Life’s a Strain

I’ve pulled something in my back. I have this spot–it’s on the right side of my back, not quite in “lower” back territory but not much higher–and from time to time it gets aggravated. Every six months or so it gets really bad, like “can’t stand up straight” sort of bad. Muscle relaxants and pain killers have little to no effect, and even massages haven’t proven terrible useful in fixing things.

It’s very fun, let me tell you. Especially when one has to pick 20 and 40-pound wiggly things up on a regular basis.

It started hurting last Wednesday-ish. It peaked Friday/Saturday, and now is on its way back to normal, though it still hurts. I did manage kickboxing this morning, though it hurt more for a while.

My internet searches tell me back pain is the most common pain experienced by adults in the United States. 80% was the stat I saw, though I don’t know how scientific that is. Bad posture and too much sedentary time at computers and watching the TV and what have you.

So what do you do when your job consists of you needing to be on the computer for significant lengths of time?

Sitting is definitely a problem right now. I’ve switched my computer chair out for one of the hard, straight-back dining room chairs, which has helped some, but even as little as 15-20 minutes sitting at the computer causes everything to flare again, even if things were feeling pretty good.

It’s very annoying.

Do you guys have any suggestions?

Things I’ve tried that have not helped:

• Pain killers
• Heat
• Cold
• Massage
• Small child walking on back
• Lying face down on the floor grumbling
• Ignoring it
• Watching Doctor Who on the couch
• Reading in bed

Things that kind of help:

• Different chair
• Lying face up on the floor with legs up
• Stretching arms overhead
• Yoga
• Forward bend if can get into forward bend position at all

I am considering seeing a chiropractor, but I am somewhat afraid of the concept. Anything else I should try? Tips for not letting my back freak out in the first place?