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My 2010 Prius Causing Me Back Problems!

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Steve Cebu, Jun 7, 2009.

  1. fredthepostman

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    Hi Steve, Sorry to hear about your bad back. I hope it is just a series of things that led to your pain and not just the Prius. Anyway I hope you figure exactly what is causing the pain and fix it for good.:) FRED
     
  2. PriusRos

    PriusRos A Fairly Senior Member - 2016 Prius Owner

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    That's too bad, Steve. As an earlier poster said, it might be coincidental. When I drove my Infiniti I-30, most of the time I found it quite comfortable. I was commuting about 30 miles each way to work (in a congested area). But every so often, I would have pain after driving it and it seemed I just couldn't get the seat adjusted correctly. In general, I don't suffer from back pain (although I used to get stiff necks very often) but I did have an excruciating episode at one point and it didn't seem to have anything to do with driving. I actually don't remember at all how it started.

    Shortly after buying my 2006 Prius, I had a 600-mile each way drive for work. I certainly did feel stiff but it wasn't the type of pain you're describing.

    I do hope you feel better soon and can figure out what the problem is. And I hope it's not the seats themselves.
     
  3. Steve Cebu

    Steve Cebu New Member

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    Thanks everyone! :D
    I will try one of those coccyx pillows on Monday at the medical supply store. The thing is I didn't hurt my tailbone it was caused by the seat in the Prius.
    I have a friend who is a Chiropractor living overseas and I will ask him what he thinks as well.
    Thanks for all the great suggestions! I will also contact the dealer and see if any mods can be made to the seat by the places that put in their leather interiors.
    I think the seat is pinching a nerve which is why I have the pain.
    I'm hoping either the donut pillow will work or perhaps a custom seat. Whatever works since I do not want to give this car up.
    By all means I will post anything I find out so that it can benefit others who might have a similar problem. After all, that's the PriusChat way. :D
     
  4. LRKingII

    LRKingII New Member

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    I would recommend to get the rubber one that you can inflate to diff pressures.
     
  5. Steve Cebu

    Steve Cebu New Member

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    Thanks Fred!
    Actually it couldn't be anything but the seat. I've spent some time just sitting in the car in the garage adjusting the seat and I think it just the way the seat works. I like a firm seat and my Honda Fit has a firm seat.. The Prius has a softer and less supportive seat cushion. I can feel it when I just sit there. Using a memory foam cushion helps a bit. But if I have to, I will have a Recaro seat put in there. I'm hoping I can find a less drastic solution but like the Aquapel I did find a solution to that.
    I WILL have my water repellant windows! :cheer2:
    The seat isn't really that great in the new Prius at least not for me. It does feel comfy but long rides are not possible for me. My wife has graciously offered for me to drive her Fit but I do the long haul driving so the Fit is not an option.
    I'm hoping a custom seat can be fitted. The best driver seat I've had in a while was in my 2008 Honda Civic Si.
     
  6. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    Steve,
    Sorry about your back problems.

    I'm almost certain you would not need an entirely new seat for the car. That would be very expensive and I think a big hassle.

    An upholstery shop should be able to help you out. They could add a different foam on seat bottom as worst case.

    You mentioned wish the steering wheel was 2" closer. Check that tilt is down a lot, so don't have to reach up high to use it. You're 5'11" right, so your seat might be low.

    Not sure what else to suggest. It'll be trial and error. I know that first hand.
     
  7. Steve Cebu

    Steve Cebu New Member

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    Thanks cycledrum, it's pretty uncomfortable. I've spent too much time lying down today but what can I do. Oh and I'm 5'7" tall. But I wouldn't mind an extra 4 inches. :D
    I don't think an entirely new seat would be needed. I think it could be the padding in the bottom of the seat but there is no way to know for sure. The dealers around here often have leather interiors installed so to do that they have to alter the seat a little anyway. I need to find out what's causing the problem and make sure it doesn't happen. I don't care if I just put in padding or a donut seat or whatever but something is pinching my nerve in the car and once that's fixed I'll be all set.
    I can't tilt the wheel any further down or it will hit my leg.
    That would not be fun on a corner.
    Th foam pad I tried today helped some so I will try a few other things and worst case is a new seat. I don't think I can even get a new seat for the car. It might void the warranty. :confused:
    I think I will call Toyota and see what they suggest. :D
     
  8. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    Maybe it will work and maybe not.
    Adelaide taxi drivers all use one of these.
    [​IMG]
     
  9. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    LOL. I'd like to try 5'11" for a day to check it out.

    Using another seat like my used / modded seat only means that seat is not under warranty. Rest of car is warrantied.

    You'll get through it with the original seat and a mod or cushion and be fine. :)
     
  10. a priori

    a priori Canonus Curiosus

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    Steve,

    I'm very sorry to hear about the difficulty -- and pain.

    I may have wondered about whether you and your posts would cause trouble on PriusChat -- I just never thought it was going to be your new 2010 Prius that would be the PITA.:p

    (I just couldn't resist it. And, by the way, it is all a joke. You are a great part of PriusChat, and I AM very sorry to hear of the tremendous pain you've been in. I'm hoping that one of the many suggestions offered will be the thing that helps you.)
     
  11. Steve Cebu

    Steve Cebu New Member

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    The dealer gave me the name of a place they use to change the interior of the car. I will be going up there this evening to have them take a look. They said it will be trial and error.
    I really want the seat from my 2008 Honda Civic Si in the Prius! That was such a great seat for me! The non-adjustable lumbar was the best I've ever had in a car. 6 hour drives with zero problems!
    Hopefully they can alter the stock seat so that it will work.
     
  12. Steve Cebu

    Steve Cebu New Member

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    I do believe you are calling me a pain in the backside. :eek: :p
    Have I really been that bad?
    Lots of terrific suggestions and I have tried a few of them already. I don't know what I would do without PriusChat.
    I'm sure I'm not alone in that. :cool:
    The Prius is a great car, heck we are figuring out more than the dealers at this point.
    on a lighter note, I took my wife for a drive down a back road near us and threw fuel economy to the wind for about 5 miles. Lots of twists and turns and she was having a blast!
    The Gen III Prius handles far better than the old one. The drive dropped my overall fuel economy but that's ok, I didn't floor it. :D
     
  13. a priori

    a priori Canonus Curiosus

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    You're great -- and don't believe me if I say otherwise!

    +1

    That's why my latest round trip figures dropped so much. I took it off into the hills and had fun driving it. I also used that PWR button too often. Fun, though, isn't it?
     
  14. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    I'm crossing my fingers something works for ya Steve. :)
     
  15. Steve Cebu

    Steve Cebu New Member

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    Thanks :D
    Yeah I mean even tho we have cars that are frugal, it's nice to give it an Italian tuneup once in a while. :cool:
    My biggest concern with my Prius other than my posterior positioning issues, is that I have no sense of speed with it. I look out the window, everything is moving by serenely and then I look at the Speedo. What the???? 45mph in a 35! I thought I was only going 30 mph! This car is so smooth and quiet I have no sense of speed at all. :eek:
    Really amazing!
     
  16. Steve Cebu

    Steve Cebu New Member

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    Thanks F8L, hopefully this interior guy can adjust the seat so it will do the trick.
    i'm kind of lusting after some Recaro seats at the moment.
    But they probably won't fit. It's pretty tight with the center console in there.
     
  17. Steve Cebu

    Steve Cebu New Member

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    Sad News, as some of you know I've been having issues with my back because of the seat in the 2010 Prius. I've found out today that there really isn't anything that can be done about it. :(
    Toyota wants no part of any modification due to liability issue. The dealer cannot alter it for the same liability reasons and the custom interior place can't make it work for me.
    They are basically saying that it's hit or miss with the seat. Just trial and error. Plus it's about $175+ each time they modify it. The guy said it might end up worse that it is now.
    He sat in it and after 5 minutes felt that it was uncomfortable for him and said he wouldn't want to have to drive it for an hour. His back problem is similar to mine. It's definately pinching a nerve in my back and all the various cushions I've tried, don't work.
    I really like this car so much but I also can't spend most of my time lying down after driving it.
    The seat isn't defective, I just have a very bad back after fracturing it several years ago.
    So now, I'm going to have to sell the car after going through all this to get it. :( :(
    I have no choice. I'm still waiting for my title as the car is only a week old.
    It's a 2010 Prius II Blue Ribbon Metallic with no options, Dark Grey interior with floor and cargo mats.
    It only has about 500 miles on it! Does anyone have any idea of the value of the car as it's so new?
    Thanks
    Steve
     
  18. fredthepostman

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    I'm very sorry you have to sell the car but your health is the primary concern. Good luck! FRED
     
  19. Steve Cebu

    Steve Cebu New Member

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    Thanks Fred, I appreciate the sentiment. :)
     
  20. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    I don't know what a 'bad back' means, but I sure see a lot of people who are overweight, do not work at keeping their back limber and strong, and have terrible posture.

    I don't know Steve's details, but perhaps more attention to his back and less on car seats ? I think *everybody* taking long drives should get out every couple of hours to stretch and walk around a bit. My 50 year old back can get a bit sore after an hour of driving, but I usually find I am slouching. Sitting up straight solves the problem.