you need another person >.<, but you curl up into a ball on your back and they kinda just give a swift yet firm push down on your knees towards your chest.

From my experience a if you work out the back muscles the pain goes away.

Hope that kind of helped!