Portable seat for back pain

fitzroy

Has anyone tried the MEDesign Backfriend? The magazine ad shows it can be used in the car, at home, at the office etc. Any feedback would be appreciated.

Ted_Hutchinson

£48.51 to £55.32 + £4.00 p&p excl VAT
As it's a product designed for disability use (reducing back pain) you may be able, if you have a medical diagnosis for your back pain, be able to persuade them not to charge you vat. see VAT exemption form
(PDF,9k)
VAT exemption form
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Looking at these I suspect (if your lazy like I am) it would get left in the car and I doubt I would want to take it with me whenever I went out, though I imagine there may be some church goers who may find it useful for both car and pew.

I still think it's a bit much for what it is but as the company offers this [FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Sans-serif,sans-serif]Money Back Guarantee
In addition to the individual product guarantees, all of our products are covered by our 14 day trial money back guarantee. If you are not happy with any product bought from MEDesign, simply return it to us in as new condition within 14 days of the date of receipt and we send you a full refund by return.

It may be worth having a look at.

You may also like to consider this as a cheaper option[/FONT]BackShape - the comfortable back support that reduces back pain
I think this may be more adjustable as you could by moving the straps adjust the height of the lubar support and by putting more foam behind it adjust the amount of support it provides.

There is useful advice about Checking your driving position here

twixeey

I think they are wonderful seats, I use mine all the time in the car, and take it whenever I fly, its been to NZ, Australia, and the USA numerous times, I have had it for about 20 years ... the best thing I have ever bought, and several of my friend have them now too

Twix

Siobhan_2

I have had one of these for years (I am 43) and was in a car crash. I swear by it - in the cinema I can sit for the whole duration - before I could leave after ten minutes. I bought my first one in a charity shop for £4 but have passed that on to my mum. It is very light-weight and you would carry it with you - cos when you sit down without it you will curse yourself. Ask your local charity shops to keep an eye out for one - but get one new in the first place. They seem so simple it is hard to see how they work so brilliantly
Siobhan

mandyc

My husband's friend who is partially disabled with back problems has had one for years. Whenever we travel with him it comes with him and he uses it at home all the time.

A few years back my husband was suffering with intermittant back pain and bought a Backfriend. He found it offered him relief. It was very easy to put in the car and then bring into the house and put on his chair. He said it was very comfortable and made his sit correctly in the seat.

Luckily, he has not had any problems with his back for over twelve months now but his Backfriend is still put to good use. Our cat sleeps on it every night!!!

springchicken

I ordered one for my mum for her birthday last week.
I paid an extra £10 ish for extra padding on the seat but have to send it back as mum has said the more like a board the seat is the better!

catmeow_2

I have a single padded and a double padded and also a carry bag. With the double padded it's just the seat that's double padded, the back is the same on both. I have found them to be really good if I am driving or sitting for any length of time, especially in meetings at work. They are a bit bulky to carry around and for me the carry bag just made it way too bulky as the design isn't great and I find it better just to carrry it. For driving the double padded would put you too high up and you may not fit under the steering wheel sitting on it. It gives good posture and support and I can sit a lot longer without severe pain than without it. Earlier this week I went out for dinner and the seats in the restaurant were totally unsuitable for my back and it was quite excruciatingly painful for me (I am getting over an acute episode of a bulging disc, a torn disc, a bulging nerve and spondylitic ridging, so my back is not in good shape right now) and after a few minutes I had to get the backfriend out of the car (felt a bit of an idiot but no one actually even noticed really other than my friends) and it enabled me to sit at the restaurant for over 2 more hours in only moderate pain. Without it I would have been quite beside myself with pain. I'm interested in what was said about taking it on flights. I fly to NZ in a few days time (booked before I hurt my back and non refundable, aagh), and wasn't planning to take it but am reconsidering now. It may pay to ask advice about the double if you are thinking of getting that one as although it's more comfortable it apparently provides less support. Good luck. Also do a thorough web search as prices vary about £15