Sciatica Specialist Reveals 5 Tips to Cope with Back Pain While Driving

1. Ensure you are comfortable from the get-go

Before you start driving, take the time to ensure you are sitting comfortably enough. The last thing you want is to enter the highway with sharp pain in your lower back. Here’s a list of what to check if you want to ensure maximum comfort and support:

• Empty your back pockets: when you are sitting on your wallet, keys, or any other stuff you may be fitting in your back pocket, you risk throwing your spine out of alignment, especially if it happens for many hours every day.
• Straighten your back: as much as you may want to slouch, this is bad for your back. Keep your shoulders and chin back, to make sure your head is sitting directly atop your spine. Make sure your back is pressed against the seat and consider using a small pillow or a foam roller for better lumbar support.
• Adjust chest-steering wheel distance: it is advised you should sit with your chest at least 10 inches away from the steering wheel, but this type of advice has to do more with airbag safety than with back pain management. Adjust your chair so that your arms can comfortably reach the steering wheel, to avoid putting too much stress on the lower back.

2. Avoid bumpy rides that can harm your spine

With whole-body vibration being such a threat to the health of your back, you want to avoid any unnecessary shock your spine is about to receive. With road infrastructure being poor at times, it is up to you to make your ride as comfortable as possible.

• Instead of riding in an SUV or pickup, consider a passenger car.
• Used tires give out much more vibration, so consider replacing them.
• Consider using a coccyx cushion to add an extra layer of padding.
• Listen up for any issue that may result in vibration and get it solved before going on the road.
• Avoid bumps in the road for both your safety and your car’s.

3. Take frequent breaks to move around

No matter how comfortable you are trying to make yourself, driving is still driving and requires sitting for multiple hours at a time. Being in a seated position for a long time can cause herniated discs, sciatica pain, nerve pain, or muscle spasms. This is why you must take breaks at least every 2 hours, especially if driving is your main activity.

If you are already dealing with back pain, you may want to take breaks every hour, to stretch and relax your back. During your breaks, your goal should be to move around, stretch, and avoid sitting down. You are going to be doing a lot of that when you get back in the car. If you are riding with friends or family, consider asking for a back massage – you are the one that’s taking them to the destination, after all!

4. Try “on-the-go” heat therapy

Heat and cold therapy are known to be very effective in dealing with back pain. Thanks to technology, drivers can now try heat therapy without the need to even get out of the car – using heated seats. The heat helps relax the muscles and also increases blood flow, which can help tremendously with back spasms. Some use their heated seats even during the summer to help them get rid of the pain.

If your car is not equipped with heated seats, you can easily use a heated seat cover or a heated pad and place it on your seat. It does the job just dine and it’s not too expensive either.

5. Take advantage of cruise control

Any back doctor will tell you this: if you have cruise control, use it whenever possible. It will help you relax by being able to put your feet firmly on the floor to distribute your weight evenly and give your back a chance to rest.

The cruise control technology is getting better and better, not only making driving a less demanding activity but also allowing people with back pain to manage their symptoms.

Back pain, or any type of pain for that matter, is not always fun and it can easily ruin your road trip. Fortunately, most people are able to recover using minimally invasive treatment. For this to happen, you need to see a pain specialist as soon as the pain starts growing in intensity or extending to other body parts. These are some of the common symptoms of a pinched nerve, which needs to be treated fast to prevent nerve damage.

Schedule an appointment with Dr Laura Lombardi, Dr George Hanna, and Dr Shane Volney, our sciatica specialists in Paramus, just off NJ-17, near the Paramus Park Mall and the Garden State Plaza Mall, and let them help you live a pain-free life.