Saving my Back

silb

New Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2020
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Your Mercedes
C Class 2017 1.8ltr
Hi guys,

New to the forums here, but was hoping to get a bit of expertise. Love working on the car, but I've been suffering from a bad back in recent years (showing my age!) Was thinking in investing in a lower back support like this, but was wondering if that would be better for heavy lifting, rather than bending. If you have a later era A-Class, you'll know how long you have to spend hunched over the open engine bay!

All the best,

Chris
 

Wearsafoxhat

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 9, 2011
Messages
2,050
Reaction score
1,764
Location
Sunny Hampshire by the sea
Your Mercedes
E55k :S211, SL500 :R129 , V220
Hi and welcome,

Bending over an engine bay puts pressure and strain on more than just your waist as you probably already know. Neck, shoulders and back all suffer along with hips and thighs.

Not sure about the support thing but more lifting I suspect.

Work with a few more breaks and have a look at Pilates, not just for ladies, invented by a bloke and has sorted out my back, middle and keeps it well.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 

EmilysDad

Senior Member
Joined
May 8, 2012
Messages
12,120
Reaction score
5,664
Location
Bury Lancs
Your Mercedes
ML350
Working on an engine also hurts my knees ... I tend to lean on the front bumper with my knees when reaching towards the back
 

Blobcat

Moderator
Joined
Feb 8, 2006
Messages
38,785
Reaction score
27,420
Location
Grange Moor
Your Mercedes
R171 SLK280, Smart R451, Land Rover 110 County SW, 997 C2S, R1250 GSA TE 40th, CBR600FP
Hello and welcome
 

davemercedes

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2012
Messages
4,345
Reaction score
2,099
Location
Glos
Your Mercedes
2007 Merc 220 CDi Est Auto Av (s203)
Hello silb and welcome. Never tried this kind of support - it looks like the "corsets" that weight lifters etc wear. Unfortunately, I'm too far gone with osteoarthritis and any work on the car is generally too painful now. If it works for you, then good luck!
 

star

Forum Supporter
Authorised Forum Supporter
Joined
Oct 6, 2004
Messages
6,209
Reaction score
1,874
Location
Reading
Your Mercedes
Smart + others :)
Yoga sorted mine. :)
 

Chrishazle

Senior Member
Joined
May 25, 2009
Messages
4,860
Reaction score
2,606
Location
Nr Ashford, Kent
Your Mercedes
S204 2008 C220CDI Elegance Estate Auto, 2008 R171 Facelift SLK280
That looks a bit like the spine support corset the NHS gave me about 45 years ago, except my thing had 2 aluminium bars one each side of my spine. I could only bend forward or back about 10 degrees while wearing it, had to "bend ze knees" to pick anything up from the ground. Didn't do much good either!
 

davemercedes

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2012
Messages
4,345
Reaction score
2,099
Location
Glos
Your Mercedes
2007 Merc 220 CDi Est Auto Av (s203)
I had one knee replaced and it's never been right for me. After LOTS of scans, injections etc I ended up with a specialist at our Pain Clinic who prescribed enough daily drugs for me to set up a stall in the market. That was five+ years ago and I now take so many pills that I rattle! My (superb) surgeon agreed that I should not have my second knee done because it would be as complicated as the first, all over again.
 

Frontstep

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 22, 2007
Messages
9,201
Reaction score
3,436
Your Mercedes
T210 320cdi
They do work and well but use only while working.

I have had some "issues" and without the use of one when needed I would have been prevented from working.

They do not though replace a sensible weight, good diet and exercise.

If you sport a big stomach then be realistic it's doing you harm.

That particular model seems expensive but I haven't had one in my hands.
 

Chrishazle

Senior Member
Joined
May 25, 2009
Messages
4,860
Reaction score
2,606
Location
Nr Ashford, Kent
Your Mercedes
S204 2008 C220CDI Elegance Estate Auto, 2008 R171 Facelift SLK280
Thanks Frontstep, that's given me food for thought. I have a partially collapsed L5S1 disc, probably also split, and chose to live with it rather than go under the knife - which is what the Horder clinic (specialist orthopaedic clinic) wanted to do. Unfortunately the osteopath who was doing a load of good using deep tissue massage, flexion/extension and US osteopathic techniques had to stop practising (long story) and I've never been able to find another osteopath using the same techniques.
 

Frontstep

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 22, 2007
Messages
9,201
Reaction score
3,436
Your Mercedes
T210 320cdi
Thanks Frontstep, that's given me food for thought. I have a partially collapsed L5S1 disc, probably also split, and chose to live with it rather than go under the knife - which is what the Horder clinic (specialist orthopaedic clinic) wanted to do. Unfortunately the osteopath who was doing a load of good using deep tissue massage, flexion/extension and US osteopathic techniques had to stop practising (long story) and I've never been able to find another osteopath using the same techniques.


If you have a diagnosis then try one by all means they do help in certain circumstances and (only from my experience) life changing.

Bit like a splint on a break it stops you going where it hurts, don't live in it though.
 

00slk

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2012
Messages
9,587
Reaction score
9,276
Location
Cambridgeshire UK
Your Mercedes
2002 SL55 AMG, 2005 E320 CDi, 2014 SLK250 CDi, 2003 SLK200
I suffer badly from Osteoarthritis and have done for many years, I have also had over 9 operations for treatment and replacement knee, toe fusing etc, the worse was when I crushed and broke a disc in the lower back, due to incorrect lifting and working on car techniques and lack of exercise over my years. The doctors never understood my issues as I just grinned and bared it and their advise was to try all these supports and braces etc which never worked for me. I find that if I stop moving, even to sit and eat or be on the lap top for a little time I struggle to start moving again (hence all the cars I own just so I can do things and work on them to keep me from seizing up) I have been going to the Physio who has been giving me a few different exercises to do which I have found excellent and eases the pain I get when trying to sleep at night from my hips. I'm also on 21 pills a day for arthritis and other aliments but I am afraid the best help you can get for yourself is exercise and I hate doing it, Why, because it hurts a little and is boring but in the end it also reliefs a majority of pain.
Just my two pence worth :)
Think I will go onto the shed and pull out a car door and strip it :D
 

umblecumbuz

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 20, 2010
Messages
4,431
Reaction score
1,875
Location
Wales and Gozo
Your Mercedes
S204 and CLC 204 cdi, MX5, Kia Soul
The advice I was given by my osteopath was very simple.
Wear one if needed while doing jobs that would otherwise give extra strain, but do not wear it constantly.
The reason is that the muscles will deteriorate fast if they have no work to do, and you will eventually suffer more as a result.
Makes a lot of sense.
 


Comand (Europe) Ltd are the leading specialists in supplying and fitting Comand, Linguatronic, Media interface kits, UHI phone, IPod interfaces and much more.
Top Bottom