Some days my spine is killing me. I guess this is the revenge for 20 years computer work, particularly ifI pixel graphics, I seem to take and keep a bad posture :-\
Hint: take care of your spine while you can. Its revenge in later years will be merciless.
Which part is hurting you? Lower back or something?
I might know a fix.
Usually it’s the upper back, between the bladebones and a bit upwards from that. I’m doing daily exercises for my back since some years and most days I can keep it on a tolerable level, but new ideas are definitely welcome 
Its because of your posture. You need to go to the gym.
I don’t know about your case, but I get pain at between bone blades and upwards near my neck.
You need to straighten out man 
You’re probably curled in like me and have something like rounded back. (When you look like question mark or something.) I just straighten out and really work those back muscles The pain goes away from my neck then.
And I don’t think exercise really helps anything. Probably the best way to work my back I found was running with back straight. It is really hard to maintain that and you can really feel your back working.
The crly posture comes quickly if I look at small details on the screen, particularly if I work on graphics. It’s not easy to avoid, particularly with bad eyesight, which also makes me want to have a short distance to the screen.
I’ve got a set of exercises to strengthen the back and get the spine back in shape. They are borrowed from yoga and special spine-care-taking plans, and actually work, unless I keep working with a bad posture over several days - e.g. I shouldn’t do pixel work several days in a row.
Actually I just wanted to post a warning for the younger forum members You won’t notice the damage until some later age, and then it’s difficult to repair or remedy it.
Well, with pixel graphics and bad eyesight and small things on the screen, You should maybe use zoom more.
Just move the screen towards you, instead of bending your back towards it.
My monitors are at 20-25cm from my eyes. It has been like that for over a decade - being a 28 year old dinosaur - nothing seems to be deteriorating, rapidly :persecutioncomplex:
I guess it’s been a wrong idea, the “suggested viewing distance” of 50cm or so for screens. You’re right, I shouldn’t be shy and move the screen closer.
@xsvenson: I’ve got better tools meanwhile, that helps. Thanks
It seems the “magic barrier” is about 40 years plus or take a few. I had been warned, laughed, and now I must see that the people were right, at least to some extend. After 40 you’ll have to spend more and more time on keeping the body in shape, while in earlier years many problems did not even exist. The next magic number seems to be 60 …
I have that pain too and I just went to a chiropractor to get my neck and back aligned. It really works miracles.
Yeah, my computer monitor is usually a good 2.5 ft (90 cm) away from my eyes. I’ve never liked working with the screen so close to my face, though I do tend to lean forward if I want to concentrate on something.
As for back pain, it definitely is your posture. It might also have to do with the seat you are sitting on. If you get something to soft and comfortable it can sometimes create a bad posture because you’ll tend to lean back into the chair. If you get hard wooden chairs, that can also create a situation of bad posture due to you hurting your lower back to sit straight. Finding a nice firm but comfortable seat can go a long way for back repair along with the good exercise regimen you are doing now.
Came across this thread doing a Google search for something else. Slight necro to say, go to the gym and use the rowing machine. This is what you need for pain around the shoulder blades from too many computer hours!
Since i go to the gym (3 weeks now) my coding efficientcy gone up 200%.
So it wont only fix your back, but also clear your mind in some way.
That’s mostly because you are actually keeping your body in shape. Contrary to popular belief, sitting and coding for hours upon hours isn’t good for your health at all seeing as we are designed to be moving a lot. Working out will improve your lifestyle and help you think clearly, even if you only work out for a little bit.
Now I wish I could have the willpower to actually go work out too, but that’s a different story…
In a weird way I’m luckily in that almost exactly a year ago I was in a motorcycle accident where I fractured 4 of my vertebrae, and had heavy bruising across most of my lower back. Due to this, I went and saw a physiotherapist who then built me a workout plan for me to undertake at the gym, which works on strengthening my core muscles(lower back + abs). Since starting this routine, I have had few problems with my back, although my doctor said at the time that I would get arthritis in my back in my 30s/40s, so I’m really trying to keep my muscles strong, because otherwise any hope of becoming any kind of coder after leaving school is fucked.
One of my colleagues works half-laying in his office chair, which looks very comfortable for the back, but puts extra strain on the neck. But it seems to work for him.
Ever try Tensing? Really helps with all sorts of muscle pain. I do a sport called tricking which is rather harsh on the body. (Google Nick Vail or Mike Guthrie) And every time I tens after a session I feel much better the following days.
The issue with intense Tens EMS is skin irritation. At least for me.