Quote:
Originally Posted by shivmarwaha  hi all
I have been down for 4 wks due to disc prolapse in l4_5 and l5 s1. Bad lower back pain as a result and a complete bed rest. Doc says its because of extensive driving. I have a baleno and drive about 100 km a day. Now i have been off work and would john back soon. Doc says that bucket seats in indian cars are bad as lumber support is nil. Can you suggest mods to the seat to handle this.
Thanks
Shiv |
Sad to hear that Shiv.
In 2002 I fell down and suffered a prolapse in the same discs(maybe it was slightly lower, don't remember exactly).
I had to completely stop biking, and the doctor forbade me to drive low slung cars.
He said the worse car I could drive is an esteem, and the best car I could drive was the santro.
An indica was also okay if it had power steering. So thats the time I bought an indica.
for around 1 year after the incident I kept on feeling back pain after driving, but it was more to do with my not being diligent with my excersises.
But after following a proper regimen this problem vanished.
Now I am able to drive for hours at a stretch without the lower back pain related to slip disk. Of course there is fatigue but everybody gets that.
Since you have recently recovered, I suggest you try to drive a car where you can sit with back completely straight. The Santro is an excellent car for such a purpose(even better than getz) as the seat is very high and your knees are not folded towards your chest as they would be in cars like Baleno/accent etc.,
Also for the duration of your drives you can wear a belt. I used to do that sometimes, but the doc told me to wear belt only when driving, otherwise I would get dependent on them.
He also advised me to do back relaxing exercises if I feel discomfort.
I presume you spend 1.1.5 hours at stretch in the car. For your immediate need take a very think cusion and put it under yourself. This will raise you slightly and you will not be sitting in the curved position.
Its all about posture. The doctor must have told you "Sit with back straight, no curving forward". you need to follow that while driving, and most low slung cars do not allow you to sit with back straight.
My doc specificely told me that tall people who are not into back exercises or do not have very strong backs and drive low cars like esteem/baleno/accent etc., tend to get back pains and in rare cases slip disk due to driving.