u/-blundertaker-

Hey folks,

I don't know who to talk to other than my doctor, but I can't get an appointment until Monday, so here goes:

I started a pretty cushy job this week. Just sitting at a desk digitizing books. I've always worked moderate to intense jobs (manual labor, construction, pet care, and mortuary work, among others).

After the first day, my traps hurt like I'd been maxing out shrugs. But sure, I don't ever do a lot of repetitive movement with my arms going between chest and shoulder height. That makes sense, and while they're still pretty sore after my 5th shift, the intensity is as you'd expect.

But god, my fucking back! I've thrown out my back before and had some issues with my lumbar region, but that area is tied for third with my neck on the pain scale. When I've had issues there, it's been sharp and either intensifies or somewhat lessens based on how I move or work it out. Inversion table was a godsend.

The pain I'm getting now is most intense in my mid back, where the spine curves out, going up into the shoulders. I feel like there's vise grips all along my spine from crack to cranium. Like a migraine in my back (it is also giving me slight headaches and making me feel a little sick).

I'm not chained to the desk. I'm mindful of my posture, set my chair at a good height, stretch super often and take my breaks (every 2 hours, 2 15s and a 30). I twist, I arch, I shrimp, I stretch, I stand, I squat, I sit. There's *no fucking relief*, it all just hurts a little different.

I get home, I knock back a BC powder and take a hot bath. It's been 3 and a half hours since my shift ended and it still hurts. The inversion table hasn't been hitting the spot.

I'm in decent shape (I work out), I'm not overweight, I'm not that old (35), and I have a pretty gosh darn high pain tolerance, but I was literally in tears tonight nearing the end of my shift.

I know everyone gets a little tight, a little sore from sitting at a desk all day but this feels inordinate. I don't want to lose this job but I cannot sustain this level of pain on a daily basis.

I don't expect answers. I'm just venting. This fucking sucks.