Back pain - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

newcarowner · 03-25-2011, 08:22 AM

Hi Everyone,

I do know that there are multiple posts about back pain on the forums; however, I have read them all, and am still at a loss as to what to do, so I thought I would ask you about my specific situation.

I recently bought a 2006 Corolla CE; it is my first car. Before this, I drove 1999/2000 Corollas and a 1998 Camry (my parents' cars). I commute an hour to work, and have never had any problems in these other cars. I am healthy, quite young, and have never had any issues with back pain. However, the first day I drove my new Corolla to work, I got quite severe back pain (mid-upper), and it hasn't let up since. (I am almost positive it is the car that is causing the pain, based on my previous health, the rapid onset of the pain, and the fact that nothing has changed except for the car.)

I have read articles on seat positioning to relieve back pain, and read all the suggestions on the forum, and have tried most of these things. I have tried almost every combination of seat positions/angles/steering wheel angles. I feel that I'm sitting in a good position - upright, most of my back supported, not hunched forward. Nothing seems to relieve this pain.

I am really frustrated/sad, because buying your first car is supposed to be a really exciting time, and instead it has caused me this painful problem. The reason I went with a Corolla was specifically because I have found them so comfortable in the past. I also don't have a lot of extra money right now, so I'm not sure what my options are. I'm at the point where I almost want to try to sell the Corolla and try a different brand of car, but I can't be sure that any other car would be better, plus I'm not sure that I could afford to do this.

Does anyone have any suggestions of anything I can try? Do you think I should give up the Corolla, or do you think I should stick with it and try to work through the pain? I'd really appreciate any advice.

Thank you!

Ohiowa · 03-25-2011, 09:54 PM

I'm on the opposite end of your situation. I previously drove a 2004 Pontiac Grand Am and had issues with intermittent back pain. The car was rear-ended and I had to buy my Corolla.

When I sat down in the driver's seat to test drive it, I was amazed at the amount of support the seat offered in comparison to previous vehicles I've driven. Since I've now owned the car for more than a year, I've played around a bit with various seatback angles and positions and have yet to be uncomfortable.

Perhaps it's not the car as much as an office chair or your bed? Or perhaps it's simply that your frame isn't ideal for the car? A puzzling situation for you, to be sure. I hope you can work something out, as driving an hour at a time while in pain doesn't sound very fun.

rrichard7 · 03-26-2011, 01:34 PM

Have you tried any orthopedic seat cushions or backs?

Amazon

ToyoLuv · 03-26-2011, 09:40 PM

My suggestion is to seek medical help. There is a first time for everything and blaming the car seat might not be the solution. Even if you got a car with the most comfortable seat in the world, I doubt your problem would disappear to never return.

olbus · 03-27-2011, 12:05 PM

Are you still close by to your parents? If so trade cars with them for a week and see what happens.
I'm kind of with Toyoluv in that it seems like a pretty severe reaction. I can drive in them for 5 hrs. or so and I don't have a great back and I'm probably almost 3 times your age. There is something about the seats in them that bothers me. It's my wife's car and she doesn't seem to have much trouble with the seats. Let us know what happens.

gideon1331 · 03-27-2011, 01:32 PM

I specifically bought my Corolla because of my bad back (2 severe spinal problems). A friend leased a 2004 years ago and the first time I sat in it I knew I had to have one of these cars for the seats.

One thing I did notice is that it's seating position is much more upright than on older Corolla/Camry models. Those are more of a low to the floor position and I always had to have the seat all the way back. As someone who is 6 feet tall, the first thing I did in the new Corolla was put the seat all the way back. In that position, I had to stretch out my legs more to reach the pedals, and this caused some back problems.

I now keep the seat 3 notches forward, and my back couldn't be better. Due to the upright seating position, it is entirely too easy to put the seat too far back, and have undue strain on your legs and back trying to reach the pedals.

That said, everyone is different, and seats that are wonderful for most everyone, may not be good for you, but even a slight seat position difference can make the difference between being miserable, and having no problems at all.

newcarowner · 03-27-2011, 11:40 PM

Thanks for your input, everyone!

I took a 3-day break from driving the car over the weekend and my back pain has improved 100% (despite a long bus trip, a long trip in a different car, sleeping on a friend's couch, and other things that could have irritated my back). So we'll see what next week brings ... I will try driving my parents' cars for a week to see if it makes a difference, that's a great idea! And I will also bring it up at my next doctor appt to rule anything else out.

ToyoLuv · 03-28-2011, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newcarowner

Thanks for your input, everyone!

I took a 3-day break from driving the car over the weekend and my back pain has improved 100% (despite a long bus trip, a long trip in a different car, sleeping on a friend's couch, and other things that could have irritated my back). So we'll see what next week brings ... I will try driving my parents' cars for a week to see if it makes a difference, that's a great idea! And I will also bring it up at my next doctor appt to rule anything else out.

Glad to hear that your back feels better. Back pain is no joke. I had spinal surgery years ago due to herniation at L4-L5 vertebrae. It's something that I'm always acutely aware of.