Help me help my back.

March 29, 2019 10:38 AM

I spend a lot of time driving, and I am recovering from messing up my lower back. I want a lumbar support pillow thingy but there are so many to choose from. Do you have a recommendation for me?

I know I can just read the reviews at Amazon, but I was hoping for some slightly more authoritative review or suggestions, and I don't know where to turn.

Amazon has them in the $30-$40 range. Relax the Back has them in the $200-$300 range. Is there a difference? What should I be looking for? What should I avoid?

I can spend 3 hours a day in the car some days, and it's nonnegotiable. This isn't a question about how else to treat my back, what parts of my body to strengthen to heal my back, or sitting in other situations. I'm purely asking for car-based solutions.

(I see a similar question but it's from 2006 so I'm wondering if there are newer suggestions.)

posted by BlahLaLa to Health & Fitness (7 answers total)

I use The Original McKenzie Lumbar Roll by OPTP - Firm Density (702), because that's the one my PT recommended. I've had to replace it once or twice, as it gradually becomes less supportive.
posted by The corpse in the library at 12:09 PM on March 29, 2019 [2 favorites]

I know someone who has a lumbar support shirt from this startup and they SWEAR by it.
posted by whimsicalnymph at 12:25 PM on March 29, 2019

Response by poster: I believe I'm looking for something that will stay in my car full-time.
posted by BlahLaLa at 12:36 PM on March 29, 2019

After finding car-based lumbar supports of only partial relief, a PT recommended a simple back brace that worked for me and that I no longer need. Try it in the car, and if promising, you can extend use to bed and elsewhere. It could be donned pro-actively. Best wishes.
posted by gregoreo at 2:03 PM on March 29, 2019

Terrible name but the back sac has been indispensable for me for the same reasons.
posted by LongDrive at 4:03 PM on March 29, 2019

My car has heated seats, and I turn that on during my long commutes. It improves the blood flow to my back and I notice a real difference if I don't turn it on for the drive. Difficulty level: Los Angeles.
posted by effluvia at 7:25 PM on March 29, 2019

Response by poster: I ended up purchasing a somewhat expensive special pillow from the Relax the Back store and it is working out well. I'm glad I went to the actual store, because the first one I purchased didn't fit my car well, and I was able to return it and try a different model.
posted by BlahLaLa at 9:20 PM on April 28, 2019 [1 favorite]