Help Getting Back in my Z's

[ZR1dogan]

Folks,
I have been out of commission for over a month due to health issues. I get diagnosed with a double hernia in Oct. No serious pain, just a kinda pulling sensation. It was not too bad but needs to get fixed, so I schedule an operation in early Jan, so I can “carefully” enjoy the holidays. Then in mid-December, I ruptured my L4/L5 disc. I could bend over and could sit some, but I couldn't stand up straight or walk more than one room to another. The holidays were no fun. On Jan 10, had successful surgery to remove the disc parts that were pressing on the nerves and I am back on the mend - I can stand up straight again!!!! I can walk again!!! In addition to the normal incision pain/discomfort, my rt leg is weak and rt shin is still numb, but all are improving.

On Friday, I had my two week post op Dr visit and his instructions are do whatever I feel comfortable doing, just nothing stupid and start easy. Use non-impact exercise to build up the rt leg. Now the restrictions: No bending over, no full twisting and lifting is still limited to 15 lbs for the next 12 weeks!! Wow! I didn’t think I was going to go straight to bending and lifting anything I wanted, but 12 more weeks at a 15 lb limit - No Z projects for me this winter. However, looking at it from the positive side – I am counting my blessings. I can stand, walk and it’s getting better.

Sorry about the ramble to get to the question:
I know that there are a lot of us in the Brotherhood my age (57) and older, and I know some of you have had back issues and probably surgery. For any of you that have been in my condition, did you guys do anything special or proactive to ease back into your Z? Any special stool to use to help getting in and out? After all, with the high side rails, getting in and out of the Z wasn’t the easiest thing to do before my back injury.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Robin
94 Dark Red - Almost Stock
94 Admiral Blue - NOT Stock

[Paul Workman]

BTDT... Have had a past back injury too. You didn't mention what year your Z is, but the 90 in particular has high bolsters = adding to the sill issue.

For me, the sport seats were too narrow for my not really so wide a butt (having a 38" waist), and I found a pair of base 95 seats (which I love!) that really make a big difference getting in and out. (The Z sport seat bolsters are incrementally lower on subsequent model years. Sport seats from a 94-95 or GS are probably the best C4 seat option, IMO.)

Other than that, "sit and spin" might work (again, bolsters allowing), ya just have to be able to have the door wide open to do it.

Now that I'm healed, and have the base seats, I can step in with my right foot, turn my body slightly to the left, fold - sit- and pull left foot in, ALL in one motion.

Anyway...Good luck with your recovery. ;)

[WARP TEN]

Hi Robin-
Isn't getting older fun? I have had back problems (but no surgery) related to disc pressing on L4. Doc said unless there is a lot of pain, the 5 year prognosis is the same for surgery or not. So I opted out of surgery. It is fine now unless I do something stupid, like cantelevering my back or twisting while picking something up.
I now have a 95 Z and having had 93 sport seats I agree that the 95s are easier seats to get into. In all my cars I always back in butt first and swing my legs over the sill. So far so good. Hope you get better soon. --Bob

[dan1495]

Robin,
I feel your pain, literally. I am 58 with back problems but not to the extent of yours. Getting in and out of these cars can be a challenge.
I am right down the road from you in Santa Fe - let me know if you need any help with your cars while you're recovering.

[Fully Vetted]

Robin, I've been where you are - twice. The last surgery was a year ago. Same disc and same problem as yours. I could hardly even walk to the mailbox and back. Don't worry. Once your nerves have calmed down from being irritated you'll fine. Mine took about 2 months.

I have a '94 and I have absolutely no ingress/egress issues whatsoever. Nor do I have any issue with getting comfortable. I think you'll be fine. I have two ways I get out, though. I either just swing my legs to the left and then stand up (be sure and use the A-pillar if you need help and NOT the steering wheel) or sometimes I put my left hand down on the sill and just kind of roll out with my right hand on the door. My wife says it looks hilarious but it's very easy.

[nelson007]

Hello ZR1dogan,

I also know how you feel. I had surgery on my back last September and just got out of the Hospital two weeks ago after getting back surgery a second time on L3 and L4. I loss some of the control of my left leg as a result of the surgery, although thank God no more pain. I don’t think I will be able to push in the clutch as of now. Just started therapy yesterday hopefully it will improve. I was able during my downtime to find and purchase another Z, should be delivered sometime next week.
My Doctor is also a car buff and said I could drive my Z but he would keep the power key until I finish therapy.

Nelson 007

[scottfab]

...snip...

On Friday, I had my two week post op Dr visit and his instructions are do whatever I feel comfortable doing, just nothing stupid and start easy.
...snip...


It goes without saying that we're all different. Having said that I'm 60 and I've had two back surgeries. The second one removed the disk and fused the L5/S1 (the one just below yours). At the point they wanted to have me go in for physical therapy I came up with my own plan. I rebuilt my ZF6 and documented the whole thing. The trick was to go at a pace I could handle it. At first just 1 min a day and that was with meds. I charted and plotted my progress with an excel spreadsheet. At the end of 2mo I was back at work but laying down for 15min mid day. The mental work of tearing down and tracking all the ZF6 parts was important for recovery too. You have to stay focused and clear minded enough to know when it's time to stop and lay down for a bit.
Slowly the frequency of stopping to lay down slowed. The ZF6 weighs 149lb. Bench pressing it up into place was the final hurdle. I knew I was ready for work after that. Sitting in a cubicle all day is harder than the bench pressing because you're in a static position but you get the idea. The secret to success is to not sit still if it isn't hurting too bad.


Sorry about the ramble to get to the question:
I know that there are a lot of us in the Brotherhood my age (57) and older, and I know some of you have had back issues and probably surgery. For any of you that have been in my condition, did you guys do anything special or proactive to ease back into your Z? Any special stool to use to help getting in and out? After all, with the high side rails, getting in and out of the Z wasn’t the easiest thing to do before my back injury.
....snip...


I have a 90 and as Bob pointed out I too get in butt first being careful to clear the seat bolster. then one leg in at a time. Getting out is a bit harder. I never put my hand on the side bolster. They can tear loose.
An no matter what I never push/pull on the steering wheel. Thats how I got a spare set of seats from someone when they ripped their side bolster off. I swing one leg at a time out then lean forward and push down on the sill. Sometimes I have to do it twice to keep the momentum going forward.

Bottom line, use it or loose it in the muscle department. Don't use so much pain meds that you can't feel the pain at all. If you do you can injure something else and not know it. Ask me how I know that one.
Good luck with recovery.
Timing is good. You'll definitely be in the swing of things by spring.

[rkreigh]

I sit on the frame rail and kinda slide back in

getting out move the legs out first and ease out. just don't for sure pull on the steering wheel. you can wob out the pins and get a bunch of slop in the steering column

for sure the c4 is a bit tough to get in and out of. just like a hot girl:dancing

[nelson007]

Hello Scott,
I sorta did the same thing. Just prior to my operation in September I started a body off restore on my 1970 LT1. Two weeks after starting I had to get my back operated on. After laying around for a few weeks I started on with the project. After a couple weeks I was getting alot of pain and they scheduled my second back surgery. During lay up I found a 95 Zr1, that will easier to get in.
For now my 70 stays on the lift.

http://s1060.beta.photobucket.com/user/nslinkman/library/#/user/nslinkman/library/1970%20Corvette%20Restoration?&_suid=135956148482802693482712600151

Nelson 007

[scottfab]

Hello Scott,
I sorta did the same thing. Just prior to my operation in September I started a body off restore on my 1970 LT1. Two weeks after starting I had to get my back operated on. After laying around for a few weeks I started on with the project. After a couple weeks I was getting alot of pain and they scheduled my second back surgery. During lay up I found a 95 Zr1, that will easier to get in.
For now my 70 stays on the lift.

http://s1060.beta.photobucket.com/user/nslinkman/library/#/user/nslinkman/library/1970%20Corvette%20Restoration?&_suid=135956148482802693482712600151

Nelson 007

Wow some very familiar pics there. I had a big block 73 for 18yrs so it's like looking at old family pics :)
I love the hood on the 70.

[LancePearson]

Two artificial hips, two artificial knees here at age 69. I get in and out of mine easier with the top out and just drive it on sunny days..easier to at 6'4" reach out to get the opened door.

when I get in I put right leg in and my butt against the door frame and seat and slide down until I hit the bolster and over and in. In order to keep the bolster from bothering me I have a 3/16" 1' x 1' closed cell foam pad I put over the bottom side bolster and it keeps it from pressing into me. Once I'm in then I can pick my left leg up and over the sill then in. To get out, I get my legs out, spin on my butt and scoot to the top of the sill, put my left hand half way up on the seat side nearest the door and the other on the door frame and push myself up. With artificial hips you are not supposed to ever have your knees higher than your hips as an angle so it's hard to get up without using your arms as a mild lever to minimize that. Joint is not as solidly in the socket as it might be at an angle of less than 90 degrees though I have no issues with knees or hips other than to be proactive and not stress them.

I love to drive the Vette but it looks like a series of ballet moves getting in and out with my height.

Hope it helps. Get well soon....don't rush the vette either...be sure you are healed.

Lance P.

[scottfab]

Two artificial hips, two artificial knees here at age 69. ...snip...
Lance P.

Gezzzzz, talk about the bionic man :-D
how is it going through the airport?

[captcorvette]

Have posted this up at least once before but not sure if this will help you or others. Being fat, six foot and having a near fatal accident a while back getting in and out of the vettes did become an issue. I have no sensation above my eyebrows so was/am always banging my head. The accident broke all my ribs, collar bone gave me issues with my neck as my head was snapped back when the vette went under the dual barrier divider which basically shaved the car off just below the outside mirror base. Took the top of my head with it and then snapped it back. So have issues with twisting upper body and neck too far. OK this probably too much information but I think it might be near what some of you with lower back issues experience getting into and out of the vettes.

I get in and out just like many of your have stated. Butt in first then bring legs in. Getting out was painful and difficult due to the tender ribs, neck and lack of twisting ease. Struggled with this for a while and used it as sort of a "therapy" to help me develop the required motions to get in and out of my toys easier. Then "The Boss" (my lovely bride of the past 25 years) who is an Occupational Therapists suggest several improvements to my problem. The best one she came up with was a cane or walking stick. I had several as the immediate post op I had to use the wheel chair and cane. Being a cantankerous old fart it took me several canes to find one I could live with. As my healing progressed I needed the cane less and less and eventually not at all. The Boss suggested I cut the top horse shoe portion off and replaced it with a second rubber end tip. Using this to help stabilize me while trying to twist my upper body around helped greatly giving me two lift points one being my left arm and the second being the short stick in my right hand to help lift my bulk up easier to rotate outward and not bother any of the interior items like bolsters, steering wheel etc.. This really helped me.

Later I figured out that after I was sitting on the door sill I could use the targa top edge to help me lift up to a standing position as sometimes not being able to twist meant that I would sort of rock back into the seat. Again the shortened stick would let me push the stick against the car's floor to help push me out and upward. Works great and helped build up some un-used muscles over time to make this chore easier.

Only later did I figure out that two sticks might be an advantage if one was longer that the other so I put a metal hinge and slide/twist lock on the hinge.

Now getting into and out of the vettes is an easy fluid motion and unless you are really paying attention and looking you won't even see the little helper stick as I let it drop back into the seat as I leave.

Getting into the car I do just bout the same procedure but with the left hand/arm with little stick to stabilize and keep me off the bolster when sliding in.

Hope this hasn't been too confusing and that it may help anyone in similar situations.

Yeah, yeah I know I talk too much. But don't think that personality fault will change too much at age 64 eh?:redface:
Wayne

[LancePearson]

Scott,
I'm headed for England in early April to see the Red Devils play Man City at Old Trafford then Denver in late June by airplane again so you are right...they notice titanium hip joints which are all metal and the metal and bearing surfaces of the two knee joints. When you get an artificial joint the orthpedic surgeon usually gives you a card saying what you have for situations like that but the TSA in all its infinite room temperature wisdom completely ignores it figuring you could have printed it on your home computer if you give them credit for even that much thinking.

I don't even show it anymore. I do everything anyone else does and just walk right to the xray machine, tell them what I have, go through quickly. If no x ray then I do the hand scan. Going through a metal detector you make lots of lights go on and off!

Considering living an active life and wearing all the cartilages out it's great that I could get all new joints. Hips were three years apart and the two knees done the same day in early 2009. That took almost a year to get back to normal but the pain from bone on bone was gone that day. Not completely as good as normal at age 40 but 95% of that without pain or any noticeable restriction is terrific. I kayak, Corvette, sail my Flying Scott, just sold my motorcycle (too many toys) and walk with my two greyhound girls so I'd say it's been a success.

Just grease my joints and I'm good for another 300,000 miles. Scars are noticeable but I wear shorts all summer anyway. Heck with 'em if they don't like it. If anyone asks I just tell them it was special ops in Pakistan and shut up and let them speculate. That, of course, is not true, it was a Virginia surgeon! Wonderful that these choices were available. I'm 69 btw.

Lance Pearson.

[nelson007]

You guys made me look up today. Here I thought I had a lot of issues.Maybe latter today I will sneak into my garage to see if I can push in the clutch.
Have a good one,
Nelson 007

[LancePearson]

You guys made me look up today. Here I thought I had a lot of issues.Maybe latter today I will sneak into my garage to see if I can push in the clutch.
Have a good one,
Nelson 007

hang in there, Nelson. Look at it another way: once you are healed sufficiently the loss of two cartilages in your lower back will make you slightly less tall and hence, make it easier to get in and out of the cockpit of your ZR-1! A blessing!

Also, owning a 4 speed 76 L48 I road raced for one day on a track in controlled circumstances I can assure you that the clutch on the ZR-1 is much, much easier to push in than the 76. I had to shift that puppy about 650 times the day at the track which is a road track and that clutch is real work compared to the Z. I trained my legs ahead of time knowing it would be work over 4 25 minute on track sessions.

You'll do fine. Just don't rush it...be patient and do the work the doctors want you to do. Not always fun but long term it pays off.

Lance Pearson

[WARP TEN]

Sheesh! I fell like I am reading the AARP bulletin :-). But it certainly is a legitimate ZR-1 topic. It is a real issue with many of us who like to keep playing with our toys. I have a couple of friends who have had similar joint replacements and everyone stilll finds a way to enjoy their cars. All good info!.--Bob

[LancePearson]

AARP starts sending you crap at age 50...for whatever it's worth. Life without these toys is not nearly as much fun. Getting in my 76 is easier than getting in my 91. More like a pilot's cockpit, down lower, over a higher sill as well in the 91. Have not tried a C6 but if they keep getting lower and smaller then it's likely to be a car for mid sized and smaller guys. I never saw a big race car driver and you know why after a couple corvettes!

[scottfab]

.. snip..
Hope this hasn't been too confusing and that it may help anyone in similar situations.
Wayne

Wayne, not too much info at all. Gives me ideas for later on when I start getting replacement parts done like my brother.

... snip...

I don't even show it anymore. I do everything anyone else does and just walk right to the xray machine, tell them what I have, go through quickly. If no x ray then I do the hand scan. Going through a metal detector you make lots of lights go on and off!

...snip...

Lance Pearson.

Lance, thanks for the info. Stuff for me to look forward to. Beats the alternative. I have metal in the back but so far has never set off any alarms. The titanium screws are 1in by 0.5in thick.

[LancePearson]

No problem.. hip joint parts in titanium are long..both ball and socket and bone grows into their exterior..no plastic at all. Knee joints are substantial as well....big guy so they use big size for my bones. Good to have big healthy bones for this. Maybe you will never need any of that. I just lead a sort of busy life to this point. Good luck!

[ghlkal]

I never put my hand on the side bolster. They can tear loose. An no matter what I never push/pull on the steering wheel. Thats how I got a spare set of seats from someone when they ripped their side bolster off. I swing one leg at a time out then lean forward and push down on the sill. Sometimes I have to do it twice to keep the momentum going forward.


I also push down on the sill to lift myself up and out of the seat. I sure wish the PO of my Z wouldn't have pulled on the steering wheel! :-x

My Doctor is also a car buff and said I could drive my Z but he would keep the power key until I finish therapy.

Now that's funny.

having a near fatal accident a while back getting in and out of the vettes did become an issue.

Wow, Wayne, what a story. I'm glad you're still here to share your expertise.

[LancePearson]

Some of us have size fifteen shoes to get over the sill when getting in and out as well so entering and exiting is a series of small choreographed moves. The one time in my life I wish I was 5 ft eleven instead of 6 ft four with long legs and big feet.