Back Ache From Hell

Have any of you had such a bad back ache that it affected you getting in and out of your car. I have a whopper right now (unrelated to the car), and the chiropractor suggested I might want to give the Porsche a rest for a week or two, until I heal. Bummer!!!!

I acutally have found that the seats in the P-Car are better on my back than my Mercedes! However, I suspect it is the low up and down of getting into/outa the car that is agrivating it. If you have an SUV you would be better off during this time of "healing".

You may want to work with a Physical Therapist rather than a chiropractor. Better long term results, from personal experience.

I up'd my workout weight load on my legs about 8 weeks ago. Everything was fine till I did my usual leg presses. BAM pulled a muscle in my hip and spazed out my hip flexors BIG TIME...couldn't walk, sit, stoop or drive my Porsche, because it hurt so damn much to clutch. Went to my doctor he sent me to a physical therapist for 10 visits. These guys did a hell of a job and I'm pretty much back in the saddle again and I took my weight load back down. Doesn't hurt at all to clutch anymore...good luck and be careful with chiroprators... BTW if you get showtime or HBO, whichever has the Penn and Teller show...check out the one with chiropractors...there some food for thought in the program... Jim ps... I'll say this...the seats in the Porsche are a lot more comfortable than the ergonomically correct seats in our Volvos and they are supposed to be known as some of the best seats or so I am told.

Agree with Palting. Ditch the Chiro, head for an orthopedic MD, then a Phys Therapist first. Trust me on this one....I've been through a spinal fusion, and other issues, and know what you might be dealing with. Chiropractic is not the answer until you hear from an MD what is going on. Don't shortchange yourself. Life's too short.

Valium now to break the spasm. Phys. therapy for long term cure. Doctor's orders.

Ditto Eric and c4s.

I was going to post a thread on back pain and Porsches but you guys answered my question. In the few test drives I had with a 996, I always got out of the car with a slightly stiff back. I attributed the stiffness to not having the seat adjusted properly and not to the relatively stiff ride of the 996. Based on what I've read here, it appears that my suspicion is on target.

Aleve + heated seats makes the pain go away!

my unprofessional opinion is that 90% of the back pain is from sitting hunched over a computer. The other 10% is from the car, and wouldn't be a problem if not for the other 90...

Having heated seats is huge. I have 3 degenerating discs in my lower back and two arthritic hips and the heated seats made a huge difference! (btw, I'm only 27!) I recently had a flare-up of ongoing back/hip problems and I don't even bother taking my wife's car any more since I can't get in/out of it easily (little 4 door Japanese car). I stick to my nice tall SUV that's easy to get in/out of!!!

Chiropracter (the natural enemy of M.D's) may not be your best route to an answer or cure. First, you need a diagnosis. In my opinion, there is little reason to delay MRI. If it's non-significant (just muscle spasm) you may have wasted a few of your insurance company"s dollars. But if you've damaged something significant, you will save months of futility. The Porsche is not a factor, unless you have your seat adjusted for style, not utility. For your purpose, you will want the back as upright as possible (raking it back accentuates the strain on your lower back). You also want the seat cushion flat, not with the leading edge tipped up with your butt down. Sittling a little closer to the wheel also may help (though you will be closer with the seat back straightened) Physical therapy and then abdominal muscle strengthening may be all you need Almost everybody would start there and stay with it for 6-8 weeks. Occasionally, a facet joint has slipped and "manipulation" may help, but that is not the most likely. Good Luck. AS

you guys sound like a bunch old ladies I have a congenital back issue believe it or not the best thing for my back in a car has been installing GT3 Recaro seats. A bitch to get out of but once you are in its like some nice person is hold up your lower back with their two hands the whole time. I'm almost contemplating ordering one for my living room. well their not so hard to get our of really...

Recaro chair for the living room, eh.... More like office here, but interesting...

I read your subject as 'back acne'... it was a bad visual. I also recommend seeing doctor. I would have to been in an iron lung to consider not driving my Porsche for 2 weeks.

I have to agree with that...experience

This site is great. Where else can you get p-car and medical advice in one location!

Best thread I started.....it pushed me in the right direction.......MRI @5:30pm today!!!

no way man those chairs suck. The Recaro GT3's strength for "old man back" is that it does not recline. In your as$ goes and there its held tight. Reclining seats are the big enemy of posture.

85% of all acute back pain resolves on its own in 90 days. If you have no severe pain going into the legs, change in bowel/bladder function (<--surgical emergency), or significant muscle weakness, that MRI was just a waste of money. Sorry. P.T. is good. An NSAID (aleve) is good. Evidence shows muscle relaxants (which in fact are really brain relaxants) can help symptomatically but don't speed recovery. Keeping active is important. Best wishes.

Ibuprofen 800 mg 3 times a day, Flexeril 10 mg (generic is cheap) 3 times a day. Do this for 7 days. Hot compress, hot tub soaks at 30 minutes at a time. I guess you have to see an MD for the prescription. Flexeril makes you drowsy. So no DE's while on it.

Wow, this is sooo timely. I hurted my back at the end of the first day of a (@#$%^& expensive heli-skiing week-long trip. Skied 1/4 of what my buddies did. I came back and saw a P.T. for the last 4 weeks. Last friday was my last appointment and I felt a lot better. This saturday I woke up with my back out again. Totally agree with the P.seats on heat (hi) and straight as possible. Getting out hurts like hell but then getting up from anytime sitting down also hurt like hell. I was about to give up on the P.T. and call a chiro this AM. I think I'll go see an M.D. first to confirm wether a P.T. is the way to go....the only drawback from driving a P.Car and a bad back is that you get a look from people when they see you getting out in pain and you just know that they are thinking ...if he drove a normal car this wouldn't be happening to him....blah the heck with them. P.S. what is Aleve...is it a make of pills ? Marc