Growler1

I’ve been a long time Porsche enthusiast who has been lusting for a 2009 997 C4S for many, many years. Due to a cycling accident (hit tailbone area hard), I’ve been unable to drive this car (or any other normal sedan) without nerve pain near the tailbone area. I’ve tried all sorts of wedge cushions with cutouts and nothing works. The only way the car is almost tolerable is to the raise the rear of the seat as high as possible and use full lumbar. Even then, I still have minor issues. I have no issues while driving my 2007 Honda CR-V or my wife’s Mazda CX-9 and I believe it could be due to the Honda and Mazda’s upright positions.
I know there are aftermarket, performance seats that can be installed in that car but would it be possible to install a less performance-minded seat in order to change the seat angle to be more upright? I understand that Porsche is a performance car but I don’t care about side support at this time since I only drive on streets.
I would be very grateful for some solid ideas that might help me get into a 997.
Ps. I’ve had MRIs that show nothing so I’m dealing with a nerve issue.

twosheds

I have arthritis in my lower back and have a similar problem with comfort. My DD is an SUV and, like you, it's not nearly as big a problem. I think it's the more upright chair positioning of the SUV seat vs. the lower legs forward geometry of the Porsche that's the problem and so for me I don't think replacing the seat would help. My arthritis causes nerve irritation which then causes muscle spasms in my lower back. I carry a tennis ball (a real one, not a dollar store one) and I put it behind my back and roll around on it. I look for the trigger points that hurt the most and hold it there for about 10 seconds at a time. It helps the muscles relax, but on a long drives it becomes less effective.


Geoff.

workhurts

Just a quick comment on nerve paint. It's horrible. Took me a few years to get over my issue but it involved stretched and relaxation. The key is breaking that nerve irritation/muscle tension cycle.

Not seat related but have you looked into getting an injection to calm the nerve down and perhaps break the cycle? If heat helps then figure out exactly what nerve it is and PT might help.

Good luck with the seat. Maybe a cayenne seat or something would be plug-n-play.

Petza914

Try a seat from a 928 as I think those can be switched between 997s and 928s. The 928 seats are soft and very comfortable since it was designed as a GT car. In the 928 forum there's a guy named Tony in TX that installed manual 997 GT3 seats into his 928. A week or so ago his blue 928 was on eBay as he has others and recently bought a 991 so had to get rid of one. It's an unbelievable car if anyone is in the market for one.

Wiring the 928 seat into the 997 is probably not going to be fun and the memory seat functions of the 997 probably won't work, but if identifying power and ground you can make the necessary connections, maybe that will get you what you need. In a couple weeks, I'll have a pair of very nice 928 seats available for sale as I'm installing 12-way versions with heat into my Spyder project.

997_Toronto

I have similar damage...first time Ice Skating and took a backward tumble. I have been told that scar tissue has formed around the tailbone and if I sit too long on a soft couch in bad position, I suffer severe pain when I stand up. Luckily I don't experience the pain driving the P-car and have done a few 8+ hour road trips with no issues.

There are seat cushion options that you could try such as the one below:

Tcc1999

Don't forget to take into account the stiff suspension on a 911. A better, more insulated seat might help but it's going to have to overcome all of the vibrations that are transmitted through the car and possibly irritating your coccyx. Hopefully, the seat will provide more cushioning and put you in a better, upright position. (Sounds like your bike accident was an endo - that and an over-the-top are the worst crashes. Not that it's any consolation but I was on a club ride 17 years ago and a guy drifted on to the soft shoulder, did an endo, never came out of his pedals and landed upright moving forward - one of the wildest things I've ever seen.)

twosheds

Something else that occurred to me, if your nerve problem is the result of an injury, there is a procedure where they can give you a one-time steroid injection to help the nerve calm down. I know someone who had this done to their neck after a car accident and it did improve things. Has your doctor suggested anything like this?


Geoff.

ADias

That is, at best, a temporary remedy and often does not work. Nerve pain is caused by an interference. The only solution is to eliminate the interference with surgery. The OP needs to find a spine specialist with experience in that area.

Growler1

All,

Thank you very much for your input and suggestions. As a technical person, I've done my best to try to determine if the culprit relates to seat contour, seat position, seat density or vehicle dynamics and I think it relates to all of the above. Along with the 997 and 991, I've tried all the new Audi, Mercedes, BMW and Lexus sedans and they all give me issues to some degree. I thought those very plush sedans would work for me but they didn't. The only sedan that worked form me was a new Audi A8 (boat).
I have seen a pain specialist and he recommended to try injections into specific nerves near the lower back but I'd need anesthesia in the local surgical center. It could be worth a try if I can't figure something else out.
I work down the street from an exotic car place and I think they would allow me to take the 997 for a 1 - 2 hour drive to see if the car (with the seat at full lumbar and upright back) works for me.
It might be injections or no 997 for me.

MadScience

Taller cross section tires (smaller rims) should help.

The roads you drive on may matter as well. I don't have any issue to compound this, but even so, navigating through downtown construction can be painful.

BBA

I have two herniated discs, a fractured vertebrae, and sciatica. My back is very sensitive to different styles of car seats, but in my case the more heavily bolstered sport seats are much more comfortable. I really dislike the base 997 seats, but find the sport seats to be incredibly comfortable. Maybe you could hook up with your local PCA group and just sit in a few different Porsches to see what does/doesn't work for you?

BTW, a steroid injection is worth considering. Sometimes it provides years of relief, sometimes only months. In my case it was months, and I'm just dealing with the issue. Regardless you should see a specialist, my back was "perfect" after an MRI at my family physician, it took a back specialist to correctly identify the issues I was dealing with.

Growler1

Unfortunately just sitting in different versions of seats won't help me much since I need road time to see the effects….will try using a doubled up towl to raise me a bit out of the bucket on a test drive at a dealer. Might simulate what a foam wedge could do and maybe dampen some of the vibration.

I'm torn between not purchasing the car and doing mini trials vs just buying the car and really trying some mods to see what works. Could be an expensive trial.

PA1NKILR

Seems like you are experiencing symptoms of Coccydinia (Tailbone Pain). This condition is also quite common to truck drivers and people that does prolonged sitting.
The seat cushion 997_Toronto suggested is a good idea to help alleviate compression in your tailbone. A good natural supplement that I recommend to my patients is this Nerve Support Formula. http://www.realhealthproducts.com/nervesupport/ I'm not in any way affiliated with this company but promote their product because of proven results. Another good way to help relieve the pain is to do gluteal stretching exercises. Tight gluteal muscles will pull against the joints/vertebrae therefore narrowing the spinal discs.

PM for some of the gluteal stretches. I'm an Osteopathic Doctor specializing in bone and muscle dysfunctions.

mikes70

I'd source another seat, take it to an upholstery shop, hollow out a narrow section, (like that of certain road bike saddles) and allow the tailbone to "float", thats how i'd do it, i understand your pain.

sy308

I read this post because of the new car I just purchased. Obviously, people with this problem are not unique. I was looking for a used car, to replace the Audi that my son has been driving. It had serious rust problems. Anyway, the dealer had a 2015 Legacy on the lot with 1000 miles. I asked what the story was. It was purchased by a person with back orthopedic problems. They could not get comfort with the ride. They traded it for a new Infinity.

As a medical person, I strongly urge you to contact your primary car physician about a referral (if you have not already done so) to possibly a pain management specialist or neurologist or neurosurgeon for opinions on what to do. Medications like Neurontin can be used to manage this type of pain in some patients. I would be dubious of contacting an acupuncture provider and especially a chiropractor for any therapy, given the history you indicate until you have met with traditional medical providers or have been directed to possible physical therapy. I would not pay any attention to dietary supplements or infomercials just to try to get better at this point. I really don't know much about this situation. Perhaps your lifestyle leads to repetitive injury and there is something else you need to change. Lets face it, if your only problem is you can't drive a 997, well that really isn't too bad, is it?

At one point, I injured my lower back by hyperextension. It was extremely painful. I could not sit in any vehicle without moderate to extreme discomfort. It took over a year to achieve resolution. I gave up motorcycling in this period to enhance my recovery. With the right care, I have never been bothered by that pain again. I ride motorcycles to my heart's content now.

Good luck.