Long Road Trips and Back Pain
 

This car is not your father's Buick, and I didn't buy it for comfort, but how do you guys, besides getting new seats, deal with long road trips and back pain.

I've taken long trips before, >500 miles, and it didn't bother me, but this time after driving 800 miles it feels like someone punched me in the right kidney.

The drive was mostly interstate but it's construction time, lots of rough road.

I'm 5'11" and about 185 lbs., but maybe my age, >60, is a factor.

Next time I take a long road trip I may duct tape bubble wrap to my right side.

I drove it for 2000 miles and was doing ok. Some slight discomfort after it all. I just attributed that to not being in to the chiropractor in the last month before the trip.

I feel like the seats are great. I used to daily drive my brz for 60 miles round trip and sometimes long wait due to traffic and never felt uncomfortable.

that one really made me laught :-) Please take a picture of it if you really do this.

As for the topic, I do alot of mountain pass drives, normally around 500km, but 8-9hours of bumpy small backroads with alot of cornering/breaking hard included. Compared to all my other cars, the GT86 is the most confortable of them all. However, that does not change the fact that my back hurts a bit after a 9h drive, but thats to be expected.

foam inserts

I drive 2000 to 2500 miles per month, about 1200 of them in the BRZ and the rest in rental cars. I had a little back stiffness on long drives when I first got the BRZ, but it went away. Part of it was getting accustomed to the seat.

A bigger part of it was getting the seat itself adjusted to the right position to keep me comfortable. That includes not just the distance from the pedals, but also the height of the seat bottom and the angle of the seat back. I like to sit in a more upright position because I find that I have less neck strain upright than if I'm reclining. I'm driving a manual, so the height of the seat significantly affects my leg position and the amount of strain the leverage of operating the pedals puts on my back.

I actually have a lot less back strain driving a manual than when I have to drive an automatic, with one leg just sitting there doing nothing and pulling me off center. So when I have to drive an automatic rental, I periodically use my left leg against the dead pedal or floor to lift or shift myself a little to keep things evened out.

Another big thing that helped, and that people underestimate the value of, is that I installed the US market FR-S sliding arm rest. Although I'd really like it to be an inch higher, as it is it gives me more options to shift around in the seat when a particular position starts to get uncomfortable. Since I'm usually driving alone, I also have the passenger seat pushed forward a little so that I can ride with my arm across the back of it, which sort of helps stretch out my back. In the course of a trip, I'll switch around between sitting straight up, riding with my arm on the back of the passenger seat, leaning on the door, leaning on the armrest, etc.

And then sometimes you just need to stop, get out and walk around. Don't underestimate the benefit of a rest stop.

The key is make sure you don't have your wallet in your back pocket and maybe push the seat back a bit for the longer drives. My probably is my foot will usually cramp up because of the racecar driving position.

seating position is key.

Chris Harris (driving god) said that you should be able to rest your wrists comfortably on the top of the wheel. That is proper race car position. I usually recline it a bit more for longer drives.

I was just on a 2600mi week long roadtrip at the beginning of the month, zero back pain and I have a history of lower back tension. I do go to PT weekly and work my glutes with a lacrosse ball which could be helping to prevent pain in the car.

Every now and then I get back pain. Don't know if it's from driving or not, but after long trips in either the FRS or my Silverado, I get similar pain in my lower back. Maybe I need to do stretches or something, but I don't think my line of work helps very much either.

Maybe I'll go buy some snake oil at the chiro. A friend of mine had similar pain, but the chiropractor made it go away and gave him stretches to do as well. Maybe I'll do that this winter. Thank the lord for amazing medical coverage from work.

By using only for short trips. 2hrs or less. I also placed one of those colorful lowrider sheets used as seat covers on my seat to add padding. I wear thin shirts. Thick ones bulge insignificantly but significantly pick at my back. I also switch buttcheek here and there. I wear loose shoes. I sit straight, then lean a tad back. Added a pillow but got stolen in SJ. Damming you SJ!

That's a 800 trip. I bet if I were sleeping those 800miles, I'd still ache. I'm 26. Drink lot of water. Rotate cheek. Pull over for 3min. My longest trip has been 300miles roundtrip in the back seat.

Better tires. Better suspension will lessen it. Drive slower. I go 45-50 on bad roads. I'd rather pull over to let race cars go faster than hurt me. Age is an issue. Body mass isn't the same in terms of durability of a 18yr old.


I say, just have seats redone with more padding. Use seat covers. Add a rolled up pillow or something to your side's. Snuggly.


If all else fails and your worried about your health, then by all means buy a new car. Wrx is softer imho. I've test driven them. Mustang too.

Thanks for all the tips, especially the one about taking your wallet out of your back pocket. I like those fat bi-fold wallets and keep in my left back pocket. Could be it's making me lean more to the right.

this man speaks the truth. I'm a physician and 95% of the back pain I see is because people are overweight, don't exercise, and sit at a desk all day. PT, or just even regular exercise will make a world of difference

I'm 5'9" about the same weight, and I drove 3500 miles in 5 days without any issues.

I think the seats aren't for everyone. Some have had very specific discomfort with the stock seats and others have had no issues.

-alex

Years ago I was a tourist somewhere and it was advised to be careful of one's belongings due to pickpockets etc. so I put my wallet in my front pocket.

I realized I was much more comfortable when riding trains and buses with this arrangement and I continued the practice at home. Long car trips are much more comfortable without sitting on the wallet.

Several 700 + mile trips each way and the seats are great for me. As others note, it helps to stop every few hours and I walk around. Keeps one fresh and safer.

I dont have this problem. The seat fit my waist pretty good.

I'm 6'5"/260 lbs, and I have no problem making several thousand mile road trips. When you stop for gas, stretch and walk around for a moment, but otherwise it's fine. Make sure your seat is adjusted properly. CSG Mike gave a quick rundown on how it should be set up. He was talking about tracking your car, but it still applies.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?p=640248

Lower back support is more important than shoulder support in this regard.

A lot of people think I sit with a gangster lean in the car, but in reality, I'm just setting up the seat to give me the torso support I need; my core is strong enough to do the rest.

Well, old man, just don't try to drive 800 miles at one time ........ :slap:

If you have to ........ the secret is ibuprofen and codeine ....... take two tablets each, every 2 hours, with stool softener and a bottle of water.

Seriously, my secret is shown below and explained in another active thread.


humfrz

Steering wheel
 

Have you tried adjusting the telescoping steering wheel? Sometimes back issues can be caused by "referred" pain.

I'm just shy of 6'2" 180# and adjust my seat position like I'm in a kart. I like the steering wheel high and close to my chest. My knees are bent and the back of my seat is straighter than most.

Unusual I know, but it works me.

Consider taking time experimenting with various seat and steering wheel positions.

I wish you all the best.

On really long trips, the best thing I found to do was to my hotel stops, rest, then hit the gym in between and stretch and do light workouts at night and in the morning. When you're sitting in the BRZ seat all day your back kinda gets set into that shape, you need to spend time to stretch it back upright.

The headrest is not comfortable for long trips, whichever way you turn it. I turned it backwards and stuck a pillow there while driving all the way across Kansas.

Since I started my new gig I've been doing back to back 500 mile days. Not only have I not had any problems some of my earlier age and old injury related aches have subsided considerably. Proper seat position is everything, strongest recommendation is keep the back up one click straighter than you think you should. Mix in a few miles of back roads if you can so you need to move around a bit rather than just do tank after tank on the interstate. With this car I kind of have to stop every few hours anyway, what with pavement quality being so great nowadays the damn car shakes the piss out of me...

A very long drive in any seat can have adverse effects on the lumbar, lower back. Lots of pillows, products out there for extra lower back support. Stopping, walking around, stretching really helps too.

Just add turbo bro :P

Lol all trolls asides I cannot believe any man taller than the seat can handle is able to drive this car unless until it is speeding with a turbo bro! Haha. :burnrubber:

Maybe a Hyundai Genesis?

As Napoleon said "My downfall raises me to infinite heights"

HA HA :) Since I had my gall bladder removed a few years ago I don't need stool softener.

Yeah. I'll have to get me one of them seat cushions for long trips.

I installed the OEM sliding arm rest a few months ago and that helps.

As a side note, driving 75-80 MPH I averaged, according to the trippy thing, 36.9 MPG.

THAT'S GOOD!

You must have an AT and use cruise control a lot .. ??

Yep, like mentioned above:

* wallet out of back pocket

* proper seat adjustment (no slouching)

* appropriate supplemental seat cushions

* install an arm rest

* use cruise control as much as much as possible

* make frequent stops, stretch & walk around (I never met a rest stop I didn't like)

* cut off the freeway and take the "old/business/scenic" route from time to time

* if you have a co-pilot, allow him/her to drive for a spell (don't be stubborn)

* limit your mileage by the age chart below:

16-25 ..... 900 miles/day
26-35 ..... 800 miles/day
36-45 .... 700 miles/day
46-55 .... 600 miles/day
56-65 .... 500 miles/day
66-75 .... 400 miles/day
75-85 .... 300 miles/day
86 - ..... stay home or take the train


Happy trails ......... ;)


humfrz

i did 12hour driving marathon like at least 6 times on my FRS

only discomfort i had was very mild butt numbness so i would just lift my ass whenever the traffic stops or w/e and it would be fine for another hour or something

imo this car is very comfortable

"sporty" cars arent good cars to drive extended periods of time in...

I'm 54, 6'2", 200lb. The longest I've driven the BRZ in one "sitting" is 3hrs. I don't get back pain in the car but I do get 'numb butt'. I have a bad back but I also do stretches and crunches every weekday morning. I've noticed the numb butt is worst on days after I've been going hard on my bicycle, so maybe that's the real culprit. I've also noticed that I spend as much time wiggling around trying to get comfortable in my wife's 3-series on a long drive as I do in the BRZ, and the sport seats in the 3-series are pretty awesome.

Why did you remove your gall bladder?
I know many people who have had their gall bladder removed I just don't understand why..

Getting OT but I'll answer your question.

I didn't remove my gall bladder, the surgeon did. Why, frequent and very painful attacks caused by gallstones blocking the cystic duct, which drains bile from the gallbladder to the small intestines. The bouts of pain come and go as the gallbladder contracts and expands and last from 15 minutes to several hours.

An ultrasound test confirmed that I had gallstones and I had my gall bladder removed laparoscopically as an out patient.

You can live without your gall bladder. It is mainly a storage organ that helps in the digestion of fat and helps to make bile more concentrated to increase its effect on fat cells. Bile that is produced by the liver travels into the gallbladder through channels known as bile ducts and is stored there. Food that contains fat enters the digestive system and stimulates hormones. These hormones cause contraction of the gallbladder and this contraction of the gallbladder, allows the gallbladder to release the bile into the small intestine to allow for absorption of fat to take place.

Without your gall bladder bile is secreted directly from the liver into the small intestine. You sometimes get what's called the "Dumping Syndrome". About 15 to 30 minutes after you eat you gotta go and it's usually loose.
I have found that certain foods trigger it and that if I delay drinking liquids for about 30 minutes after I eat helps prevent it.

Ok, maybe a bit too much info but I think this answers your question.

I think you summed it up. One thing you left out, and several have mentioned it, is the need for us older (and younger) folks to do daily back exercises and/or go to the gym/fitness center at least 3X a week.

In my younger days I thought I was invincible and my back is paying the price now, been to PT twice. Got the usual old age compressed disks and sciatica.

I do daily back exercises and my wife and I started going to the gym this year. One advantage of old age is the "Silver Sneakers" program from Humana. It pays for the gym membership.

And yes I do have an AT and use cruise control as much as possible. I drove a stick for years but after test driving the FR-S AT chose the AT over the manual.

A lot of good tips in this thread. The thing about NOT keeping your wallet in your back pocket is a biggie, and not just for driving. A wallet doesn't weigh much, but having one in your back pocket can wreak havoc upon your spine and pelvic alignment over time. I had a bout of nasty lower back pain in my 30s and my regular doc told to me to stop carrying my wallet back there and put it in a front pocket. Helped a LOT, and I was sure it wasn't going to. To this day, I still usually keep my wallet in the back, but if I feel a little tightness coming on in my back or hips, I increase the core workouts and stretches I do and move my wallet to the front for a few days. I never drive w/ my wallet in the back, even for a few miles.

I must be one of the lucky ones; the seat in my FRS fits me better than any car I've ever driven... 5'7", 150 lbs. I did a 500 mile trip a few days ago (and averaged 39.9 mpg!! I was so bummed when I saw it slip below 40 during the last three miles... ) and felt great the whole time other than being a little stiff until I stretched out afterwards. For long trips, though, I adjust the seat a little different than the relatively upright position others have described here. I find that position good for aggressive driving, but not for the long haul. My seat is set more like a recliner; I try to distribute as much weight as I can to as many contact points as possible, rather than having the weight of my torso more concentrated on my butt. Think of how an astronaut's chair is probably designed to distribute g forces during takeoffs. By reclining the seatback a notch or two more than normal, moving the chair forward a notch or two to compensate for the pedal reach, then pulling the steering wheel all the way back, you can set the seat so that even your upper back and mid back bears at least some of your weight. This, for me anyways, is a very comfortable way to drive, and it does require you to use your core muscles to sit up a bit once in a while, either just to shift your position 'cause it feels good to move a bit, or to see better around the side mirrors during sharp turns (am I the only one whose sightlines get blocked by the side mirrors when taking sharp corners driving around town? There's times I simply have to remember where the curb is or lane lines are 'cause I sure can't see'em). I like to feel the entire seat, from the front of the seat bottom to the top of the seat back, giving me support.

Another reason I bought this car is that it's one of the few newer cars that DOESN'T have a headrest that feels like it's forcing my head forward at a ridiculous angle, smashing my chin to my chest. I rented a Nissan Versa once; driving that thing was a nightmare. My head was shoved so far forward my windpipe was constricted and I could barely breathe. SOoo... that government-mandated (don't get me started) whiplash-preventing headrest spent the entire trip in the back seat, DEFINITELY not preventing whiplash.

Happy road trips to all.

Barry