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Why does it hurt to ride in a vehicle?

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Posted 11/1/2010 10:54 PM (GMT 0)
Does anyone know why riding / driving in a vehicle is so painful.  It flares my fibro pain very badly.  I had one other friend who warned me about this when I was first diagnosed - however - as I had been suffering for so long by the time I was diagnosed I was well aware that riding in a car was painful.  Does anyone else out there relate to this?
Posted 11/1/2010 11:33 PM (GMT 0)
I sure do. I have a power inverter in my car (plugs into the cigarette lighter so you can have a regular outlet like in your house) and I plug my heating pad into it. I don't travel without it. It has a cover with ties, I tie it onto my headrest so it drapes down my seat back and it helps a lot. Also taking a lot of breaks. I travel a LOT so that I can actually be with my husband who travels for work. It's murder on me but I go thru it to live as a family. I'm at home for a couple days getting ready to make the long journey to Iowa. I'm in too much pain right not to go anywhere but the Dr's tomorrow. I was supposed to leave for Iowa tomorrow. It seems that everything I do nowdays hurts.
Posted 11/2/2010 12:46 AM (GMT 0)

I just told a friend I could not drive with her to NC to visit another friend...it's two days in the car.  She did not understand, and kept telling me I could 'lay down in the back seat' blah, blah, blah.  My legs fall asleep and my back aches within minutes of being seated in a car.  One of our cars has heated seats and that's the one I take if I have to travel any distance.  Even the seat belt hurts.  Air conditioning blowing on my face hurts.  Not many people 'get it.'

Donna

Posted 11/2/2010 3:46 AM (GMT 0)
Hi!

You also asked why it hurts to ride...here's my take on it or at least how my body perceives it. For me the most painful way to ride is as a passenger. When we ride and go around corners, bends, stop and goes and such our bodies brace and adjust for those forces so we stay upright. We're using most all of our muscles without realizing it. But, since our muscles are overly sensitive to any movement, stretching and bending we feel these automatic moves as if someone were beating us up with a baseball bat. Make sense? When I drive I have the steering wheel to hold on to so I have something to use for bracing against the forces of the car movement. It still hurts but not as bad as riding.

I've heard others who use heating pads in their cars or those massage seats that fit in your regular car seat of an office chair. Some even come with adapters that plug right into the cig lighter so you don't need an inverter. Last year about this time I remember some of the members talking about buying these at Walmart and they were very reasonable...under $20 I think. Don't hold me to that cause it's my memory we're relying on here...lol

Chutz
Posted 11/2/2010 4:06 AM (GMT 0)
For me, the most painful part is dips and bumps in the road. I never felt them that much until I got a newer car - whether it's a tighter suspension or what, I don't know, but I really feel my back jerk out of alignment. It was so bad I almost gave this almost-new car to my daughter and took back my old one! But I loved the car otherwise, so I got used to it. Now I'm just a lot more careful on any uneven surface, and going up driveways, and - and - and -

Debbie
Posted 11/2/2010 8:51 AM (GMT 0)
I have a thick square of memory foam that I cover and put on the floor when I am traveling. I take my shoes off and rest my feet on the foam. It helps a lot with the road vibration.
Posted 11/2/2010 11:36 AM (GMT 0)
I dread car rides. It's the aftermath that gets me. A couple of hours after being back home I start hurting everywhere. The bad thing is that now I live in a small town in Nebraska where we have to drive at least an hour to even go to Wal-mart. I need to see a endocrinologist regarding my thyroid, but the closest one is in Lincoln which is 3 and a half hours away. So, needless to say I keep putting it off. I hope everyone is having a LP week, Take care.
Posted 11/2/2010 12:23 PM (GMT 0)
I have to agree with Chutz. being a passenger is the hardest part for me. Having to brace for every bump and turn. Its even worse when you have a husband that likes to hit the brakes a bit too hard & too quick! I don't let him drive me around anymore for fear he's going to slam on the brakes and hurt me. Anytime I get out of the car I go straight to my heating pad to ease the spasms. I haven't tried any of the devices for the car, but I am sure I will soon!

Gentle Hugs & Lots of Laughter,
Ivey
Posted 11/2/2010 6:44 PM (GMT 0)
I have lumbar support in the driver's seat of my car and I can sit in that car all day and feel wonderful.  But, when I would go on day trips on a bus, I was miserable.  Then I bought a lumbar support pillow that I can carry in my purse and blow it up as firm as I need to be comfortable.  This has really helped me so I can go on day trips!

 

http://www.amazon.com/Back-Booster-1001-Inflatable-Support/dp/B000P41RK8

 

Sherrine

Posted 11/2/2010 11:51 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you everyone for your responses.  And for the suggestions......and for just plain understanding what I'm talking about.  CHUTZ that is an interesting take, you make very good points about "bracing" our bodies for the movements.  That makes sense.

LIVNLEARN

Posted 12/8/2010 2:50 PM (GMT 0)
I just googled this subject and this thread came up. I made a two hour trip to a city where our children live and by the time we got there and back, I was in tears...It's hard to believe just riding could do that to you. We have a really nice car so it's not like we are riding in a rattle trap....


I actually believe that it is the process of adjusting the muscles and so forth for the action of the car and trip that causes the pain. what ever it is, it is terrible ..
Posted 12/8/2010 6:14 PM (GMT 0)
Yep, this is definetely me as well.  Actually it was one of the first things I noticed when I started having such noticeable pain, my hips and lower back hurt alot while I'm riding, but for me driving is the worst.  For some reason just holding the steering wheel causes my arms and shoulders to become sore and ache, as well as my hips and back.  By time I get to my destination I'm sore everywhere.  The bit about the heating pad is so true, I feel like it has become my best friend as well.  Just last week my boyfriend bought me one of the ones you all were talking about that has the seat and back, it is a massager and gives heat, it's great.  He just asked me last night if I checked to make sure I could use it as much as I do (I use it at home and bring it to work with me), he thought maybe it isn't safe to use it as much as I do....lol!!  At this rate I'll just eventually burn the motor out and have to buy a new one!!  Stay warm and cozy all!  Jennifer
Posted 12/8/2010 6:26 PM (GMT 0)
This is going to sound crazy but: I was driving a chevy blazer (I think a 95) and I dreaded being in it because I hurt everytime. Whether I was driving or my hubby. I recently got a 91 jeep wrangler that bumps and rattles all the time. But I feel better driving it. There is something about the seat that helps my back. Not sure why. Hubby says it's just state of mind because it is my dream vehicle. Always wanted one. I have trouble getting in it and that hurts me some, but the actual drive is comfortable. Makes no sense to me. You would think with the shaking it does it would be much worse.
Posted 12/8/2010 6:34 PM (GMT 0)
I too have trouble after car rides; I think Chutz and Ivey have hit the nail on the head! At least, I know that my husband likes to slam on the brakes and that definitely does a number on me!

The other problem I have is my lupus.....I have to literally shield every speck of skin from the sunlight coming in through the car window or my lupus will flare. :(

Anyway, I can relate to your pain!
Posted 12/9/2010 5:20 AM (GMT 0)
riding in a car is really painful for me. my mom lives about 40 minute driving from here so, when i finally get there i can hardly get out of the car. for me , i think what hurts me the most is the cars that have like really low seats so my legs are like straight to the pedals, ok, how do i explain this? , but i mean i hate like sport kind of cars, because i can´t fold my legs , and my back gets really really stiff by the time of the end my trip., so, count on me for this one
Posted 12/9/2010 3:30 PM (GMT 0)
i am the same way. i dread long car rides because i know after an hour or so im going to be hurting so bad i wont enjoy it anymore. its usually the aftermath that gets me the most. when all is finally said and done i hurt so bad and am so worn out i just lay down with my heating pad and go to bed!
Posted 12/9/2010 6:48 PM (GMT 0)
Riding in the car is very uncomfortable for me.  I can't stand to take long trips.  When we go somewhere that is an hour or more away, I feel terrible.  I have tried to lay down in the back.  It is better than sitting, and I get a little rest.  I think the exhaustion is the worst.  I end up feeling like I have the flu by the time we get home.  :( 

It's a shame it is this way for us.  People try to understand, but they just don't know...

Take care & hang in there,

DonniesGirl 

Posted 12/26/2010 8:09 AM (GMT 0)
Me too! Riding in cars is very painful for me and nobody can understand that! I'm new to the forum, so I'm so glad I found people who have the same problems.....
Posted 12/26/2010 2:31 PM (GMT 0)
Driving or riding in a car is one of the worst things for me, as far as pain goes. After 30 minutes, I can hardly get out of the car. My feet hurt, my legs hurt, my hips are stiff. Basically, I feel as though I have been beat up.

Sometimes I can ride for an hour before this starts, but usually anything over 30 minutes gets me. I have OA and
EIO, too, so not sure which is causing all the pain. I guess it could be a combination of the Fibro and the arthritis.

Judging from the responses to this post, this must be a common problem. Sorry everyone has this pain, but good to know I am not alone.

Peace,
V
Posted 12/28/2010 2:06 AM (GMT 0)
fair dinkum! Same, riding in a car affects me, its so painful to get back out of the car after sitting for awhile and using body to go with movements of the car. Im glad im not mad. lol Where i live, everything is a car drive away!! Is why i only go for short trips.. want so bad to do longer but no good arriving too sore to do anything. oxxo
Posted 12/28/2010 2:06 AM (GMT 0)
fair dinkum! Same, riding in a car affects me, its so painful to get back out of the car after sitting for awhile and using body to go with movements of the car. Im glad im not mad. lol Where i live, everything is a car drive away!! Is why i only go for short trips.. want so bad to do longer but no good arriving too sore to do anything. oxxo
Posted 12/28/2010 2:07 AM (GMT 0)
opps. sorry learning how to submit comments..sorry for repeat. :(
Posted 12/28/2010 5:42 AM (GMT 0)
Wow, this thread is really important. I commute at least 2 hours a day to work. (No universities near my home). I used to have a heating pad in the car, but it got all wrinkly from the cold because of the plastic or whatever it has on the outside. But you all gave me an idea about looking for heating pads for the car with car adapter. I also have a lumbar support pillow and seats that heat up (just the butt part). The non driving leg hurts a lot because I have nowhere to put it. So a memory foam might help. Also, got a new car that is more comfortable and had the manufacturers put in an arm rest.

Oh oh, and a fuzzy soft thingy for the shoulder belt. A must have. These are great ideas., And you all should realy get one of those fuzzy shoulder belt thingies.
Sue
Posted 4/2/2024 12:37 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, Sands and welcome! I think we hurt when traveling because we can’t move around and loosen up. I do arm and leg stretches if I’m a passenger and also stretch my legs and feet out. I have a spinal disease called ankylosing spondylitis and this makes my back pretty painful. But I discovered a muscle relaxer called Robaxin (methocarbamol) and it has helped me so much! I only need to take 500 mg twice a day now and really helps with discomfort. This is something that perhaps your PCP will let you try.

I’m glad you found us and I do hope to hear more from you soon.

Sherrine
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