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Sciatica when driving a car

Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2023 7:46 pm
by MyLittleStudPony
I've had this for the last few months now. Only when I drive my car. It's ok for about 15-20 minutes then it kicks in.

I don't get it under any other circumstances. I didn't get it in previous cars. I have a feeling this car was ok when I first got it.

I have had a bad back in the past but no issues for ages. My exercise routine has been a bit different this year so maybe that's a factor.

Has anyone got experience of this or any ideas? Or any sources of good advice on adjusting the seat in the right way?

I should drive my partner's car and see how I am in that.

Re: Sciatica when driving a car

Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2023 7:52 pm
by Le_Fromage_Grande
It'll be the car seat, but you may not be able to get it right for you, look up how to adjust an office chair to get an idea of what's the right way to do it, I used to do work place assessments, and it's surprising what effects what.

As a very rough guess, you've possibly got the steering wheel too close

Re: Sciatica when driving a car

Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2023 8:01 pm
by Cousin Jack
Check the pedal offset. Some cars make you twist your back, small cars are usually the worst.

Re: Sciatica when driving a car

Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2023 8:13 pm
by Mr. Dazzle
Absolutely, by miles, the worst thing for my Sciatica. Doesn't matter what car it is IME so far.

I am currently in the middle of a bout of Sciatica following a miss-move handling bike stuff in the garage. The day after I did a load of mowing, strimming etc in the garden and felt load better. Driving to work the next day was awful and I struggled to walk from the car to my desk.

No helpful advice other than "don't drive, walk" I'm afraid. Physio helps but even the doc had the same advice.

Re: Sciatica when driving a car

Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2023 8:16 pm
by KungFooBob
Should have bought a Volvo.

Re: Sciatica when driving a car

Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2023 8:25 pm
by Count Steer
Mr. Dazzle wrote: Sat Apr 22, 2023 8:13 pm Absolutely, by miles, the worst thing for my Sciatica. Doesn't matter what car it is IME so far.

I am currently in the middle of a bout of Sciatica following a miss-move handling bike stuff in the garage. The day after I did a load of mowing, strimming etc in the garden and felt load better. Driving to work the next day was awful and I struggled to walk from the car to my desk.

No helpful advice other than "don't drive, walk" I'm afraid. Physio helps but even the doc had the same advice.
Odd. I actually brought mine on by strimming and my car seat (not Volvo but similar to my old V70 in terms of construction etc) was the comfiest place to be for quite a while.

(I actually did what appears to be permanent damage, but on the bright side seem to have blown the nerve completely so when the excruciating pain subsided after 2 weeks I ended up with limited feeling in one foot rather than continuous pain).

Re: Sciatica when driving a car

Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2023 8:27 pm
by Mr. Dazzle
Highly case specific, what can I say :lol:

Mine always starts the same with general 'ow' and then gets steadily more and more 'sharp' over a few days/weeks. Final symptom is always electric shooting pain down the back of my left leg.

I can actually feel the precise point in my lower back where the problem originates by the end of the symptoms. The physio did something where he "wiggled" each of my vertebrae until he found the problem point. The give away way probably my involuntary yelp!

Far and away the best treatment for me is moving about more and losing weight, and I'm not exactly chunky to begin with.

Re: Sciatica when driving a car

Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2023 8:30 pm
by Le_Fromage_Grande
Worst car I had for back pain, MK2 Fiesta XR2, best car for back pain, MK1 Mondeo 1.8L, it was like driving an arm chair

Re: Sciatica when driving a car

Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2023 8:36 pm
by Mr. Dazzle
Best car I've had for seats was a Saab. Everyone says that about them and everyone is right.

Shame they don't make proper Saabs anymore, I'm exactly the type to buy one.

Re: Sciatica when driving a car

Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2023 8:36 pm
by Skub
Y'all are too long new.

Re: Sciatica when driving a car

Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2023 8:38 pm
by Count Steer
I ended up getting MRI'd and then getting voltages applied to check nerve conductivity.

There was some existing old issue - slipped a disc years ago reaching for the radio controls in a Frontera! - which seemed to be the root cause.

But the Sciatica thing was the most painful thing ever - 1 week, no sleep, painkillers didn't do much either + 1 week hobbling about and I could have drawn the nerve path on my skin from spine to foot with a felt pen. :(

Re: Sciatica when driving a car

Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2023 9:05 pm
by MyLittleStudPony
If we were all wildebeest, the lions would have had us by now. :(

Re: Sciatica when driving a car

Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2023 9:11 pm
by Count Steer
MyLittleStudPony wrote: Sat Apr 22, 2023 9:05 pm If we were all wildebeest, the lions would have had us by now. :(
We're more like old lions loafing about telling stories about how we used to catch the biggest, fittest wildebeest faster than the other lions. :lol:

Re: Sciatica when driving a car

Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2023 12:17 am
by ZRX61
Put your wallet in your front pocket instead of sitting on it

Re: Sciatica when driving a car

Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2023 7:54 am
by cheb
You need a good sound sound system and a quiet car other wise you lose the nuances of the more complex arias.

Cecilia Bartoli sings his work the best I think.

Re: Sciatica when driving a car

Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2023 9:12 am
by Greenman
Count Steer wrote: Sat Apr 22, 2023 8:38 pm I ended up getting MRI'd and then getting voltages applied to check nerve conductivity.

There was some existing old issue - slipped a disc years ago reaching for the radio controls in a Frontera! - which seemed to be the root cause.

But the Sciatica thing was the most painful thing ever - 1 week, no sleep, painkillers didn't do much either + 1 week hobbling about and I could have drawn the nerve path on my skin from spine to foot with a felt pen. :(
It's horrible, i was in that situ for about a month luckily it was school holidays so i didn't have to work. Worst pain i had ever experienced. As you say pain killers do fuck all as it's nerve damage not muscle damage. The only way i managed to get any sleep was by using some cannabis oil i bought online, with that i was able to get a good 3-4 hours sleep just about.

Worst thing about sciatica is that it never goes away, it's constant 24 hour pain with no way of escaping it.

Re: Sciatica when driving a car

Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2025 9:43 pm
by silver991
I struggled with sciatica for months, and driving was one of the hardest things to deal with. The pain would start as a dull ache and quickly turn into sharp, shooting sensations down my leg. Adjusting the seat didn’t help much, and long trips became unbearable.

What finally gave me some relief was sciatica medical cannabis treatment. I reached out to Releaf, a clinic in the UK that specializes in cannabis-based treatments. After an online consultation, they prescribed a cannabis oil that has really helped manage the pain. The treatment is tailored to your needs, with regular follow-ups to track progress, and they deliver the medication to your door.

If you're dealing with sciatica, I recommend looking into medical cannabis.

Re: Sciatica when driving a car

Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2025 9:47 pm
by Mr. Dazzle
I obviously didn't put the right key words in my more recent post on this topic.

Re: Sciatica when driving a car

Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2025 7:42 am
by Count Steer
Mr. Dazzle wrote: Sun Jan 26, 2025 9:47 pm I obviously didn't put the right key words in my more recent post on this topic.
Yeah. Silver appears to be a board history student, probably named Al. Best one so far I'd say.