Drivers Seat Cushion

elliemike · Guru

Drivers Seat Cushion

Mamil · Senior Member

Mike, I can't suggest a cushion, but I suffer from lingering sciatica after a slipped disc ten years ago.

My understanding is that the pain is 'referred pain' ie. it is felt in the buttocks and down the leg but the actual cause is compression of the sciatic nerve in the vertebra of the lower back. On long journeys I find stopping every couple of hours and flexing the lower back by bending forwards to touch my toes, backwards, and sideways, helps to relieve the discomfort. I also do some simple Pilates moves each morning when I wake up.

If it continues I would recommend seeing a physiotherapist. Doctors only know how to prescribe drugs to relieve the pain, or operate to remove the cause (which should be an absolute last resort IMHO), but physios know how to retrain your posture and movement to prevent it happening in the first place.

Hope that's of some help.

-- Edited by Mamil on Sunday 6th of February 2022 08:00:09 PM

Whenarewethere · Guru

The most we drive is an hour, even if we stop for 3 minutes & walk around the car 3 or 4 times. We just stop to move a bit. It's only going to add a couple of minutes, but so what, at least we have not turned into pretzels!

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

G'day Mike,
I can suggest one & it will cost you about $30 from Clark Rubber.

I've found that I'm losing muscle (well I think that's what it is) in my "senior" years. I developed the problem toward the last few years of driving our last Patrol, and it didn't improve with the D-Max. After driving for about 1/2 hour my backside & left thigh mainly, ache like mad (I'm rather tall - 6'6").

As I refuse to pay $130,000+ for a flash LandCruiser with excellent seats, I bought a Foam wedge from Clark Rubber - they are now $30.95. Their part number is SKU: 33840, the size is 500x500x0-100mm. Pat adapted a pillowcase to fit as a cover (she has one too).

I find I can easily drive between fuel stops with no discomfort. The only issue I have is that it's a little harder to find the seat belt socket for the belt.

86GTS · Guru

I've put up with persistent sciatica for many decades. The dragging pain feeling goes down my leg from my buttocks, thru my hamstring & eventually I get a tingling dead feeling in my foot.

IMO no cushion will do much to alleviate sciatic pain.

I find the best remedy is to keep moving, constant sitting makes it worse.

I walk 5-6kms at a brisk pace EVERY morning.

While on a long trip I occasionally shift my weight onto one side & straighten my leg, stretching the muscles which helps a little.

Stopping every few hours to take a little wander helps too.

I developed sciatica after many years of long distance running/training for marathons (42.2kms) & cross country running for an athletic club competing in the Victorian Championships.

I wouldn't let anyone fiddle with my back.

hufnpuf · Senior Member

86GTS is probably right that cushions might not help with sciatic pain because it involves nerves but if you want something for a sore bum, I can recommend these ergodrive brand cushions https://autobarn.com.au/ab/Autobarn-Category/Touring-and-4x4/Touring/Seat-Cushions-Supports/c/748

I am skinny. I thought my car seat was reasonably comfortable and it is, around town. Not driving to Carnarvon. I went charging into the auto store asking whether they had something for my bum which was killing me. They had these. I got the seat cushion with the hole in it to take pressure off the coccyx and the lumbar cushion. Not cheap, but my bum was happy. They have memory foam gel in them, they are squishy. I find them very comfortable.

Buzz Lightbulb · Guru

I don't think that I've got sciatica but I suffer from neck pain of I don't do 60 sit ups (30 sideways and 30 normal) every second or third day (usually daily). The doctor and sports physiotherapist explained that many aches and pains are caused by poor posture and/or poor muscle support of the back and neck.

I thoroughly recommend sports physiotherapists.

-- Edited by Buzz Lightbulb on Tuesday 8th of February 2022 10:09:23 AM

Derek Barnes · Senior Member

I have a displaced spine in my lower back and find many car seats are uncomfortable, but the seats in my Patrol Y62 are extremely comfortable. I could easily travel for 4 hours continuous in that seat (Note that I am the passenger NOT the driver).

When you buy a car ALWAYS do a test drive to check out the seat comfort.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

elliemike wrote:
I have over the last year started to get discomfort in my right leg while driving.
"SCIATICA" the doc tells me. I get it while driving in either of our cars, and also while sitting in my (old) desk chair at home. Desk chair replaced recently and working well at present
Most of our other padded chairs are fine but hard seats are a problem.
After trying various SEAT CUSHIONS in the D-Max with varying results, and nothing as yet found to be any good for two hours driving.
I've always thought the Dmax seat was not really that comfortable for me
Anyone got any suggestions for "Drivers Car Seat Cushions" they can recommend I can look at/up, or try out.
My seating position is set up for good driving posture and I never drive over two hours without a break.
Mike

I got a Airhawk truck seat cushion that was advertised on the GN's site. Sadly I don't think it was worth the money spent. It is a adjustable pressure blow up cushion.

elliemike · Guru

Thanks everyone for the replies.

SoloMC · Senior Member

I often get a sore coccyx from extended periods of sitting/driving. i use a small piece of high density blue foam from Clarks rubber (40mm thick)which i cut to raise my bum/;egs up but allows my coccyx to free float i dont have a diagnosed issue but it works.

Rob Driver · Guru

I think that the seat you are sitting in has a lot to do with it.

Trucks are a good example. I found that with driving long hours it was beneficial to raise or lower the seat with the air control to help with comfort while driving.
I believe this is difficult now with the compulsory wearing of seat belts in trucks.
Most times it was not an option to stop and walk around for a while.

In my *civilian* life when I retired I went from a BT50 to a 200 Series LC and the seating position for driving was compared to chalk and cheese.
I am fairly tall and my thoughts are that the seats in many of these utes we tend to own and drive, are too low.

The Toyota is a bit higher which provides a better angle (for me) to ease the pressure on my sciatic nerve. I can also stretch my legs further in the Toyota.

Unfortunately, without extensive reworking of seat mounts we are all stuck with this. Our Design Rules prevent any modification in this area.

Now I am retired I just drive for a couple of hours and then stop and walk around.
For me at least, I no longer have time constraints on my road journeys.

-- Edited by Rob Driver on Tuesday 8th of February 2022 08:40:15 AM

Davemate · Veteran Member

Supercheap have a range of seat cushions.
David.

elliemike · Guru

Davemate wrote:
Supercheap have a range of seat cushions.
David.

Yes I have already tried a few cushions over the last year. Sitting on a Supercheap model at present trying out again in combination with with another piece of foam.

Thanks for the input.

86GTS · Guru

Like I said previously after enduring sciatic pain for decades I don't think that a cushion will do a lot for you.

Sitting for any good length of time is a surefire way of bringing on sciatic pain if you suffer from sciatica.

I did see this while browsing the net if you're interested though. It might be worth a try.

Screenshot 2022-02-09 at 04-49-47 Memory Foam Sciatica Back Pain Relief Cushion.png

-- Edited by 86GTS on Wednesday 9th of February 2022 05:01:40 AM

Whenarewethere · Guru

Have you tried tilting the seat base, assuming the seat can be adjusted. It's a bit like office chairs, more often than not people have the seat base tilted down at the back. Far better to have the seat at least level, if not a whisker lower at the front.

elliemike · Guru

Whenarewethere wrote:
Have you tried tilting the seat base, assuming the seat can be adjusted. It's a bit like office chairs, more often than not people have the seat base tilted down at the back. Far better to have the seat at least level, if not a whisker lower at the front.

Yes tried various combinations.

What I need is a LA Z BOY in the Dmax as I have no problems sitting in that for hours on end.

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SoloMC · Senior Member

i just saw an advert for this. It may help with the problem. I might even get one myself https://beyondcushion.com/products/seat?utm_source=FB&utm_medium=BC%20-%20Full%20Funnel%20-%20T3%20-%2011%2F11&utm_content=New%20Copy%20-%20Video%20-%2011%2F11&utm_campaign=P%20-%20I%20-%20NETFLIX%20-%20AU%20%26%20CA%20-%202%2F8&WickedSource=Facebook&WickedID=23849601439890702&fbclid=IwAR1IfVYsKX9xM1ysAPO6WjoDvkmDFl5hZiAjYUII6t0KEeBqAGJ37kWDWjA

Bert and Ernie · Newbie

Hi Mike,
My BIL used an Airhawk on his motorbike, then my SIL bought a truck one for her bad back on their lap trip and WA annual trip.
My wife had back problems, living with compressed disc for last 20 years without surgery (she has done remarkably well with stretches and being careful), but the DMax was rapidly becoming an issue. I bought her an Airhawk and she loves it, so much more relief when her back is sore, but the travel doesn't create a bad back. While she wasn't with me on some days, I tried it and bought one for myself. Before the pandemic and lockdowns in Melbourne and surgery, we had done trips to northern NSW, and up to and along the Murray to the Barossa Valley as well as taken it 4WDing with a 4WD club and my wife's back remained okay.

Airhawk used to be an advertiser on the forum pages but not for a while.

I strongly recommend you check out the Airhawk story on this link.
www.airhawk.com.au/

They are not cheap, but I don't have a low spending threshold when it comes to the safety and health of my family.

To get some comfort while sitting, I tried one of those memory foam cushions (mentioned above) after prostate surgery and an early return to working at home for a few hours per day last year. Ended up using the Airhawk for a month or so, until able to drive again so put the Airhawk in my Territory and used the memory foam at my home desk seat (a high level gaming chair). In the DMax, it is Airhawk all the time. (All good now, and surgery was successful against the cancer, pays to be monitoring regularly and jump into action at the right time - my plug for men's health issues)

Cheers,
Daryl

elliemike · Guru

Thanks for the information.

I am still working on the problem. It is not a back issue as I have had that checked out. Only happens on hard seats.

But I will keep an eye out for the airhawke.

-- Edited by elliemike on Tuesday 15th of February 2022 11:21:44 AM

86GTS · Guru

www.healthdirect.gov.au/sciatica

This is quite a good article that sums up sciatica.

No mention of a cushion.

After 40 years I've learnt to live with it.

Radar · Guru

As a very long time sciatica suffer, boy do I suffer on long flights but Also for most have learnt to deal with it.

For a time back in the eighties I purchased a seat cover made up of wooden beads, I did get lots of relief on my long hauls running interstate with lots of hours behind the wheel.

The beaded seat cover was about 20 years old before it started to fall apart, I think the beads allowed the blood to circulate better.

The last few years with our caravan tours I do not seem to suffer the sciatica pain as much, maybe our Nissan Navara STX has good seats and regular coffee breaks all go to help.

I did buy myself a sit on kayak, that going to be sold on, I am good for about 10 minutes and then I am in serious trouble, being totally legless and the pain out on the water is not fun at all.

KevinJ · Senior Member

I bought one of these that hufnpuf mentioned earlier https://autobarn.com.au/ab/Autobarn-Category/Touring-and-4x4/Touring/Seat-Cushions-Supports/c/748 for my wife a number of years ago and she swears by it. The first trip we did was Sydney to Adelaide driving about 4 hours each day and then Perth to Sydney driving between 2 and 6 hours each day. She said that it was extremely comfortable and no pain at all.

Kantiki · Senior Member

86GTS wrote:
Like I said previously after enduring sciatic pain for decades I don't think that a cushion will do a lot for you.
Sitting for any good length of time is a surefire way of bringing on sciatic pain if you suffer from sciatica.

I did see this while browsing the net if you're interested though. It might be worth a try.

-- Edited by 86GTS on Wednesday 9th of February 2022 05:01:40 AM

I bought one of these in a cheap shop a few years ago. Under $20. The cover is now starting to look tatty but I wouldnt travel without it. I think the brand was Bambillow or something similar.

Nevd · Senior Member

Whenarewethere wrote:
Have you tried tilting the seat base, assuming the seat can be adjusted. It's a bit like office chairs, more often than not people have the seat base tilted down at the back. Far better to have the seat at least level, if not a whisker lower at the front.

I find that definitely helps me. Might feel a bit strange at first if you normally sit flat or knees up, but I find it's far better in the long run.

Amy Britany · Newbie

If you're looking for an effective way to enhance your comfort during long drives, I highly recommend trying a driver seat cushion. These cushions are designed to provide additional support and alleviate pressure on your lower back and hips.

For an even better experience, consider a gel seat cushion for car. Gel cushions are known for their excellent support and ability to distribute weight evenly, reducing discomfort and fatigue during extended periods of sitting. They are especially beneficial for drivers who spend a lot of time on the road.

I've been using one for a while now, and it has made a significant difference in m 81bfyKDvLOL._AC_SX679_.jpg y comfort level, especially on long trips.

Possum3 · Guru

Welcome to the Forum Amy, you've tagged on to an old post started about two years ago.

Try putting your advice in a new entry in Hints and Ideas section.

Whenarewethere · Guru

Our latest issue is coping sitting 3 days a week in dialysis. Fortunately we (better half) are on 4 to 4.5 (Monday) hours dialysis. Many others are on 5 hours. Then the start & end extra part of the whole process. Not fun & zero choice, not forgetting travel to & from home as part of the procedure... more sitting. I suppose one is still alive, but I do wonder regularly the torture. At least the nurses are brilliant on every level.

dorian · Guru

Possum3 wrote:
Welcome to the Forum Amy, you've tagged on to an old post started about two years ago.
Try putting your advice in a new entry in Hints and Ideas section.

Possum, you need to be on the lookout for obvious shills.

https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?strip=1&q=cache:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pudendalhope.info%2Fforum%2Fviewtopic.php%3Fp%3D68664

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-- Edited by dorian on Wednesday 19th of June 2024 07:26:30 AM

Gaylehere · Guru

I had to look up the word shill for a meaning.

-- Edited by Gaylehere on Wednesday 19th of June 2024 05:31:26 PM