Awful back pain when driving?

[Nickbrapp]

Whenever I drive my work Vauxhall Astra for any more than a hour, I get awful lower back pain which sometimes shoots around under my back and under my balls, this seems to happen no matter how i sit etc.

I used to experience something similar when I had a golf, but not when I had a Ford Focus, nor does it seem to appear when I drive my own car, even for extended periods of times.

What could it be? Do I need lumbar support? If so does my employer have to provide me with a car with lumbar support? ( it’s a company car)

[LosingGrip]

Funny enough I get the same in a Astra at work, but nothing else. Just can't get comfy in them.

[Saleen836]

The Astra comes with adjustable lumbar support doesn't it?

[Nickbrapp]

Saleen836 said:

The Astra comes with adjustable lumbar support doesn't it?

Not in my poverty spec one it’s not even got a arm rest

[Blue Oval84]

I drove a 2004 astra for several hours a few years back and I can still remember it as the least comfortable thing I've ever driven.

[AlexC1981]

I had to use this backrest when I had my Ibiza. Definitely helped.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0124GDOWI/ref...

[JapanRed]

Nickbrapp said:

Whenever I drive my work Vauxhall Astra for any more than a hour, I get awful lower back pain which sometimes shoots around under my back and under my balls, this seems to happen no matter how i sit etc.

I used to experience something similar when I had a golf, but not when I had a Ford Focus, nor does it seem to appear when I drive my own car, even for extended periods of times.

What could it be? Do I need lumbar support? If so does my employer have to provide me with a car with lumbar support? ( it’s a company car)

Lumbar support on cars makes a huge difference to this sort of scenario. Not sure how you would get work to pay for a new car though but might be worth mentioning when you are due a new car.

Try driving with a small pillow or rolled up towel or similar, against the backrest at the base of your back where your spine curves in.

[JapanRed]

Nickbrapp said:

Whenever I drive my work Vauxhall Astra for any more than a hour, I get awful lower back pain which sometimes shoots around under my back and under my balls, this seems to happen no matter how i sit etc.

I used to experience something similar when I had a golf, but not when I had a Ford Focus, nor does it seem to appear when I drive my own car, even for extended periods of times.

What could it be? Do I need lumbar support? If so does my employer have to provide me with a car with lumbar support? ( it’s a company car)

Lumbar support on cars makes a huge difference to this sort of scenario. Not sure how you would get work to pay for a new car though but might be worth mentioning when you are due a new car.

Try driving with a small pillow or rolled up towel or similar, against the backrest at the base of your back where your spine curves in.

[9xxNick]

Are you sitting in a fundamentally sound position? This may sound very obvious but at least 80% of experienced drivers I have seen for further coaching are sitting in poor positions, with a good quarter sitting in positions that are extremely poor for both control and comfort.

There's a guide I found with a quick search here - https://www.wikihow.com/Adjust-Seating-to-the-Prop...

The one thing it doesn't cover is the need for the steering wheel to be at a distance where the wrist joint can flex over the top of the wheel when your upper back is still firmly in the seat.

[PaoloMey]

There are ergonomic seats for many cars, sport seats are way better than the common seat.

[bloomen]

Every Vauxhall I've rented recently, all crappy basic ones, have given me intense lower back pain within an hour or two. No other marque does that.