We all care about you. How about a massage? I go once a month and she really helps me work out the aches. Sure do hope you feel better.

I was having lower back problems so I went to the Lazy Boy store. I found a recliner with back support and several height adjustments for your feet. This is my lifesaver chair. It keeps my spine in place.
I also now walk 30 minutes every day.
I use an adjustible computer chair as my sewing chair also.
Have you checked out those machines that you turn upside down in? those should stretch your spine. They sell for 99 dollars and anything that keeps you from cripling back pain is worth any price.

The only advice I can give you is what works for me. I sit very straight, my neck not bent, just lower my head to look down. I don't not slump my shoulders but keep them pulled back, in other words jut out my boobs, look down and sew. Have the machine lower then you think it needs to be. It should be like keyboard height. I can sew all day and not have any back, shoulder or neck pain. This is the way I sit. I sit this way in any chair now. Even the car.

Have you had your spine checked to see if it is out of alignment? That could be a big factor. I hope you find a solution, it's not fun to hurt.

I work for a chiropractor - and it sounds like one could do you
alot of good. They can even give you some exercises to help
stretch and strengthen your muscles. I also get a massage once
a month - between the chiro treatments and massage it keeps me
going.

I use a weight belt that I bought from Nancy's Notions when I know I'll be sewing all day.

I had back surgery in 2003 and I have to be careful too. I invested in a good office chair and made sure that my station is reasonably well set up (ergonomics). Sometimes I forget to get up and I get sore but I try to be conscious of my position and sit up straight, shoulders down, not angled to the machine......I can sew for hours. Of course my butt is flat then.lol

Hey, did someone say this was a race?
Quilt as much as you can tolerate, enjoy that and don't pressure yourself to be a speed demon. I read way more books and magazines about quilting than I could ever dream of sewing.
I was once interviewed for my local weavers guild and someone asked, what would you do if you couldn't weave anymore. I said that if I couldn't weave anymore I would read about weaving and if I couldn't read anymore I would be content to just talk about weaving. It goes the same for quilting, sometimes I don't get to the machine for a week, but what little I get to do I enjoy. I do it for the process, not the product.

My first thought is that it must be the chair. Get a good one with proper support. That should fix you up.

There was a recent thread on a similar topic; quite a few people posted experiences on it, including me. Here's the link:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/posts/list/26072.page

Sure hope you get some relief. Changing the height of your chair might do wonders. It has helped me a lot.