Why Does My Back Hurt More When I Sit? – San Diego, CA
If your back hurts more the longer you sit, you’re not alone.
This is one of the most common complaints we hear from patients in our San Diego office.
Many people notice that:
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Sitting at a desk makes their back tighten
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Driving causes increasing low back pain
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Sitting on the couch becomes uncomfortable quickly
If this sounds familiar, there’s usually a mechanical reason behind it—and it’s not just “bad posture.”
Why Sitting Often Makes Back Pain Worse
Sitting places your spine in a compressed position, especially in the discs of the lower back. Over time, that compression can:
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Increase pressure inside spinal discs
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Reduce normal disc movement and fluid exchange
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Irritate surrounding joints and nerves
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Make existing disc bulges or disc injuries feel worse
For many people, the issue isn’t weakness—it’s compression.
A Simple Test You Can Try Right Now
While this does not fix the underlying problem, it can help you understand what your back is responding to.
Try this seated decompression:
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Sit at the edge of a chair with both feet flat on the floor
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Sit tall, without slouching or leaning back
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Place your hands on the armrests or edges of the chair
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Gently press down through your arms
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Let your hips feel heavy as your spine lengthens upward
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Hold for 10–15 seconds, then relax
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Repeat 3–5 times
Important:
Think length, not force. This should feel relieving, not aggressive.
What It Means If This Helps
This movement does not correct the root problem.
However, if you notice even a small reduction in pain or tension, that’s important information.
It suggests that reducing compression improves your symptoms, which helps guide what type of care may actually work for you.
That’s exactly what we evaluate in our office.
How We Help Patients With Back Pain That Gets Worse When Sitting
At The Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center of San Diego, Dr. Cassidy Boelk, DC focuses on identifying whether spinal compression—especially disc compression—is contributing to a patient’s pain.
Our approach includes:
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True Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression (NSSD)
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Exclusive use of DRX9000 spinal decompression tables
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Customized protocols based on each patient’s condition
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Integration of active care to support long-term results
Dr. Boelk is a Certified Spinal Decompression Doctor and the founder of the Spinal Decompression Training Academy, where he trains other doctors nationwide. Patients regularly travel from outside San Diego to seek his expertise.
What to Do Next
If your back pain consistently gets worse when sitting—and especially if the seated decompression above helped—it may be time to determine whether spinal decompression or another non-surgical approach is appropriate.
We offer no-charge, no-obligation consultations to:
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Evaluate whether compression is contributing to your pain
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Determine if you’re a candidate for Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression
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Explain your options clearly before any care begins
Contact Information
Dr. Cassidy Boelk, DC
Certified Spinal Decompression Doctor
Certified Pain-Free Performance Specialist
Founder, Spinal Decompression Training Academy
The Spinal Decompression & Chiropractic Center of San Diego
5095 Murphy Canyon Rd, Suite 300
San Diego, CA 92123
📞 (619) 298-0800
🌐 www.SanDiegoBackCare.com