My bad back - What arm chair is best?

Probably one called a fireside chair .
Not too deep from front to back so you don't have to slouch to get feet on the floor.
Chair arms not to high so you relax arms onto it or you could end up with shrugged shoulders ending in tension across neck and shoulders.
You will also need one where the back meets the seat is more solid and does not squash down hence no support for your back.

You will have to visit various department stores going from chair to chair- it is the only way to find the one for you.

The chair must not be so low that you have a struggle getting out of it and the seating must not be so soft that you sink into it and struggle to get out.

Stressless recliner with matching footstool. Just helps you to relax in complete comfort and with good support.

I agree with Jane. I got my first Stressless last summer and it's wonderful.

I have a Parker Knoll recliner which is my go to chair when my back is bad. With the footrest up or down, it supports every part of my back and my neck.

Thank you everyone for your helpful suggestions - much appreciated (Sorry I can't put a smile at end of this post because my back is still very painful.........so it's a grimace instead!!)

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Stressful good but quite expensive.

On no account go for the “floor chair” advertised above I have just had a look and you’d never get down there OR back up again! ??
I love Stressless chairs but Paw found them not upright enough for him.
I too recommend what they call a “fireside” chair, you can choose your seat height, you get good back support and a firm seat cushion. We bought two a few years back and my one complaint was the uninspiring choice of upholstery, but I believe HSL (not advertising!) now do a rather nice tweed overcheck version if that is more your thing (it would have been mine!)

Trying to imagine myself trying to get down on to a floor chair and then trying to get up again...No! not in a million years. I have a Stressless chair and love it, but now am beginning to think I should have gone for a chair with a higher seat. A friend has one that seems very comfy.

Deep sympathy ~DanniRae, as a fellow suffer. I've got a reclining chair which is great to relax in. You can choose the right angle to ease wherever the pain is. When mine is bad I wear a neck support as well, as the pain seems to get right up into my neck. Good wishes.... I'll do a smile for you as I'm not too bad this morning, so far.....

Stressless are wonderful I have a Magic large and my son and his GF fight over who gets to sit in it. He says I have to leave it to him in my will. Different styles of stressless come in different widths and heights so you have a variety to choose from. Needless to say I went for one of the dear ones and upgraded the leather so it was pricey but I do love it when I get to sit in it.

I would suggest one where you have all round support. Your back needs to reach the the back therefore not to deep. Your feet need to reach the floor therefore not too high or low.
Then if you go for for stress less you need to remember the6 are mostly for laying back and putting your feet up in ,is that what you want all the time?

I bought a bucket type chair recently from Dunelm, around £120, cream material with oak legs( comes in other colours)
Firm and comfortable.Bought it for the bedroom, as it’s a cool room to sit and read in, but could go anywhere in the house.Look at their website.

Another Stressless fan here. We have had two with footstools for over 20 years, and still in good condition. I have two friends who have had back surgery and use them.

anyone have experience of chairs with massage and heat facilities? My daughter has Fibromyalgia and I wondered if one of these would be a help .

I bought a massage machine that you strap to the chair (needs a high computer type chair). It gives a massage which is ok but not brilliant as I am only 5'1" and it presses in at the wrong places a bit but it is a little bit helpful. Maybe if you could try. I bought online so possibly you could buy and return if unsuitable. Massage is nice when you have back pain. My husband very often does it. So worth a try. I do sympathise Its a very diffcult painful condition to treat.
lemongrove Dunelm bucket chairs are good and available in many colours/designs to order.

You can use a soft pillow that provides rest for your back

Dannirae,
Suggest you try Acupuncture. And don't sit in any chair too much but potter about.