Back Problem, need Saddle Design advice

[Dan_Ashley]

My wife has a real bad back. She has a ruptured disc in the lower part of her spine. Due to medical treatments, physical therapy, and time, it usually doesn't hurt her. But when it does hurt, it hurts a lot and pain radiates down her right leg into her foot. My wife is the passenger on a 2012 RT-S. She loves to ryde, but the sitting position, even for short rydes causes her back to hurt. I've tried raising the passenger floor boards to take pressure off of her right thigh. I've tried lowering the floor boards so that more weight would be on her thigh and less on the small of her back. I've tried using a gel pad, and I've tried using two gel pads. Same results. Yet she can sit in a kitchen chair just fine.

So, what I think I need is this: I need someone who understands how different sitting postures affects the stress on her back. I just have no idea of what kind of a professional I should look for. I mean, who should I talk to? A physical therapist? A chiropractor? A ..... :dontknow: I need some counsel here. Then I can get a seat designed and made--or get some pads made....

 

[scottnkansas]

Just an idea but what if there was a way for her to ride side saddle. Maybe having her legs spread like that on back doesn't allow her back to relax like she needs it too. I'm no expert but I've had bad back pains and sometimes it's as simple as a different position. Good luck.


Scott

 

[maliamd]

I would talk to a physical therapist. She should get an evaluation as to what exactly is causing this discomfort. After the evaluation then see if they can recommend someone who makes orthotic devices. These are the people that make devices for all parts of the body for added support, for amputees, etc.

 

[Dan_Ashley]

I would talk to a physical therapist. She should get an evaluation as to what exactly is causing this discomfort. After the evaluation then see if they can recommend someone who makes orthotic devices. These are the people that make devices for all parts of the body for added support, for amputees, etc.

"orthotic devices" Thanks for the tip....I'll post back if I get some news that others could use.

Any other ideas?????? There are no bad ideas here...

Thanks!

 

[Bob Denman]

Dan,
Where do the passenger foorests end up being, when she is most comfortable?
If she needs to have them a whole lot higher; there's an outfit making extensions for them...
I'll have to see if I can find them again... (I never kept the site in my favorites list)
If it's not the height; my guess would be that it's how the seat forces her legs outward...
Maybe a recontouring of the padding where her upper legs rest might hold some promise...
Alternately; try taking her, your RT seat, and some measurements from the florrboard placement to a physical therapis...
Good Luck! :thumbup:

 

[Dan_Ashley]

Dan,
Where do the passenger foorests end up being, when she is most comfortable?
If she needs to have them a whole lot higher; there's an outfit making extensions for them...

I don't know what is needed. But based on one of the posts above, I am contacting an orthotic manufacturer that has an office within a mile of my house. I will keep everyone posted. Maybe this can help out someone else too!

 

[Bob Denman]

I hope that you find a solution for her! :2thumbs:

 

[Dan_Ashley]

I think I found a solution--thanks to you guys! I arranged for a meeting between her physical therapist and the orthotics guy. The orth guy said, "We've done this before, I just need a consult with the physical therapist and to review her MRI".


So, thanks to you all got your excellent ideas!
Dan

 

[wyliec]

Dan,

One thing to check is if her hips are uneven. If they are, that will cause back issues. Lying hip abduction exercise can help.

It's easy enough for you to check as to whether her hips are even. If they are even, my first step would then be a physical therapist; the 2nd step may be the orthotics specialist. Usually the orthotics person works off what a physical therapist might find.

 

[hackett43]

Baxmax.net

My wife has a real bad back. She has a ruptured disc in the lower part of her spine. Due to medical treatments, physical therapy, and time, it usually doesn't hurt her. But when it does hurt, it hurts a lot and pain radiates down her right leg into her foot. My wife is the passenger on a 2012 RT-S. She loves to ryde, but the sitting position, even for short rydes causes her back to hurt. I've tried raising the passenger floor boards to take pressure off of her right thigh. I've tried lowering the floor boards so that more weight would be on her thigh and less on the small of her back. I've tried using a gel pad, and I've tried using two gel pads. Same results. Yet she can sit in a kitchen chair just fine.

So, what I think I need is this: I need someone who understands how different sitting postures affects the stress on her back. I just have no idea of what kind of a professional I should look for. I mean, who should I talk to? A physical therapist? A chiropractor? A ..... :dontknow: I need some counsel here. Then I can get a seat designed and made--or get some pads made....

Hey Dan, I have bulging disc ( lower back ). I was at the bike show in Greenville, S.C. a couple of years ago and there was a vender selling these back braces. I stop to check them out,
I was skeptical of them, He asked did I have trouble with back pain and I said oh yea. I was actually in pain at the time, He said try one so he help me put it on, He told me when I bring this this strap around and lock it in you will fill relieved of pain. he was right ! This brace is the best brace I have ever since or used period ! it is wonderful ! The one thing he did tell me is not to where it everyday because it will make your muscle weak. please check them out for your wife, they have a website. baxmax.net I can ride for hours with this brace on with no problems. I am even willing to send you mine to try out if you want to, Just let me know.

 

[finless]

Dan, my wife was pretty impressed with your seat setup at the Bert's cruise. I am surprised you need more?
Consider maybe that Walmart cushion (which my wife now uses).

Bob

 

[0992]

back pain

My wife has mild back pain, not severe. We found that putting Corbin armrests on the bike made a difference for her. She can put a little weight on them and take some weight off her back and she can move around a little better and safer using them. It's just a suggestion and she does not have severe back pain like your wife may have.

 

[Chupaca]

Good luck..!

hope they work something out for her. Just had back surgery myself but thank goodness the roadster was the most comfortable vehicle for me. I feel for her but they will find a way...:thumbup:

 

[Dan_Ashley]

Hey Dan, I have bulging disc ( lower back ). I was at the bike show in Greenville, S.C. a couple of years ago and there was a vender selling these back braces. I stop to check them out,
I was skeptical of them, He asked did I have trouble with back pain and I said oh yea. I was actually in pain at the time, He said try one so he help me put it on, He told me when I bring this this strap around and lock it in you will fill relieved of pain. he was right ! This brace is the best brace I have ever since or used period ! it is wonderful ! The one thing he did tell me is not to where it everyday because it will make your muscle weak. please check them out for your wife, they have a website. baxmax.net I can ride for hours with this brace on with no problems. I am even willing to send you mine to try out if you want to, Just let me know.

Thanks. I will buy one and get her to try it. The orthic specialist said that he's done this before, so there is hope. I didn't even know orthic specialists existed until this thread!

what a great bunch of people Spyderlovers is!

 

[SPYD1]

Hey Dan, I have bulging disc ( lower back ). I was at the bike show in Greenville, S.C. a couple of years ago and there was a vender selling these back braces. I stop to check them out,
I was skeptical of them, He asked did I have trouble with back pain and I said oh yea. I was actually in pain at the time, He said try one so he help me put it on, He told me when I bring this this strap around and lock it in you will fill relieved of pain. he was right ! This brace is the best brace I have ever since or used period ! it is wonderful ! The one thing he did tell me is not to where it everyday because it will make your muscle weak. please check them out for your wife, they have a website. baxmax.net I can ride for hours with this brace on with no problems. I am even willing to send you mine to try out if you want to, Just let me know.

I agree. My riding bud uses one and he says it keeps him riding.

 

[kawakii]

Dan, try contacting a local wheelchair seating therapist. If she goes to a rehab hospital or even to her doctor she can ask for a referral to a seating specialist ( someone who orders special seat cushions for people in wheelchairs, etc ) they can use a pressure mapping system to map the pressure. Points while sitting on her spyder seat and help come up with a good solution to help with the pain in her back from sitting improperly on the spyder good luck..

My wife has a real bad back. She has a ruptured disc in the lower part of her spine. Due to medical treatments, physical therapy, and time, it usually doesn't hurt her. But when it does hurt, it hurts a lot and pain radiates down her right leg into her foot. My wife is the passenger on a 2012 RT-S. She loves to ryde, but the sitting position, even for short rydes causes her back to hurt. I've tried raising the passenger floor boards to take pressure off of her right thigh. I've tried lowering the floor boards so that more weight would be on her thigh and less on the small of her back. I've tried using a gel pad, and I've tried using two gel pads. Same results. Yet she can sit in a kitchen chair just fine.

So, what I think I need is this: I need someone who understands how different sitting postures affects the stress on her back. I just have no idea of what kind of a professional I should look for. I mean, who should I talk to? A physical therapist? A chiropractor? A ..... :dontknow: I need some counsel here. Then I can get a seat designed and made--or get some pads made....

 

[Dan_Ashley]

Dan, try contacting a local wheelchair seating therapist. If she goes to a rehab hospital or even to her doctor she can ask for a referral to a seating specialist ( someone who orders special seat cushions for people in wheelchairs, etc ) they can use a pressure mapping system to map the pressure. Points while sitting on her spyder seat and help come up with a good solution to help with the pain in her back from sitting improperly on the spyder good luck..

Great idea! Thanks!

 

[wyliec]

My wife has back issues also. Checking the hips are level is easy and important.

One thing I learned is that no two people are alike in their problem.



PK

This is so true, and something I typically tell my patients when they make a comparison to others.:thumbup:

 

[kawakii]

Welcome Dan. Hope they can refer her to someone who can help her feel better on her Spyder !

 

[skak72]

I would highly recommend an "ultimate seat" if you don't have one ...but definitely start with the orth dr as you've said ..there has to be something that they can do