When is driving a Boxster no fun at all?

[Retroman1969]

I totally feel for you, seriously.
I've lived with mild scoliosis since birth which has resulted in a weak lower back in the onset of middle-age. If not careful, I can land myself in the hospital for weeks. Fortunately rarely happens. Oddly, it doesn't seem to be affected by the seating position of the Boxster. The seats are firm enough with good lateral support and efficient positioning.
Getting in and out while recovering from an "episode" can be challenging, but I just grab the roof and A-pillar for support and turn sideways to get in or out.
By contrast: The tall upright seats of my Jeep don't help in the face of the bouncy ride pummeling my back into hamburger, and the seats of a big sedan are usually too flat and soft to give proper support.
Hopefully you'll be able to find a comfort zone with your Boxster until you have recovered.

[Retroman1969]

Originally Posted by 78F350

What works for me now is lots of stretching, keeping in decent shape, careful positioning for standing/sitting/lifting/driving, and heat pads when I push it too far.

PS: This makes all the difference. Anything that keeps the back muscles strong and limber help overcome bad or injured backs immensely. I only develop a serious problem when I ignore any of the above.

[randy7601]

I feel for you. Like many others, I've had back pain and surgery for a broken vertebrate.

Be careful, heal well.

[Jamesp]

Wishing you the best Timco - Hope you get past your back problems and return to normal as soon as possible. - Jim

[Timco]

Thanks, fellas.

I've never hurt my back and have no idea what item did it, but I regularly lift the snow blower into the truck and so on...the worst part was not being able to reach my feet, and not because of my weight! I assigned myself light-duty and am back in the Porsche. With help from vitamin I, I was able to work through this.

My pinched C-5/6 is the next issue...

[Porsche Chick]

Yeah, I've had that, about 3 times. Once it happens, it tends to happen again. For me, it's usually a pulled muscle and then the whole back starts to spasm. A pulled muscle takes a full month to heal. It sucks.

A physical therapist will help a LOT, try to find a Doctor of PT, they know what they're doing. They can relieve the pain in about a half hour, then repeated sessions will keep it from returning. They will also show you movements to relieve the pain.

Or a hot bath and a lot of Sangria. That works too. The idea is to relax your muscles, because when you think about it, it makes you tense, the more you tense, the more it spasms/hurts. The more it hurts, the tenser you get, the more it spasms. Repeat. So, to break the vicious pain cycle, you need to get rid of the tension.

That's where the Sangria comes in.

[jb92563]

Its not fun to drive it when you feel like it is unreliable and could fail at any moment.

Since my AOS blow out and computer replacement last May 2014 I only put 20 miles on it. I need to take it on a long drive to re-establish trust so I can start driving all the time again.

It is my second car so its no bother to drive something else but I do miss it and have been post-phoning taking it to a dealer to reset the locking in the computer so the doors will lock again. It also has the beginning of a rear vinyl window tear, but I coincidentally just bought some waterproof wetsuit repair glue that should be a great temporary repair so I can drive in the moisture.


Getting older is all about knowing your body, staying toned and controlling pain. Some days you have to plan ahead and take a pain killer along with the Porsche Keys.

I am taking up Kitsurfing this year and it ought get me more toned, tanned and fit which in the short term will hurt a bit using muscles for new kinds of things, but in the long term will improve everything and reduce the chances of lazy sprains, pulls and such.

The Kitesurfing should prove interesting as some of the equipment terminology is a little concerning; "Impact/Flotation vest", "Oh Sh it handles", "Iron Heart Safety Release", "Suicide Mode safety defeat", getting lofted, getting yarded, Stingray barbed in the shallows, "Body Dragging" ...

Any Kite Boarders or wanabe's here?

I'm taking lessons at Belmont Shores, CA in the spring. Strangely enough I do know a Kiteboarder/986 driver in my general area, I wonder about the connection.

[Jamesp]

Originally Posted by jb92563

Its not fun to drive it when you feel like it is unreliable and could fail at any moment.

Absolutely! Mine is a hobby and after an engine rebuild I have slowly been giving it more responsibility. First it was just driving around (with a AAA card), then back and forth to work (1 mile each way) then (take a breath) picking someone up from the airport. The engine mechanicals are rock solid, but all the ancillary bits are suspect, will the clutch switch allow the car to start?, how about the ignition switch, or the light switch, or the alternator? I won't even mention the wheel bearings.

So what's the therapy? Change the parts that bug you even if they are good (yes, that's a tip of the hat to the bearing that must not be named). Some folks find this a waste of money, but for me it's peace of mind while driving.

When you get a new car, all of the parts are new and have plenty of run time before they fail. With a decade old car, maybe some of those parts need replacement even if they are still functional (for now).

Every car I've owned has been over ten years old. I figure out what fails first and carpet bomb the car with new parts. This includes everything on the engine that always spins when the engine is running as well as the braking system. It costs more up front but keeps things simple.

I've followed that philosophy with my current box and have been driving more and more. I'm actually beginning to trust it for long distance trips. I also occasionally drive with everything but the engine off just listening to the mechanical sound just to make sure everything is cool. So far, it sounds solid so it's time for more driving, except the horn recently stopped working...

[antny]

I have 4 bulged discs since 2005 when I was a turret gunner in a Humvee that hit an IED and flew six feet in the air. I just have a high pain tolerance in general and when I am in the car for any long periods I make sure I stretch and don't stay seated for too long in one position.

[CoBeerToad]

It's not fun when I hear a noise. It may not have come from my car, but if I hear a noise, the next half hour is me trying to duplicate the noise so I can figure out what caused it.

[M4SGK1986]

Originally Posted by rick3000

I have had some back issues, after pretty serious car accident a few years ago. (not in the 986)

I find sheepskin seat covers help a lot, I also have one of these, for some lumbar support: Universal Inflatable In Seat Lumbar Air Bladder and take your wallet out of your back pocket. Best!

The inflatable lumbar bladder sounds like a good addition. I always get lower back ache when i have been driving the Boxster on a long trip. Sounds like a wise purchase.

Hope the back feels better soon Timco!

Steve.

[landrovered]

In a city in stop and go traffic with potholes and crappy pavement.

[bobbeck]

I had this done 3 years ago this October. I had two work related injuries that ruined 2 discs. This made driving impossible prior to surgery. Before I got my Boxster I had a 2007 SLK. Even post surgery 2 hours in that car was all I could stand without a break. The Boxster is much easier on the "new" back and the new back is pretty much trouble free as long as you streatch every day. It's amazing how the titanium and lego pieces work.

[AndyA6]

Tim, please, do yourself a favor and visit the U of U orthopedic center!!!!!!!

Trust me, best thing I ever did. My back gave out 3 times (3rd time I drove myself in the Boxster to the U), the docs there know their sh$t, diagnosis was spot on (raptured disc), right therapy right there (ask for Carter), 100%success, never a problem again. This after ER visits, 1st time, chiropractor quacks (2nd time).

I know back pain, it was so bad... Let me put it this way, if my kids would not have picked me up from the kitchen floor I still would lie there crying and peeing in my pants, not gonna lie here!

Again my man, U of U, they do all the ball players, Olympic athletes and so on, works!

Pm me for details if you like, I can even give you my phone number so we can talk.

Later,
Andy