Car Seats and Sciatica

[Hack]

I have gone through the adjustments- actually had a sports therapist who I am working with have me adjust the seat as best as possible. -Lumbar support is at max and I have played with the steering wheel adjustments quite a bit.

The culprit as far as I can guess is the seat bolstering- I cant get my legs comfortably between the bolstering- side effect of having stupid big legs- I had not thought about talking to an upholsterer, thats a good idea.

I have the same issue with the 2015+ Mustang seats being too narrow for me. The 2011-2014 Mustang seats had wider bolstering. Consider looking for a seat in a junkyard and have it fitted into your car, or I think you might be able to buy new through a dealer if you're willing to spend that much.

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[Shifting_Gears]

Another big + i found was getting rid of wallet in back pocket, got rid of alot of driving and sitting pain. I went for a tiny front pocket wallet that just holds a couple of credit cards and license.

A wallet can be a spine wrecker. That’s the first thing to come out of my pocket when getting in the car.

 

[windellmc]

For the lower back I had to make the seat cushion as flat as possible and add washers underneath the the back of the seat rails. I also run the lumbar all the way out.

I still get some irritation in my left leg where it touches the seam on top of the seat bottom bolstering. I don’t think there is much I can do about it. I am not even sure where it is coming from.

I have the power cloth seats.

 

[DavidinDurango]

I have the Recaros in my PP2. First 1+ hour trip my right hip and leg went numb. So depressing. Have since adjusted things or gotten used to it. No more problems. Good luck to all!

 

[Dwlow09]

I'm just getting over my sciatica pain. Couldn't drive my car (manual) for a week hurt so bad. Drove my wife's caddy XTS. I went to chiropractor everyday, had him put electrode stickers on my hip to help stimulate the nerve. also get a back support belt, and pull as tight as u can and pull down over hips. afer 2 weeks don't hurt much any more. I love to sleep on my side and couldn't do that either.

 

[CrashOverride]

First - as a fellow back pain sufferer, I'm sorry in a way that only we would know. I have a L4-L5 and L5-S1 buldge. I also have spinal stenosis and disc degeneration with a little bit of arthritis for added flavor. I have the beginnings of sciatica so my leg pain probably isn't as bad as yours, but my back pain is probably similar. Although I haven't thrown a disc, when my back acts up, I seriously can't walk without a cane for a week while the heavy duty pain killers and muscle relaxers relieve the stress enough so the muscles contract taking the pinch out of the joint.

I travel a lot on airplanes unfortunately. If you haven't traveled united airlines lately, their seats are an amazing feat in engineering, it's actually more painful than standing. I eventually bought a foam seat cushion that has a slit in the back (You would think it's the front). It's for the tailbone to cradle into, taking the pressure off the lower back and legs. It is worth its weight in gold. I don't use it when I drive, but I have the base cloth seats. The seats are fine for me, but the headrests are horrible. I don't like my head canted forward, even when I have adjusted them straight up. This is becoming a problem with more and more cars as they do this to score better on crash tests (Eliminating whiplash).

I have heated seats in my van, and a heated steering wheel. Both are wonderful for my back. Seating position has a lot to do with it. I tend to sit far away from the steering wheel (I have the seat positioned further back than a similar person would that has the same height as me). I try to remember to "push" my arms out from the steering wheel. I have really bad posture, and this helps keep me upright.

Not really a lot of tips, but I hope you get it figured out!

 

[CrashOverride]

I'm just getting over my sciatica pain. Couldn't drive my car (manual) for a week hurt so bad. Drove my wife's caddy XTS. I went to chiropractor everyday, had him put electrode stickers on my hip to help stimulate the nerve. also get a back support belt, and pull as tight as u can and pull down over hips. afer 2 weeks don't hurt much any more. I love to sleep on my side and couldn't do that either.

A TENS unit from Amazon is amazing for my back pain. I can't take NSAIDS because of stomach problems, but nothing works as good as the $20 tens unit from amazon. Peel/stick those dudes on, crank on the voltage, and it feels like the pads pull the pain away. I tend to zap for more than an hour at a time. Probably not the best, but it's better than agonizing pain.

 

[Memphis-EcoStang]

Where on the hip to you place the pads? I have a unit for my back. Over the weekend I experimented with positioning no luck, but found having a big icepack on my lowerback allowed me to drive for longer than normal so thats a start.

 

[CrashOverride]

Where on the hip to you place the pads? I have a unit for my back. Over the weekend I experimented with positioning no luck, but found having a big icepack on my lowerback allowed me to drive for longer than normal so thats a start.

You actually sit on it - it helps your back by allowing your tailbone to "sag" beneith the normal sitting position. As crazy as it sounds, I think it's actually the natural position for our spines. This is the one I have: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00V2L5JRA/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It works exactly the opposite it looks. the open end of the "U" goes towards the back of the seat - that's the tailbone relief area. I find that sometimes I have to position the padding right next to the back of the seat, and other times I have to pull it about an inch or two forward. It all depends on the airline seat. I'm a heavy guy, so you might not need to fanagle it as much as I do.

I will say - I don't use it in the car, I only use it on airplanes, but I'm throwing it out there in case it might help. Might be worth a try if it's got so bad you don't drive the car as much as you would like. I hope it helps, and sorry again about the back!

 

[Lime1GT]

The culprit as far as I can guess is the seat bolstering- I cant get my legs comfortably between the bolstering- side effect of having stupid big legs- I had not thought about talking to an upholsterer, thats a good idea.

I wonder if the lower seat section from a 17 SHO would modify to Mustang seat back? They look like the seat cushion has a lower side bolster.

 

[Memphis-EcoStang]

Pad looks like its worth a shot, I swear somedays I should just sign my paycheck over to Amazon- Where did your chiropractor place the electrodes for the pain relief, I have a TENS unit I use for pain relief would be easy enough to try to. Appreciate everyones feedback. Never realized how much time I spent sitting till it started Hurting! Got a standing desk riser so now at least at work I can stand half the day. Seems to help.

 

[Threebanger]

Chiropractor or PT. The seats aren't the causal factor, may be contributing but if you have that much pain you need to find the cause. My L5 is gone from work but good PT and a visit to the chiro keep me sorted. Just remember as with anything there are good and bad ones out there.

 

[serpent]

usually a series of three cortisone epidurals should do the trick. bought me 5 years till laminectomy was needed.

 

[2morrow]

Damn, Sciatica is such a bitch. Mine comes and goes (thankfully. That sharp pain shit is no bueno) but my chronic back pain is a constant. I have recaros and love to track my car but sometimes I just look at her and say not today good lookin'...

I've got to the point that I cannot take long term trips...In any car. Going to Fab Fords is grueling.

I've looked at high end seats so that I can stay on track. Might want to call up the big players if you want to stay in your car. If that's not your thing, everyone understands getting off the pony.

I empathize with your situation, best of luck OP and let us know what you end up doing.

 

[PJR202]

My mustang seats are the most comfortable I've owned. My 07 Tacoma seats are the least. I tried several things, but just a simple non fluffy bath towel folded up and right above my belt line has worked like a charm for 8 years. All the pads and things are great but a towel just gets in all your spots and never fights back.

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