I am hopeful someone can help me here. I had my drivers seat rail fixed in Feb 2010 to stop the seat from clicking forward when I stopped. The dealer fixed the problem, but after a few weeks, I started to get severe back pain. I adjusted the seat every which way, but the pain persisted.

The dealer has worked with me on this for the past several months, including replacing the foam for the center back area and the bottom of the seat. All has failed to help. It appears my right side by my kidney is "burning" as if over exerted and it causes me to bend forward to relieve the pain. Also, I feel pressure in the center of my back which make my back feel as I need to "crack the knuckle" and relieve pressure.

Anybody have any suggestions on what could be causing this or what I else I can try? It is maddening that I cannot figure this out.

Thanks
Mark

 

have you tried another seat..like the sports seats or adaptive types...

 

I have not tried another seat. Just replacing the foam padding per the dealer's recommendations. I can tell you the passenger side does not bother me.

 

I'm not trying to be a wise guy but have you had your back pain evaluated by a health care professional? I suffer episodically from lower back pain too and have a great physical therapist (and orthopaedist) who works with me to make things better whether I'm in a car, on a bike, skiing, or striking the little white orb. Perhaps it's not car seat per se.......best,

 

I can tell you the passenger side does not bother me.[/quote]

But then again, you're not driving when you're sitting in the passenger seat, hopefully........

 

Steamboat,

Thanks. I have not been evaluated, but I can tell you I can drive other cars without issue. Also, the pain started when they repaired the seat.

Mark

 

I have severe back problems myself, but I have to say the 997.2 C2S seat hasn't bothered me beyond what the same length of time in any seated position will do. This change when they repaired the seat is puzzling, and it should simplify it that you don't suffer when riding in the passenger seat. It should but it doesn't suggest anything off hand.

Assuming you returned the seat to the adjustment you find comfortable, only three things are left to suggest:

1. Pick a new adjustment from scratch. Begin with the highest seat adjustment, then rock it back slightly. Now put the clutch all the way to the floor and slide the seat back and forth until you find a comfortable position to have your leg sliding bent when the clutch is completely depressed. You don't want your legs extended fully while driving and having your thighs well above your heels is desirable. Now put the seatback fully upright and lay your arms across the top of the wheel. Recline the seatback until the break in your wrists is just at top the wheel. Finally, adjust the lumbar support up and down until the pressure of it against your back seems to disappear. Drive around a little to get used to the change before giving up on it. It will feel different, but ignore that 'newness'. Make minor adjustments if need be, but that should be a comfortable position for driving, even with a back problem.

2. Now we have a baseline that should be comfortable. If the pain persists, check the seat for areas where the padding is uneven or a transition from the original padding to a new material that is stiffer or softer. Such issues can distort your spine in subtle ways that lead to pain.

3. The seat adjustment could well have changed and the new padding might have caused uneven firmness. But if neither of those is true, then we have to consider that you have a previously undiscovered back issue. Lots of us get them eventually, and something has to be the first occasion we notice it. This could be your first occasion. Get a doctor to listen to your symptoms and refer you to a neurologist. He may rule out nerve compression and send you to an orthopedist, but it's best to begin with a neurologist in my personal experience.

As a last resort, buy a different seat. Belatedly, I found that the sport seat in the Boxster Spyder is more comfortable for me in a positive sense. That is, it isn't just 'invisible' like my Carrera seat, in not causing pain. Instead, the support actively made me feel better after driving the Spyder. My "judge's chair" at this workstation is like that, but I did not realize in time that I had a choice of cha... uh, seats in my Carrera that included one like that. This isn't a cheap option, but if you holler about this enough at the dealer, they might do something to help cover the cost of a change.

Gary

 

Gary

Thanks. I have tried the seat adjustments, but you may be right in checking with a doctor. It is just very strange that this would happen just after having the seat worked on and with no other seat, even loaner Pcars.

I suspect it still has something to do with the back padding alignment. There seems to be gaps in how my back rests on the seat back and the fact that only one side of my back hurts, the right side.

Mark

 

Mark,
Fundamentally the problem is with your back so make your assessment there. Your seat doesn't care. Sorry if that sounds harsh. Find out what's wrong / maladjusted with your back and then find someone who can do what needs to be done with your seat to specifically compensate. Until you know what you are trying to solve, the random adjust-a-seat solution is no more than a guess. Lower back pain is a pita until it go becomes sciatic and then it's a real problem.......If your pain is severe, it ain't the padding and you need someone who can advise you on the ergonomics of your setup. Best,