The Spinal Tap: Beating the Back Pain That Almost Retired Me

I’ve been driving for 15 years. I thought back pain was just part of the job, like grease on your hands. But last year, it got different. It wasn't just an ache; it was a sharp, electric jolt shooting down my leg every time I hit a bump. Sciatica.

It got so bad that when I parked at a receiver, I had to hang onto the door frame for a minute just to straighten my legs. I was eating ibuprofen like candy. I seriously considered hanging up the keys. I couldn't imagine doing this for another ten years.

An old-timer at a diner saw me hobbling and asked, "What are you sitting on, son?" I told him, "The seat the truck came with." He laughed and told me to get a Gel-Infused Memory Foam Cushion.

I bought one that week. It had this U-shaped cutout for the tailbone. I felt the difference in the first hour. It stopped the road vibration from hammering my spine. I added a Mesh Lumbar Support to keep my posture right, and within two weeks, the shooting pain was gone.

I’m back to running 3,000 miles a week. If you think you're "tough enough" to drive on a bad seat, you're wrong. Your back keeps the score.