Best Lumbar Support
0Hi friends - I have a bad lower back (stupid drunk drivers!) anyway… I think I am in need of a lumbar support pillow, especially when my back starts acting up. Specifically, my Sacroiliac joint has too much movement/give and it causes back spasms. It doesn’t help that I have been an office worker for almost 2 decades so it’s exacerbated by sitting. Any suggestions on what pillow could help make me more comfortable as I’m working at my desk?
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A previous boss [a family practice MD] had a lot of lower back- and as you say sacroiliac problems, with a lot of sciatic leg pain- mostly because he spent a ton of time sitting, including driving. This lasted until he started using a 2x4 wrapped in a thick towel behind his back whenever sitting and especially driving.
I’m not recommending that because it sounds like it would be miserably hard and uncomfortable.
I’m only mentioning it because a pillow is exactly the wrong thing- you need a firm [rounded preferably] support that helps to maintain your lower lumber curve- kind of like the pose [mostly female] gymnasts end up in at the end of their vault or routine [only much less exaggerated].
The best examples of the concept are called McKenzie Lumbar Rolls- but they really vary a lot in their firmness vs. comfort ratios.
Here is one review of some: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home-products/pillow-reviews/g60502734/best-lumbar-support-pillows/
Perhaps at least as important is to consider performing the McKenzie exercises, which are what got me through the months of sitting for 8+ hours a day in classes and my clinical rotations in PA school:
https://www.spine-health.com/wellness/exercise/7-mckenzie-method-exercises-back-pain-and-sciatica
https://sportsrehab.ucsf.edu/sites/sportsrehab.ucsf.edu/files/Mckenzie Back Protocol.pdf
https://oahct.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/OAH-MCKENZIE-Low-Back.pdf
I did a variety of these daily throughout PA school and really never had any back or sciatic issues- despite driving 6+ hours each way every other weekend to go home from school- of course once I got done with school, I slacked off, and had some recurrences, but a short spell of doing them has always settled them despite the significant spinal arthritis I have developed over the 30+ years since I graduated.
Oh, and I guess I am to blame for your pain:
Mea Culpa!