Commuter Elbow?

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   I've sustained back pain when getting out of some of the two door cars or trucks.  Trucks with an extended cab with only front two doors can be be dangerous to alight from the rear seats, especially when the cab is 3' or more up from the ground!  I find that I have to strain when getting out of the rear seat of a low riding coupe.  Some, not all, of these contortions strains my back especially with the extreme versions of these vehicles.

	It is always my prerogative to get in these vehicles so I am not complaining.  Although I feel pain only after I am out of the car ... it's too late...live and learn.

	Goober

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goober Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 2	Post Options Post Reply Quote goober Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Commuter Elbow? Posted: 18 Dec 2006 at 3:00pm
	I've sustained back pain when getting out of some of the two door cars or trucks. Trucks with an extended cab with only front two doors can be be dangerous to alight from the rear seats, especially when the cab is 3' or more up from the ground! I find that I have to strain when getting out of the rear seat of a low riding coupe. Some, not all, of these contortions strains my back especially with the extreme versions of these vehicles. It is always my prerogative to get in these vehicles so I am not complaining. Although I feel pain only after I am out of the car ... it's too late...live and learn. Goober

slugjo Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 14 Aug 2006 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote slugjo Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 18 Dec 2006 at 1:44pm
	A lot of back pain, carpal tunnel, TMJ, tennis elbow, restless leg, sciatica, etc. is psychosomatic, resulting from subconsciously repressing emotional issues - - -you build up a lot of subconscious rage because you can't express these things (not acceptable to yourself or to others). Commuting is a real stressor. I hate it when my driver is an idiot and I can't say anything. I hate it when my driver puts me and a lot of other people at serious risk. I hate spending 3 hours a day commuting. I hate Metro Rail. And I have back pain for no apparent physical reason.

dickboyd Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 13 Nov 2004 Location: California Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote dickboyd Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 17 Dec 2006 at 7:40pm
	quote: Originally posted by Sticky Bandaid [br]I drive (and pick up slugs) from Spotsylvania to DC and back again. One way is now over 2 hours. By the time I get home I have a real problem unfolding myself, and my right leg is pooped. Sticky, read the helpful hints in the airlines' travel books about moving your legs and ankles to avoid thrombosis. Make circles with your toes, raise your knee to your chest, sing, yell, pant breathe, massage your knees. Repetitive stress injury (RSI), such as carpal tunnel is more about keeping a joint in one position as opposed to moving around. Check with your human resources folks about your companies policy regarding RSI. If your company does not have a policy, suggest that they start one. The oriental programs are a good start. Some of the Yoga stretches work wonders. There is a fantastic return on investment for a company to look after the welfare of its people. If your company says thanks, but no thanks to an exercise program, polish your resume and start looking for a new job with a humane employer. dickboyd@aol.com

dickboyd Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 13 Nov 2004 Location: California Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote dickboyd Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 17 Dec 2006 at 7:27pm
	quote: Originally posted by SpongeBob [br]dickboyd, he's not a troll. Or at least there is an actual Eric Weiss traffic reporter at the Post. <> Sponge, thanks for the update. I'm prejudiced by anyone's association with the Washington Post. Dr. Gridlock hasn't been very objective over the years. More about selling papers and rousing emotion than getting better transportation. Dr. Gridlock should be on the same page as the "funnies" or Dilbert. Jayson Blair (New Yourk Times) and other "journalists" haven't done much for my opinion of the fourth estate. From time to time, I write letters to advertisers telling them I won't buy their product because it was advertised in a newspaper or magazine. On the page facing the ad was a blatant lie presented as "news" rather than opinion. On a slow news day, a fender bender can become an act of terrorism by the time it is reported. If the press wants to report on "driver's elbow", I would suggest they get an independent opinion from health providers or health insurers. Epidemiologists may even have a category for transportation related illness. dickboyd@aol.com

dickboyd Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 13 Nov 2004 Location: California Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote dickboyd Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 17 Dec 2006 at 7:13pm
	quote: Originally posted by darkprime [br]Just the other day I was followed by some person with those blue headlights. My God are they blinding, and not so much from the intensity, but from how the light scatters everywhere. Lexus and the high end luxury cars have an optional feature for the rear window. They have a blind that you can activate to block the unwanted light from a following car. I think the blind could be modified to show a message such as back off, you are too close. Seems that an enterprising sort of person could market an aftermarket rear blind for people that are bothered by bright lights from the rear. Flipping the blind might be construted by some as the rich dude's way of flipping the bird. Would flipping the blind induce road rage? Has Eric W. researched road rage as a form of driver's elbow? At one time, there was talk of polarizing windshields in one direction and headlights in the other direction. Whatever happened to polarization? dickboyd@aol.com

EricWeissWashPost Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 10 Nov 2006 Location: DC Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote EricWeissWashPost Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 12 Dec 2006 at 11:57am
	If anyone out there has developed lower back or other problems from commuting, please email me at weisse@washpost.com.

darkprime Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 05 Jul 2006 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote darkprime Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 11 Dec 2006 at 11:44am
	Just the other day I was followed by some person with those blue headlights. My God are they blinding, and not so much from the intensity, but from how the light scatters everywhere.

n/a Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 17 Dec 2001 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote n/a Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 11 Dec 2006 at 9:45am
	Especialy a problem now that it gets dark so early. I have a tough time with the glare from oncomming traffic, and now with those bright blue colored headlights. Talk about dangerous! Of course the drivers with those bright blue headlights think they are simply providing better visibility for themselves (and screw anyone who disagrees), but they are only marginally better than the best normal headlights and really create a traffic hazard both for oncomming traffic and for those they tailgate.

darkprime Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 05 Jul 2006 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote darkprime Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 Dec 2006 at 4:28pm
	I've flashed people with my lights at night when I was following them. Although when I did it, it was because they didn't have their own headlights on. The hope was that they would see flashing lights and the idea of "turn your lights on" might pop in their heads. I've been wrong every time.

Oosik Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 15 Dec 2005 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote Oosik Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 Dec 2006 at 2:54pm
	Blindness from some of the @##$%!*&'s who use their bright lights when they somehow think that you have gotten ahead of them due to improper means. I am thinking about installing a "Tim the Toolman Taylor" rear super bright light assembly that will put these idiots in their place. The obvious safety issues will probably due less to stop me than the amount of effort it would take to rig up such an assembly, but it's still nice to dream.