Lumbar support for seats? My lower back is killing me

[hotaka]

The trick about low back pain is that the cause is your hamstrings pulling on your pelvis, which isn't intuitive. When you're sitting, this happens because your hips are flexed (bent forward). A good way to treat back pain is to get up from your seat frequently and stretch your hamstrings. Stretching other muscles near your hips may help too.

Sitting itself is bad for your back. Adjusting the seat isn't going to fix everything

-MS Exercise science student

[Mango22]

Originally Posted by hotaka

The trick about low back pain is that the cause is your hamstrings pulling on your pelvis, which isn't intuitive. When you're sitting, this happens because your hips are flexed (bent forward). A good way to treat back pain is to get up from your seat frequently and stretch your hamstrings. Stretching other muscles near your hips may help too.

Sitting itself is bad for your back. Adjusting the seat isn't going to fix everything

-MS Exercise science student

This is so true. I had a lot of lower back pressure, aching & tightness and started doing hamstring stretches and immediately I felt the the pain dissolve. Yoga belts are excellent for serious leg stretch holds. I swear by them.
http://www.healthytimesblog.com/2011...etches-videos/

[Draco-REX]

I have intermittent lower back pain but my BRZ fits me well. I have to sit in a more reclined position that usual due to head room, bu it alleviates the need for more lumbar support. Twice a year I drive from OH to MA in one day. Usually my back is stiff. In the BRZ, my back was perfectly fine but my legs were stiff. I think because of the increased back support from the side bolsters I wasn't moving as much as I normally do so my legs stiffened up. But the trip was perfectly comfortable for me.

So reclining the seat a click or two may help those with back pain.

[BMWDavid]

I've previously stated that the BRZ seats were OK but now that I've driven longer distances this has proved to be false.

I have a rutured L4-5 and the BRZ is starting to really bother it. I already have numbness in my left foot...makes feeling the clutch hard sometimes.

Now I get more numbness and pain in my foot and my lower back is really acting up.

My GTI is much better in this respect. I find myself giving thoughts to selling the BRZ now...

[dcamco]

Originally Posted by BMWDavid

I find myself giving thoughts to selling the BRZ now...

Why not try an upholstery shop first? Seems like such an easy fix.

[BRZranger]

Originally Posted by BMWDavid

I've previously stated that the BRZ seats were OK but now that I've driven longer distances this has proved to be false.

I have a rutured L4-5 and the BRZ is starting to really bother it. I already have numbness in my left foot...makes feeling the clutch hard sometimes.

Now I get more numbness and pain in my foot and my lower back is really acting up.

My GTI is much better in this respect. I find myself giving thoughts to selling the BRZ now...

Same here when I purchased, fractured L1. Upholster custom fit my seat and now long drives not a problem...

[BioRage]

Pillow recommendations:

Here we are..



OT:

How tall are you?

[MmmDieselFumes]

Originally Posted by BioRage

Pillow recommendations:

Here we are..



OT:

How tall are you?

Haha. I was just about to ask for pictures of what kind of pillows yall were using.

I'm 26, have had lumbar microdiscectomy and spinal-fusion (like the OP, blew it out bull riding when I was younger), and for the first 4mo/10k miles that I've had my car, I've had zero issues with the seat.

Then this past Tuesday, I had to make a 600 mile round trip for work (always on the road for my job). I drove the first 300 miles in about 4 hours without stopping once for fuel food or to stretch. When I hopped out the car and stood up to head into my meeting, I felt my back just seize the heck up. It was horrible, had to teeter-totter the whole way through my meeting. And boys let me tell you, that 300m drive back was utter torture. Could not find a comfortable position.

Normally I drive at 1-click reclined from 90º, seat bottomed out on the floor, feet a good distance from the pedals, and with a good bend to the arms @ 9/3 (ie, a good racing position). Now, I'm sure since my back was already in pain, I was not in a position to give a fair chance to all the different seat settings, but I could just NOT find a good position that wouldn't leave me writhing in pain.

Since I've been taking it easy and working from home when possible the past couple of days, I've been trying to find the best temporary solution (permanent solution being, taking it to an upholsterer and have them custom fit my seat).

What kind/size of pillows, brand of "as-seen-on-tv" lumbar support product, or anything you've done actually look like in your car? I really like what one guy said about buying a 1" piece of memory foam and sliding it up under your seat cover. Sounds like an elegant, functional, and cost-effective solution. Did you ever wind up doing that?

[ST185RC]

I have issues with disc herniation in the L4-L5. The seats in my FR-S actually cradle my back so i feel less pain once I'm settled in. Getting in is when it hurts when sciatica flares up.

Contrary to popular belief, Canadian healthcare system (in BC at least) is horrible unless you are dying or completely incapacitated and require emergency service. I had to wait over a year and a half just for the hospital to call me to acknowledge my existance and schedule an appointment to see a spinal specialist on my options. My family doctor office had followed up 4-5 times for a response which I never got until recently. My MRI that I paid out of pocket has probably lapsed since my back has changed a second time since I got rear ended.

[Longhorn248]

For me the seats were pretty uncomfortable for the first 1000 miles or so. But now I'm pretty used to it.

[BMWDavid]

OK...10,000 miles now and I'm fine with the seats. Either I adapted to them or my back is a bit better. In any case no issues with long drives (1.5+ hours)

[BRZfan]

Thoughts? Yes, I have some thoughts:

1. First of all, I must agree with post #43, HOTAKA.

2. When one enters the vehicle, be sure to press your buttocks firmly and aggressively into the corner of the seat. Then adjust the seat accordingly. In other words do not slouch and keep back straight. This may not apply to those who have had injuries such as the bull riding, etc. Other medical advise would be advisable.

3. If one has been used to using poor posture like watching TV in a too-comfortable couch more than 3-4 hours a day without getting up frequently***, this could be a problem with many and not solvable without further stretching and appropriate muscle strengthening. Many of us, statistically speaking, are overweight and thus have poor posture or are, to say the least, OUT-OF-SHAPE.

4. I believe the standard seats are reasonably well designed and any modification only seeks to adjust to the out-of-shape spinal column that many have due to personal health habits some of which is described above. My suggest to some: See a chiropractor or your family doctor and get IN SHAPE - MARINE!

*** Getting up and walking to the cooler/refrigerator for a beer is not enuf.

Originally Posted by Indestruct

I've had lower back pain for the last few weeks that started when I got my BRZ. I may be the only one with this problem :/ and I'm only 27 too.
Right now I have a sweater to cushion it but I'm thinking of getting some sort of sti baby pillow for my Alcantara Seats... Long drives kill me.

Any thoughts?

[Indestruct]

Wow I can't believe my thread is still alive. I bought a lumbar support pillow on amazon and my back has been pain free from driving since. Now my shoulders are killing me cuz the side bolsters are too small. I'm not that out of shape, it's just I have a bad back, sciatica pain and all of that. One too many sports injuries. I still say the seats suck along w/the rest of the interior of my brz lol.

One day I'll get my seats upholstered... along w/my vortech or flex fuel mod... one day

[Lateapex]

Originally Posted by BRZfan

2. When one enters the vehicle, be sure to press your buttocks firmly and aggressively into the corner of the seat. Then adjust the seat accordingly. In other words do not slouch and keep back straight. This may not apply to those who have had injuries such as the bull riding, etc. Other medical advise would be advisable.

Best advice in the thread imo,

i noticed the inadequate lumbar support and started to feel uncomfortable as soon as i got the car, but consciously pushing my butt right back into the seat gave me a straighter lower back and removed the discomfort completely