Seating position for a pinched nerve.
 

I've recently come across a huge problem.
Over many years I unknowingly developed bad posture habits with my head tending to be positioned out in front of my shoulders with a downward slant.

Just recently the pain transformed into my neck going numb instantly on the drive home and I now know what I have to work on to turn this around.

The problem is that the bucket seats are undoing any progess I make to regain my blood flow. If you can imagine the recommended sitting posture is an aligned back and neck at 90 degrees to the thighs..and if you look at the fr-s it's a strong acute angle with the headrest protruding my head exactly where it doesn't need it to be.

I've tried all kinds of angle and height adjustments. I tried reversing the headrest but there doesn't seem to be enough clearance to get it inserted. I even removed the headrest but it seems that even the slant of the back rest is enough to agitate my problem as if I would have to look at the celing to have good vertical alignment all the way.

I will be working through exercise and rehab to build muscle strength but the drive to work sets my nerve in place to be pinched and it lasts throughout the entire day with my neck and limbs becoming numb until I can rest at night and then it recovers. I have no other travel options for now, the fr-s is my only car.

If anyone has had similar problems or can offer advice it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

You didn't have enough clearance to insert the headrest backwards? You should try again. They were designed to be reversible for people wearing helmets on track days.

Yep, the headrest (at least on my 2013 FR-S) will turn around.

I suggest you get some large foam pads and modify/cut/tie together/stack them to make a temporary seat cushion that will suit your rehab positioning.

I hope you get better soon .....:)


humfrz

Just tried the headrest again and It seems to have helped alot. Never thought of using foam, thats a good idea. Thanks guys

Head rest or head restraint?? My understanding is that the device is a head restraint to stop head whiplash.

It is but they have been colloquially called "head rests" since they came out.


"Head restraints" sounds to scary for many.


https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3903/...38accd21_o.jpg

See link below:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_restraint

Ah yes. Just like I said they are indeed restraints.

BUT have commonly been called "rests" since they first showed up. You will even find them called that in brochures.

I experimented with something similar but, for me it didn't quite work out.

If you reverse the head "restraint," unless you are wearing a helmet, you really must fashion some sort of custom piece to support your head.

I carved a spacer out of that high density styrofoam stuff. I covered my headrest with a couple layers of paper, taped the spacer to it with shipping tape, and then slipped a headsock over it.

Oh, I DO hope you dyed the headsock to match the interior ..... :D


humfrz

Two words:

Massage parlor

It was already black. :clap:

fify :D

Almost 2 years ago I noticed a pinched nerve in my neck. Driving was the worst because the subtle impact loads of imperfect roads were torture. Sharp stabbing pains down my left arm. I'd always used chiropractic care for acute injuries, like that time you had to twist and torque to get a bolt loose in the engine bay only to immediately feel the not so subtle pain.

I had to use massage therapy to loosen the spasming muscles. Once I thought I had it under control, I tweaked my lower back playing volleyball. Stabbing pains down my leg.

I was 29, fit, but not as active as i should be, and desperate to fix myself, so I did some research. I bought Esther Gokhale's 8 steps to a pain free back from Amazon and read it cover to cover over 24 hours, using a mirror and folding chair to practice.

I can't recommend that book enough. Bad posture is an epidemic in this country and our car seats reflect that perfectly. The head rests are simply following the average American's head forward.

Her stretch sit cushion could improve your frs's seat considerably, allowing you to get your shoulders back, take weight off your lower back, and get some traction against the head rest to elongate your neck. I put these in the cars I drive more frequently that the frs, but there's no reason it won't work.

Good luck. Posture is critical to long term health and happiness...