I’ve started having significant back pain when driving my 2014 f150. I’ve tried lumbar cushions from Amazon, seat adjustments, pillows, ice packs, etc. Thinking maybe I need to consider a Chevy/Ram/Toyota/???. Short trips are OK but 2-3 hours are killers. Pain is worse 12-24 hours later. Tried Chiro, back injections, decompressions and PT?
I cant help you with suggestions, but I had a buddy that had a Chevy albeit over 20 years ago and had the same problem and ended up getting a Ford and he said the problem went away. Nothing worse than back issues. Hopefully you find relief somehow.
I had back pain years ago. At times it was very severe. The most comfortable place to sit when the pain was bad was my pickup. It was hard to get into at the time. If you have multi adjustable power seats with lumbar support and heat, I can’t imagine anything better. Sometimes minor adjustments like tilting the back a couple degrees makes a world of difference. Good luck with your pain, nothing is more miserable than bad back pain.
I’d try having the seat restuffed so that it’s back to stock. Over time, the seats and cushions get really soft and you tend to sink into them. If you get new foam in them that might help.
That being said, you obviously have an underlying issue. You mentioned PT and injections. What was the original diagnosis?
Bulging Disc, another clinic said arthritis? As diagnosis’s
If you or anyone else is carring a wallet in your back pocket get ride of it, that can cause alot of back pain when sitting on it. if nothing else get a front pocket wallet.
Could it be your sciatic nerve? I’ve gotten a case of severe sciatic pain twice the past year. It sends shockwaves of pain down your leg at times. Going from a stitting position and standing up is painful too.
Physical therapy has helped.
If you or anyone else is carring a wallet in your back pocket get ride of it, that can cause alot of back pain when sitting on it. if nothing else get a front pocket wallet.
^I ditched my wallet for a money clip and it was the best move I ever made. It forces me to only carry the couple of cards, ID, and cash that I need…versus a bulging wallet becoming a catch-all of stuff that you inevitably sit on and create more issues with.
I usually take my wallet out when driving, no sciatica leg pain, all lower back pain. Trouble laying flat in bed.
Man Buzz – hate to hear that. Sorry.
I’ve had a similar struggle with a tweaky back for years after a water skiing incident when I turned 40. Finally got sick of it and started an exercise app a couple of years ago. When you can, adding a stretching and light exercise routine to other treatments can make a massive difference.
A newer truck with a seat cooler helps my back. I call it an ice pack on wheels which I use 12 months a year.
Bulging disc or arthritis…just means you have something pinching the nerves or inflaming them. I assume when you sleep at night one of your legs or your feet tingle or feel numb?
These things don’t fix themselves without PT or surgery if it’s bad enough. You can ask for drugs that calm the nerves down. Gabapentin or Lyrica are common drugs that work well but they can have some goofy side effects.
Not sure how long ago you saw a doctor but go get a second opinion. Go to a Tria or Twin City Ortho location. Skip the appointments and go to their walk in clinics.
Bottom line is the truck seat isn’t the cause. You need to treat the cause.
Bottom line is the truck seat isn’t the cause. You need to treat the cause.
Yep
I usually take my wallet out when driving
I stopped having a wallet in my back pocket probably 20 years ago. THat is horrible for your back. I started out with a front pocket wallet and now have a Ridge wallet. Game changer.
IMO, unless really severe, Degenerative Disc Disease symptoms can largely be improved without the need for surgical or prescription medication options. Just need to make it part of your daily routine or you’ll just get caught in a unnecessary cycle.
Sorry Capt and others – Like a vehicle seat, not sure a wallet really has as much to do with the root cause either. Just something that feels uncomfortable that then tells your brain to send a pain “reminder” for you to not sit on it…I’m calling myth on this one. I know many who will make this claim too, but it wasn’t caused by the wallet. Well, not directly anyway 
.
May not have been caused BY the wallet, but it certainly will not help. If you think about it you are sitting uneven. The body is completely connected to everything. Having a bad back, you compensate for it somewhere else which likely leads to other issues. I have a buddy who had big time hip issues, finally had it replaced, but since he fought it for so long the hip is great, but now he has tons of back problems. The hip issues caused the back issues.
The orthopedic surgeon that did both my hips told me that a wallet may not be the original cause of back and joint pain but it is a major irritant if you have back or joint issues.
Hate when the design the seats with no or negative lower back support and upper back/headrest area that juts way out. Back asswards.
I had a tender back at one time. Better posture and some chiro and I do fine now. Long car rides are still killer. I don’t care what the seat is, it starts to hurt. Also, I hate the hard seats in newer cars.
I’ve had GM trucks dated 1997, 2010, 2016 and now 2020 and I’m fully convinced GM engineers are running a competition to see just how uncomfortable they can make the seats.
My cousin used to have a 2012 Ram 1500 and it had possibly the worst seats I’ve ever sat in, in a truck. 2019 Tacoma was a close 2nd place.
I ditched my back pocket wallet probably 12 years ago after listening to a posture specialist on Joe Rogan’s podcast, of all places. As others have mentioned it’s the best “EDC upgrade” because I just carry less worthless junk, and as a bonus I’m not irritating my back by sitting on the thing when I’m driving.
My 1996 Chevy K1500 was very comfortable to drive, my 2006 Jeep Liberty isn’t and anything over 1 hour makes me look like I have a back injury when I get out. My fathers Jeep Patriot which is a 2017, I think, isn’t much better but then he had a 4×4 S10 back 20 years ago I didn’t want to drive again after taking him to my sisters wedding that was a 3 hour drive
I should add that I meant the seats get progressively less comfortable each model year. The 1997 was peak comfort, in my opinion!
Check if your seat back has lumbar support… I know many people do not know that it exists… check for buttons on the side of the seat back or bottom. First thing I do when I get into a vehicle is set the lumbar, if possible. Good luck… back issues suck.
Have/has anyone with lower back pain found that driving/sitting in a van’s captain’s chair made a difference?
I’ve had GM trucks dated 1997, 2010, 2016 and now 2020 and I’m fully convinced GM engineers are running a competition to see just how uncomfortable they can make the seats.
My cousin used to have a 2012 Ram 1500 and it had possibly the worst seats I’ve ever sat in, in a truck. 2019 Tacoma was a close 2nd place.
I ditched my back pocket wallet probably 12 years ago after listening to a posture specialist on Joe Rogan’s podcast, of all places. As others have mentioned it’s the best “EDC upgrade” because I just carry less worthless junk, and as a bonus I’m not irritating my back by sitting on the thing when I’m driving.
Sounds like RAM should have spent less money on the stickers and secret compartments and invested more in driver comfort. I suppose a comfortable seat doesn’t make everyone look at you for how ridiculous your truck looks though. Kind of like that South Park episode with the bikers.
Kind of like that South Park episode with the bikers.
The one where they try to get attention by being annoying? 
Tried Chiro, back injections, decompressions and PT?
Don’t want to be a smart azz, but you have back problems, not a truck problem. There are many good threads here on IDO. Search “Back Pain” in the search box. few of the top search results here. Many more if you want to dig.
Big take aways from IDO’ers and personal experience. Lose weight, quit smoking, exercise, new shoes, new bed mattress for starters.
Nothing worse than back pain. Know it well !
-J.
http://www.in-depthoutdoors.com/community/forums/topic/ftlgeneral_1282516/
http://www.in-depthoutdoors.com/community/forums/topic/ftlgeneral_476974/
http://www.in-depthoutdoors.com/community/forums/topic/back-surgery/
http://www.in-depthoutdoors.com/community/forums/topic/ftlgeneral_866913/
Thanks Jon Hi, I’ve had MRI, Cat Scans, xrays, PT, Chiropractic, two failed steroid injections, decompression. It seems to get really bad if I drive my pickup mote then 2 hours.Recently i was managing the pain with just ibuprofen but then drove over to Stewart MN to drop my boat and then drove to Rochester MN for a weekend photoshoot. This reaggaravated my pain and I could hardly walk. So there is a corelation between hours in my F150 and severe pain.
Have you looked into Prolotherapy yet ? I know people who got relief and actually reversed injuries with it.
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