[Devil on Wheels]

Thank goodness. I landed on this thread by accident and realised that there are quite a few mistakes I have been making for the last 10-12 years of my working life. I must start making changes to my lifestyle before my back pain agravates into something more complicated. I am 31 and still in decent shape, so I guess its not too late for me to start.

I used to attribute the occasional pain in the lower back and knees to various sports injuries (primarily football related) I had suffered throughout my school life. Some of these injuries were quite bad and on couple of occassions I had to be carried to the hospital.

But after going through this thread, I have realised that I couldn't have been more wrong. I mean the injuries could be one of the reasons for persistant pains, but it must largely be due to the unhealthy lifestyle I have been following. Just as an example, the only form of exercise I have been doing for the last 8-10 years is changing channels, between Discovery/NGC/ESPN/etc.

One question and I know its a stupid question, but I will still go ahead.

How does the Lumbar Support in Safari 2.2 VTT works??? I did notice a lever halfway up the back rest of the driver seat, is that the one that needs to be adjusted for lumbar support??

[harjeev]

Originally Posted by Ricky_63

Harjeev

I have answered your mail.

I just looked at all the jeeps you own, it is my understanding that none of them come with great ride quality. That being the single reason why I have not gotten myself one of those Hyderabad "Wranglers"

But I guess you'd know that yourself. The only cure is excercise tailored for your back & yoga specific "asanaas"



Cheers

Thanks Ricky
I will definitely consuly he doc over the next week.

Originally Posted by Devil on Wheels

How does the Lumbar Support in Safari 2.2 VTT works??? I did notice a lever halfway up the back rest of the driver seat, is that the one that needs to be adjusted for lumbar support??

I don't know buddy but my back problem becomes worse the moment I sit in the front seat of the Safari. I think that this might be one of the causes of my bad back.
I intend to replace the seat with the seats from a toyota innova which are much more comfortable, But what surprises me is most of the people that I talk to are very much impressed with the seating comfort of the Safari.
My back is the reason that I have not driven the safari in over a month. I am much happier driving my 6 year old optra these days than the King of the Road

i hope the doc can find the problem and then a cure for it
Waiting with fingers crossed

[trrk]

Hi,

Originally Posted by harjeev

But what surprises me is most of the people that I talk to are very much impressed with the seating comfort of the Safari.

My personal experience: No back discomfort in Safari, back discomfort in Innova.

[Ricky_63]

Originally Posted by harjeev

Thanks Ricky
I will definitely consuly he doc over the next week.



I don't know buddy but my back problem becomes worse the moment I sit in the front seat of the Safari. I think that this might be one of the causes of my bad back.
I intend to replace the seat with the seats from a toyota innova which are much more comfortable, But what surprises me is most of the people that I talk to are very much impressed with the seating comfort of the Safari.
My back is the reason that I have not driven the safari in over a month. I am much happier driving my 6 year old optra these days than the King of the Road

i hope the doc can find the problem and then a cure for it
Waiting with fingers crossed

Sell Safari, buy Vitara.

On a serious note, the Safari's seats are not the best for long drives. Or maybe that is only true for people with back problems.

[Devil on Wheels]

This has to be the discovery of the century. After 6 months and 12000 Kms I finally figured out how the Lumbar support in Safari works. Where would I have been, had it not been for T-bhp.

On a more serious note, I did find the new driving posture, with the lumbar support a lot comfortable.

Did some re-research on back pain and found that back pain in itself is not a disease per se, but its actually a symptom. Slip disk/nerve damage are just two of the reasons which cause back ache. There are several other reasons. Will try and find the link where I read this and try and post it here.
Back Pain Causes, Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention Information by eMedicineHealth.com

[Devil on Wheels]

Found this link very helpful.

Lower Back Pain -- familydoctor.org

[navan49]

Great information on Back pain. I drive a lot and drove a lot. I did not come across back pain. As some one says of sitting posture,it may the accidental reason for me not having that may be unknowingly I am sitting in the right posture. Is it the tall boy cars prevent back pain.

[ghodlur]

Just happened to see yesterday on an Car n bike show about the sitting postures to reduce the back pain.

Acco to the show the seats should be adjusted such that your grip on the steering wheel should not be too straight and not too close to the wheel. Also the seat height to be adjusted just sufficient enough to get a clear view over the dash board and the dashboard at all times. Low slung seats do give back pain in the longer run although they may seem comfortable. Quick getaways from the door should be avoided to induce a muscle spasm, the starting point of the back pain.

Pls note there are not my views but as told in the TV program.

[CorsaLove]

10 Minutes relaxation by keeping your body straight in a bath tub filled with warm water also reduces every-day lower back pain to minimums.

This is tried and tested by 3 of my friends! For me swimming gets it to vanish completely!

[Visaster]

You should first and foremost stop driving. Get a MRI of your spine and meet a Spine surgeon at the earliest possible. You most probably have a disc prolapse due to your sedentary lifestyle with no exercise what soever, making your body week and cry out for a small strain you put it to. Hit the gym if u desire not to end at the hospital.

[Zombie69]

Back pain always boil's down to your posture in a normal day. Starting from your home how you sit while watching TV to how you sit in an office. We normally use cars to commute and we hardly use it for a couple of hours a day, unless you are a driver in a transportation company! Correct your posture and a good massage once in a while you'll be good.

Cheers!
-Z

[ghodlur]

Guys,

Dont know whether this belongs in this thread or not. I have been having this pain in my right foot heel area for the past week. I consulted the doctor and got the area Xrayed. It seems that heel bone has developed some swelling, the reason not known exactly. AFAIK I haven't had any injury but the pain starts after I finished driving. It persists for about 1/2 hr or so and then slowly subsides although any greater force on the heel bone does cause pain.

Is this pain got something to do with my driving stance? My stance hasn't changed since the time I started driving. I feel since the right foot is always at an angle on the accelerator maybe the reason behind the pain. I tried to provide a cushiong by adding a mat (the green doormat) and reducing the angle of the foot but this hasn't helped me. Am I thinking in the correct direction. Right now I am on pain killers. Experts kindly advise.

[libranof1987]

I have driven "low"ly cars like 800 and Esteem and continue to drive Zen, Corsa and City.

The spine does take quite a beating due to the seat structure. And along with the lumbar support that the seat provides, I think the suspension health plays just an important role : given the regularity of pot holes on Indian roads.

Also what I have found with seats of most low cars is, the seat as such is slightly sloping away from the steering.. So that puts the spine in a very awkward posture.

From what I know of physiology, I think the pain in the back might not always be coz of the spine; it could be radiating from the neck or shoulders. I use the neck-rests on all the cars I drive and that has cut down the neck-pain tremendously.

I feel each car should have a "factory setting" seat position; a position that has been medically recommended and to go to it, you could just push a button; something like "Factory setting restore in computers". Coz I think most of us try to adjust the seat height, distance from steering and back-support position in a way to suit us; but it could actually be making it worse!

[vnabhi]

Originally Posted by ghodlur

Guys,

Is this pain got something to do with my driving stance? My stance hasn't changed since the time I started driving. I feel since the right foot is always at an angle on the accelerator maybe the reason behind the pain. I tried to provide a cushiong by adding a mat (the green doormat) and reducing the angle of the foot but this hasn't helped me. Am I thinking in the correct direction. Right now I am on pain killers. Experts kindly advise.

Seems to be a one off case. I've never had that discomfort on my Fiesta, though I do feel that kind of discomfort on the WagonR, especially if I drive for more than 30 minutes. The angle is much sharper in a WagonR and I get releif only if I get a chance to floor the throttle.

On long journeys, I feel like putting a brick under my right heel to reduce the discomfort.

[libranof1987]

Originally Posted by ghodlur

Guys,

Dont know whether this belongs in this thread or not. I have been having this pain in my right foot heel area for the past week. I consulted the doctor and got the area Xrayed. It seems that heel bone has developed some swelling, the reason not known exactly. AFAIK I haven't had any injury but the pain starts after I finished driving. It persists for about 1/2 hr or so and then slowly subsides although any greater force on the heel bone does cause pain.

Is this pain got something to do with my driving stance? My stance hasn't changed since the time I started driving. I feel since the right foot is always at an angle on the accelerator maybe the reason behind the pain. I tried to provide a cushiong by adding a mat (the green doormat) and reducing the angle of the foot but this hasn't helped me. Am I thinking in the correct direction. Right now I am on pain killers. Experts kindly advise.

it could depend on how you rest your foot on the accelerator; as in, the angle of inclination from where you rest it on the floor to the accelerator..

also, check if the accelerator is too hard..

try increasing/decreasing the distance between the seat and accelerator. Could sound slightly silly but some people have pain in the foot coz of the footwear; I know a few people who HAVE to drive without any footwear else they get pain..