Car Seat Pain
 

Hi , I have purchased a toyota 86 about 2 weeks ago and 5 days after I have been getting pains in my lower back area (lumber area). I am unsure if anyone else has got these pains before and what exactly you did to get rid of them?

I have tried different seating positions and adjustments but its hard when the pain seems to always be there ever since I purchased the car therefore im unaware what could feel good.

If anyone has had a problem is there any other seats I could straight swap and place in the toyota 86 as I love the car and wouldn't want to sell it because of that. I have had no previous back pain problems as I am only 23 years old and pretty active and healthy !

interesting. I actually have lower back issues and i was considering getting a seat swap before i bought the car, but once i got it, I found that the seats feel amazing for me.

I would recommend doing a few things:
always keep ur left foot extended and in the "clutch" area (even if you are on auto).
1. move the seat (lower portion) closer / further from the steering wheel so that your legs are in different position.
2. Move the upper portion of the seat closer /further.

Play with these settings, if nothing helps, I would recommend buying a small pillow for lower back area (chinese car stores have these everywhere).

if THAT doesn't work, then go to your doctor and ask them to prescribe a chair back support.

hope this helps you !

In addition to @nos145 's suggestions ....... be sure you remove your billfold from your rear pocket before seating yourself.

I have found (in a miata) that a cushion made of 3/8" to 1/2" closed cell foam (like packpackers use to sleep on), cut to fit the center portion of the bottom seat cushion helps. I raises you up a bit so the lumbar support hits you in a different place and it brings your butt up a bit from the side bolsters ...... plus it gives your tail bone a cushy thing to rest on.


humfrz

I have the same issue on long drives - I just got a insert/pad that I rest there for longer drives. Doesn't bother me for short, around town errands.

Are you heavey, big tall skinny?
Guess I don't have this pain because I really don't drive it for long periods of time and wouldn't. However I do think the car has the most comfortable seats I've ever sit in. Fit like a glove

I would give it some time.

When I first got my BRZ, my lower back also hurt on even shortish drives. I adjusted seat back a bit more vertical which helped. But what really helped was just driving car for month or so and seat either adjusted to my back, or back to seat. Either way, feels great now


Good luck, hope you figure out something that works for you

Len

Also dependent on what you cane out of. Like when your back hurts when you sleep on a different bed.

I am about 5"11 and about 82kgs so I wouldnt consider myself to big or too skinny

What exactly do you mean by moving the lower portion closer / further ? I have tried to make the room enough for my left leg to bend and not hit the steering wheel . Can you link me to what kind of pillow you are talking about ive tried different cushions / lumbar support it feels good for like 5-10 minutes then I can feel the pain again .

So what exactly should I get or try ?

That's the problem I am having right now I keep trying to adjust the seat to feel better but the problem is the pain seems to always be there and therefore I don't know what feels good ? I feel if I make the chair more vertical the bend in the seat hurts my lower back more.

What I first used was a military sleeping bag foam pad.

However, one can buy a rolled foam sleeping pad from any sports department of a store.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Stansport-...ng-Pad/9856753

I also picked up a inexpensive black pillow case to wrap in in (I ask mrs humfrz to sew it up on her sewing machine ...... she replied "I have no idea where it is" .. ??), So, I sewed it myself ..... ;)

You could also cut one for your co-pilot.

They are easily stored behind the seat ...... if you're afraid someone is going to look in your car ..... and think ..... how ugly!

As you can see from the picture (in my old MX-5), I made mine a little long, because I like that bit of support further out the front.


humfrz

Sorry to be a pain but my question would be how thick is the pad you have placed in your car ? Would you use the whole roll that you just linked me to for the camping pad ?

No pain at all. I went through this with my MX-5. No matter how I adjusted the seat, my back would hurt on long trips. In that instance, we put 88,000 touring miles on our Miata in 7 years.

After consuming as much codeine as I could talk my Doctor friend out of, my body told me there had to be a better way.

So, I went to this "therapist" for treatment. She (a cute little thing, bye the way) worked be over for a few sessions then accompanied me out to my car and ask me to sit in it. She determined that there was a gap behind my back that wasn't being supported (lumbar area) and my tail bone wasn't being cushioned adequately.

I tried several store bought cushions (like gel cushions) but they "bugged" me and didn't work for me.

So, I took a "wedge" type store bought cushion and cut it in half longways, to fill the gap in the back of the seat (lumbar support).

Then I purchased some 3/8 (or 1/2") thick closed cell foam roll and cut a section off of it for the seat cushion and covered it with the pillowcase, so I could slide off it easier and so it wouldn't look so hookie. You may wish to use two layers of foam.

FINALLY relief! Now, I could just use my codeine for mrs humfrz, to knock the edge off. when I'm roaring through the mountains (like pikes peak) .... yep, that one took a double dose ...... :thumbup:

Something else I picked up from that pretty little therapist, was an easy exercise ....... simply sit upright on a chair put your hands on your knees and rock your pelvis up and back for a few minutes each day.

However, keep in mind, you are in your 20's and I'm in my 70's, so ....... results may vary........;)

I hope you find some relief so you can enjoy driving your car.


humfrz