Not a personal recommendation but I've met quite a few people who use a Swiss ball as a chair. Apparently improves your posture too. I also have a friend who rates the high table and stool.

One time I was getting a bad neck at the end of a work day having started a new job. I initially blamed chair at work but a flash of inspiration made me flip my mattress over and around so I was sleeping on the underside and at the other end and hey presto no more bad neck at work. So it could be worth looking at other things that have changed recently like a new bed or sofa?

check out the herman miller aeron chair [hermanmiller.com]

Try a small pillow and a regular office chair.
Put the pillow behind your back (not sit on it) and then position yourself as half-laying down. Keep constant pressure on the lower back against the pillow so that your back is somewhat arched, but not too much.

That took care of the back problems for me.

It takes a bit getting used to because you tend to sit up straight or even lean forward towards the screen. But once you get used to it, you'll no longer even notice it.

Also search for "Kneel Chair" worked for me.

Be sure that your forearms are above the keyboard

Most important
Exercise, lift weight etc... at least 1/2h daily

pay a visit to sport physician he/she'll tell you how to work your back.

I am no longer in my prime time :) do all of the aboves and am doing OK

kneel chair makes my knees ache. ball is better - or do some exercise one every 20 minutes (streching and alike).

Try Pilates!

After two or three hours on the computer I can hardly stand up. Pain in my lower back. I shuffle around like an old man till it finally limbers up.

King_Fisher there's no chair in the world that will stop this completely. you can't throw money at it and expect it to go away. :-)

I've been chair-bound for about 10 years and 8 - 18 hours per day in front of a computer finally caught up to me. Until about 6 weeks ago it was a chore getting out of bed. There is one solution: a serious regimen of situps and stretches.

Every morning: 20 full situps, 20 crunches, 20 over-head leg lifts, 20 scissor-leg lifts, 20 regular situps with knees on the floor. Takes 10 minutes. The first week I was lucky to get 10. But now it's not so much of a chore and my back problems are slowly fading.

I like the Steelcase LEAP chair myself. There are plenty of choices, though, in good, ergonomic chairs. There are a number of chain stores now that specialize in ergonomic chairs, so you can go try them all out in one place. (Or your local high-end office supply store.)

And I echo the sentiment on exercise. While I've been lucky to have never suffered lower back pain, I did suffer from "mouse shoulder" at one time. I used to also have upper back and shoulder pain on long driving trips. That went away once I started seeing a personal trainer (about 5 years ago).

A good trainer, BTW, will give you a much better workout than most people can on their own. My trainer just took on a new client who "works out every day at the gym". He had to stop after 20 minutes. (Yes, there is pain when you start - it's how you know it's working - typically after a couple of weeks you will not experience pain.) Twice a week with a trainer is probably at least the equivalent of an undisciplined daily solo workout.

A good trainer will make sure that you work out EVERY part of your body. Most people are not very good at this on their own. Men, in particular, I think are especially prone to unbalanced workouts when left to their own devices. You know you've all seen those "buff" guys with big arms, bird legs, and a beer gut. Those are the ones that know it all and work out at the gym solo. ;)

Before going out and buying something new, read up on the basics of office ergonomics. See if your monitor is positioned the way it should be, the keyboard is at the right level, your chair is set at the best height for your legs, etc. etc. If you get what you already have in the best arrangement possible, you'll be better able to tell what you really need in that new chair - instead of what a salesman thinks you'll buy. For example, when I read "steno chair," my first thought was "no arm rests," and I get shoulder pain just thinking about working for long periods without those. But depending on the rest of your setup, you may not need them on your chair.

But even if you have the most ergonomic office around, it doesn't replace moving and stretching regularly.

IIRC, there was a very good thread about this subject in the "foo" forum a number of months ago.

The exercise ideas are on the right track, imo. The other thing that can help is just a change of seating. So maybe use one of those weird ergo kneeling chairs for a few hours and a normal chair for another part. I think any seat is going to cause pain somewhere after enough time.

Thanks every one! Lot of good info. Will look into it all!

King Fisher